“A huge thank you to Barb and Jack for helping us out,” Baker said. “We more than doubled the anticipated total amount.”
Texas Hold ‘Em hotshots of the day included Jack Kuckenbecker, Mark Domeier, Josh DeShane, Jeff Lageson, Hank Thompson and Warren Torgerson. Then in the afternoon, 40 two-person bean bag teams duked it out in the parking lot, despite the drizzly conditions.
The top three contenders in the 15-and-under division received a prize for their efforts, and are as follows: 1st place, Dillon Kubiatowicz and Cole Lenort; 2nd place, Andrew Bailey and McCoy Schwierjohann; 3rd, Brady Beenken and Jordon Wobschall. The 16-and-over division winners included Jack Kuckenbecker and Josh DeShane claiming first place, Cole Lenort and Dillon Kubiatowicz in 2nd place; and Tina Hagen and Stacy Kubiatowicz with 3rd place.
The amount raised in this single event came to a little over $2,400. But, in order to cover all the expenses, a whopping $6,000 is needed.
“With prior donations and the event at Geneva Bar & Grill, we are almost there in terms of keeping the cost per player to a minimal level,” Baker said.
Baker would like to thank Lorraine Wallace of Geneva for the scotcheroo bars provided during the Geneva Bar & Grill fundraisers. The help provided all season long from all the following sponsors doesn’t go unnoticed either: Geneva Bar & Grill, Al's Body Shop, Jensen Heating & Plumbing, Broskoff Structures, Sorenson's Appliance and TV, Brian Wayne-Pioneer Seeds, J & C Trucking of Baldwin, Brekke Homes Construction, SunOpta, Russ Nelson Electric, Waseca & Clarks Grove Vet Clinics, Misgen Auto Salvage, Round Bank of Waldorf, Lerberg’s Foods, Robert Peterson Farms, Tim’s Repair, Midwest Repairables, Waseca Sand & Gravel and the State Bank of New Richland.
“Lots of planning and preparation went into this event,” Baker said. “The big success on the day was that of the silent auction of baskets.”
Already in travel planning mode, they decided to forego the 15-passenger van idea, and hop a plane instead. Flying will save 40 hours, and the cost is only slightly more than driving across the country.
“I just can’t wait to be with them for the entire journey,” Baker said. “Some of these boys have never been on an airplane before, so it will be interesting to see how they handle it.”
He knows all the boys are all excited to go, and maybe a little nervous. The four-year coach for the sixth-graders and first-time coach for the fifth-graders, his game plan for the big day is simple: go back to the basics and continue to do what got them to this point.
“I hope they can look back 10 or 20 years from now and think, ‘Wow, how fun was that when we were in fifth, sixth grade,’” Baker said. “They are maybe a little nervous on what the competition might be, but oh well, it's just basketball when it gets down to it.”
His team’s drive and desire to become better basketball players makes him extremely proud. Even off the court, he sees his team as a “very cohesive bunch of boys.”
“They do need reminders that it's O.K. to lose, as this should only make them want it more the next time,” Baker said.
At every tournament, he makes a point of asking, “Are you having fun?” If they aren’t smiling, he’s doesn’t feel like he’s doing his job well.
“At this level, you have to take it slow so it makes sense for the boys,” Baker said. “When things get too complicated, it makes it tough for them.”
Star Eagle Staff Writer Kathy Paulsen also contributed to this article.
