Itasca County Sports History

1964

May 4, 1964: “Raiders Win Golf Match”

Greenway won a four-team golf match at the Swan Lake course Thursday, 350 to 368 for Hibbing, 377 for Grand Rapids, and 430 for Nashwauk-Keewatin.

Greenway’s leading scorers were Greg Gustafson, 39; Al Gustafson, 40; George Dukich, 42; Jeff Kosak, 43; Mike Barle, 45; and Phil Tebnick, 48. Top performers for Grand Rapids were John Junnila, 42; Bill Lindberg and Terry McArdle, 47’s; and Tom Junila, 48. Joe LaMathe of Hibbing fired the low round, a 38.

May 4, 1964: “Plan Baseball Hall of Fame for Itasca”

Plans for honoring Itasca County’s baseball - playing pioneers will be discussed Wednesday, May 6, after a meeting to organize county leagues for 1964.

Baseball commissioner Art Fick has called an organizational meeting for 7:30 p.m., in the courthouse committee room. Managers, players or sponsors should attend the 7:30 session to draw schedules and form leagues.

At 9 p.m., coffee and doughnuts will be provided while the discussion swings to a baseball hall of fame. Early-day players, officials and invited to attend, Frick emphasizes.

1974

April 29, 1974: “GRHS cheerleaders selected”

Twenty-eight Grand Rapids high school cheerleaders were selected for the 1974-75 school term from a group of 62 try-outs on April 17 in the senior high school gymnasium.

Usually there are six girls on each squad, plus one alternate. Chosen by a team of past and present cheerleading advisors from other schools as basketball cheerleaders are Carol Graupmann, Norma Gabrielsen, Helen Miltich, Lisa Ensberg, Martha Waller, Nancy Gabrielsen and alternate Cindy Kuschel.

Football cheerleaders are Denise Rauker, Terri Miller, Michell Rubado, Jodi Reed, Stephanie Rowe, Denise Bymark and alternate Laura Makienen. For wrestling are Judy Schroeder, roxanne Carlson, Conith Coyer, Karen Lynch, Sue Johnson, Lisa Jetland and alternate Wendy Hanson. For gymnastics, Patty Wagner, Sue Olson, Kay Oftedahl, Cindy Balderson, Mary Jo Manella, Mariann Mathews and alternate Nanette Rubado were selected.

Selected as hockey cheerleaders on March 23 while there was still ice in the IRA arena are Bobbi Jo Betts, Kim Betts, Carol Danielson, Anita Dick, Robin Jacobseon, Shelley Simons and alternate Joanne Lyons.

The new cheerleaders were immediately initiated with a fund-raising activity on April 20 when they operated a concession stand for an invitational track meet at the new senior high school track. Funds earned will be used to send representatives to a cheerleading camp during the summer months and for expenses for the coming year.

Directors of the cheerleading activities are Mrs. Joanne Hoffman,, Mrs. Cheryle Larson, and Mrs. Jean Hall.

1994

May 1, 1994: “Cold weather slows down fishing”

The cold weather that came into the area during the first part of the past week has really slowed down fishing activity in the area, according to area bait dealers.

Darwin Markgraf of God’s Country Outfitters, located north of the Grand Rapids, said the cold weather has not necessarily stopped the fish from biting, but that it did ruin the anglers’ attitudes. He said that reports have been slow because no one is fishing.

Don Wendt of Rapids Tackle, Grand Rapids, said the recent cold weather has thrown a wrench into the cycle. He said he had heard reports of crappies being spotted in the bays of some lakes, which push the crappie frenzie back a bit, he added.

He said suckers were still being caught in the Prairie River near LaPrairie and that crappies were coming out of the hot pond at Clay Boswell before the cold weather came into the area.

Ben Kellin of Ben’s Bait and Tackle, Grand Rapids, also says the cold weather has affected the fishing, mainly because it is keeping anglers from venturing out.

He said the Mississippi River is yielding crappie near the Izaak Walton Bridge. He added that crappies are being caught in Sucker Bay on Leech Lake.

Ken Patterson of Patterson’s Pokegama Lake store, located south of Grand Rapids, also agrees that cold weather has stifled fishing activity. He said he expects the fish to be biiting when warm weather again reaches Itasca County.