Nodak Race Club makes difference
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When the Nodak Race Club met for its annual awards banquet in early December, the club conducted some standard banquet business like honoring the 2009 champions.
But the club also tried to make a difference in a young boy's life.
Nodak Race Club donated a check for $4,000 to the family of Tyler Scott Keanu Anderson, a 16-month old who suffers from Prune Belly Syndrome.
Also known as Eagle-Barrett Syndrome, the condition is marked by weak or a lack of front abdominal muscles and an abnormally developed urinary tract.
Nodak Vice President Lindsay Lawson said the club tries each year to help a youth with a similar medical condition, but this year the turnout was especially strong.
"Each year they review letters from the families of children who have a medical issue and the large financial burdens that go with that," Lawson said. "The majority of the money came from passing the hat, both in the grandstands and in the pits. The drivers, pit crews and fans were the ones that opened their wallets. The club also donated money toward the fund to make it an even $4,000."
The syndrome is rare, affecting just 1 in 40,000 newborns, with 95 percent being males. Anderson has already had to have a number of surgeries and procedures and Lawson said he hopes the club's donation will help defray some of those costs.
"It's one of those things that shows what great people racing people are," he said. "Drivers, fans and everyone involved. They're generous people that are willing to help out when a family has such staggering medical bills."
Other highlights from the event included the honoring of six-time track champions.
In attendance were Lawrence Pfau, Dick Schulz and Marlyn Seidler. Six-time champ Hank Berry was
unable to attend.
Over 300 people attended the banquet, where living Nodak Race Club Hall-of-Famers were also honored. Half of the 34 Nodak Hall-of-Famers are deceased, but 11 of the remaining 17 were present at the banquet.
- Chris Bieri
.
Archambault gets his revenge
Minot boxer Tomi Archambault got a little redemption when he faced Ronnie Peterson earlier this month at the Target Center.
Archambault thought he scored a victory when the two fighters met at the Minot Municipal Auditorium in early October.
But the decision was changed when the North Dakota boxing commission reviewed tapes of the fight and determined there had been an error in scoring.
The initial fight was ruled a no decision, but Archambault didn't let it go to the cards when the fighters met two months later. Archambault battered Peterson late in the second round, causing Peterson to retire before the third round bell with an apparent injury.
Richard Calavera, who helped train Archambault, said physical conditioning was the key.
"It was a totally different fight," Calavera said. "The kid definitely had a bad intention. He had a purpose to reveal himself. He trained hard and diligently worked out and sparred with everyone he could. He put in 20 rounds of sparring for just a 4-round fight."
Calavera said the rematch just confirmed what he thought Archambault proved in the first contest.
"I saw the tape, there was no doubt in my mind he won that fight, too," Calavera said. "It was really not fair, but it motivated him to go into (Peterson's) home town. Coming out of the lockerroom, he was ready to fight. End of the second round (Peterson) was going to get knocked out because he was getting beat up. Tomi did a good job."
- Chris Bieri
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Lawson named Rudy semifinalist
Minot's Evan Lawson has been named one of 30 semifinalists for the High School Football Rudy Award.
Lawson, a senior at Minot High School, was awarded the Inspiration Award following the Magicians football season for his contributions to the MHS football team.
Over the past two years, Lawson used hard work at the YMCA gym and MHS workout facility to lose over 150 pounds.
Lawson's player profile can be viewed at (www.highschoolrudyawards.com/Nominees/250/Evan_Lawson.aspx), where people visiting the site can vote for Lawson.
A Rudy Awards Selection Committee and online fan voting will determine the recipient of the award and two runner-ups, which will be announced on Feb. 3. On-line voting lasts until Jan. 30.
- Chris Bieri
.
Lightning strike in Fargo
The Minot Lightning under-14 boys soccer team had a successful trip to Fargo last month. The team won all five games against teams from Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead, Minn., to take the tourney title.
The team was coached by Craig Golding and Drew Johnson, John Tolbert, Dylan Ellis, Garrett Weishaar, Jake Saunders, Jacob Schmidt, Reese Hamilton, Ty Johnson, Joey Lisner, Aaron Bolinske and Gabe Rodriguez played on the team.
- Chris Bieri
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North's Waller named Gatorade Player of the Year
CHICAGO, Ill. - After leading Fargo North to a fourth place finish at state, Class A All-Stater Angie Waller has been named the Gatorade North Dakota Volleyball Player of the Year.
Waller, a 5-foot-8 senior middle hitter had 500 kills with 282 digs and 93 blocks in leading the Spartans to a 26-15 record this season. For her efforts, Waller was named the Class A Senior Athlete of the Year.
The Gatorade Player of the Year recognizes not only outstanding excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and character on and off the court. Each state winner is also a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, to be announced later this month.
In her career at North, Waller accumilated 1,059 kills, 888 digs, 215 blocks and 139 service aces, while holding a 3.37 GPA in the classroom. She will continue her volleyball career next season at Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
- T.J. Allick
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Singer records near quadruple-double
Turtle Lake-Mercer forward Grant Singer nearly pulled off a quadruple-double in a 79-63 Trojans' win over Beulah Tuesday night.
Singer, a senior, scored a game-high 41 points with a 10 rebounds, nine steals and eight assists in the win at the Trojans gymnasium.
- T.J. Allick
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Wildcats named players of the week
BISMARCK - Two North Dakota State College of Science basketball sophomores were named the men's and women's Mon-Dak Players of the Week.
Terry Bembry, a 6-foot-7 sophomore guard is the men's player of the week. Bembry scored 52 points, 25 rebounds eight assists with two steals and two blocks in three Wildcats' wins.
Minnesota native Megan Groen was named the women's player of the week after leading the Wildcat women in three wins. Groen scored 67 points with 12 rebounds, nine steals and a block in the wins.
- T.J. Allick
