2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsMaking a big wave
Jeff Faust
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Sports
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And for the first time ever, Missouri State will be a part of the adventure.
After a third place finish at Regionals, the Missouri State Waterski team was invited to participate in the National Championships for the first time in their brief, five-year history.
"We knew we were going to be pretty decent," senior Cole Kalkbrenner said. "But nobody knew we were going to be this good. We've been on cloud nine ever since we got back from regionals."
Waterskiing at nationals is broken down into two divisions, Division I and II, based on the team's performance at regionals. During the four regionals, the top five teams advance to nations. The top three teams in each region are in Division I and the fourth and fifth place teams are Division II.
The good news, according to the team president Kalkbrenner, is that no matter how they do at nationals, Missouri State is guaranteed to be one of the best 12 teams in the nation. Then again, this team wants so much more.
"Our goal was just to get there," Kalkbrenner said. "At regionals, everyone was getting excited at the chance to make it, but then once it got close to the end, I was telling them, 'Let's go grab this. Why not be on the main show?'"
Two of the main skiers for the Bears are Kalkbrenner, who finished third in regionals, and senior Tristin Stangeland, who finished sixth for the women.
The men's slalom team will feature Kalkbrenner, senior Josh Reich (11th at regionals), senior Matt Didion (who finished tied for 16th), senior Joe Rekowski and freshman Austin Voss. Specialists senior Brad Rozier and sophomore Clay Sexson will help out in the trick riding.
The women will feature Stangeland, senior Tara Bullock, senior Laura McCullough, sophomore Sara Nicely and senior Bethany Boland. Freshman Adrienne McDonald will come in for jumping and sophomore Stephanie Elhoffer will be the trick specialist.
Waterskiing is something everyone has the ability to do whether they know it or not.
Elhoffer actually wanted to learn how to water ski earlier this year, and on her first time ever going out, she went out there and pulled off a trick. Now, she holds school records in the event.
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