A shock to the system
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“When you hear the ‘C-Word,’ it’s a shock to the system,” says Geneva area resident Todd Utpadel, who says he sometimes has the sense cancer is all around him.
“It just kept hitting and kept hitting,” he says of the number of relatives and close friends the disease has taken. “When you feel useless, that’s when it’s time to look for a way to make a difference.”
Utpadel, a 1978 graduate of Ellendale-Geneva High School, and a founding member of the Snowy River Band, decided he would use music. A persistent performer at venues across southern Minnesota, he announced at Albert Lea’s Moose Lodge on New Year’s Day he has formed the group “Musicians Against Cancer,” and will be donating all tips he receives during 2024 to the Blooming Prairie Cancer Fund, which has a two-fold approach to fighting cancer. During 2023, it contributed $120,000 to the Eagles’ Cancer Telethon and also gave more than $30,000 directly to individuals battling the disease to help meet their expenses.
“My donations are specifically for the second part,” Utpadel reveals. “Of course research is important, but I choose to help people who need the support right now for everything they’re going through. For many of them, the cure won’t be found in time; they’re facing challenges from many directions at once, and one of them is their finances.”
Utpadel set himself a goal of raising $10,000 by the year’s end. His plans got a boost when Albert Lea’s Moose Lodge–a venue he plays fairly often–offered to match his receipts for the month of January up to $500. His “day job,” Owatonna Motor Company, did the same for February. A pair of private citizens is matching March’s the same way. The Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club has committed to helping with April. Utpadel says he hopes to find organizations which will continue the pattern for the remainder of the year.
He expresses gratitude to his wife, Sherry, Owatonna Motor Company, owner Bill Zaharia, and general manager Brandon Ratkowski for their patience and support, since his enthusiasm for the goal has him booking performances “rather ambitiously”--nine weekend nights in April alone.
“But this is not about me, and I’m not doing it by myself,” says Utpadel, mentioning “The Red Solo Cup Cancer Jam” scheduled for April 19 at the Albert Lea Moose Club. Utpadel has been in touch with many fellow musicians and has commitments from a range of people.
Among those who may come are some members of the Snowy River Band, which, over time, has opened for about 30 national acts including Waylon Jennings and John Michael Montgomery. Other performers with ties ranging from local to national have indicated an interest.
During a recent performance at Spare Time Entertainment Center in Owatonna, friends and fans Todd and Tracy Jerzak of Rochester made the trip to hear Utpadel play. “He’s a great musician,” said Todd enthusiastically. “He’s a traditionalist in that he likes some of the older music, but he includes the newer stuff, too.
“It’s just like him to play for no money,” interjects Tracy. “He has a good heart.”
“I’m a musician myself,” says Todd. “I play the guitar and banjo. I can imagine it’s a really good feeling to use your music to help people, to take away some of their worry and stress. It’s a great cause.”
Fans Deb and Gerald Herget, one-time Ellendale residents who now live in Albert Lea, say they request Utpadel’s schedule and attend every performance they can that is within a reasonable driving distance. Deb says her sister married Utpadel’s uncle, and so she not only remembers the days of the Snowy River Band, but was there on some of the night’s when a younger Utpadel was being taught his way around on a guitar’s strings.
As for his own skills as a musician, Utpadel indicates that using them for the good of others just makes sense, since it was the support and encouragement of family members, teachers and community members which helped him acquire and build them. As he and his siblings grew up on a farm south of Ellendale, he remembers his uncle teaching him to play guitar, the music instructors at school offering encouragement even from the time he was in elementary school, and his grandmother advising him, “You’ve been given a gift. Don’t mess it up.”
His musical career, he says, has “never been about money, anyway.” The chance to perform with other musicians, to combine their mutual skills to create something that brings them satisfaction and pleasure for the audience, “is more of a blessing than anything.”
On nights when he performs alone, Utpadel says he arrives at the venue about an hour ahead of schedule. He sets up a banner which lets people know their tips are being given to a cause, and being matched. “People appreciate that,” he observes. “It means that, when they put one dollar in the can, it’s almost as if they’re putting in two.”
Utpadel’s usual performance times are from 6 to 8 p.m. He says he plays and sings “straight through,” with no break. He typically includes older, traditional country songs, but also plays ballads and occasional gospel numbers. He says he gladly plays requests when he can find the needed music on electronic sources, and invites others to sing along or simply sing while he accompanies them. When children are part of the audience, he gleefully announces, “Okay, it’s time for the Grandpa Song!” He says young children take particular pleasure in “Baby Shark.”
“I try to play something for everyone, so every night is different,” he observes. “I try to include a little humor, maybe a few jokes. I pick on the help, I encourage children to go invite their grandmothers to dance.
“I like being around people. I like people. I hate to see anyone hurting. That’s why I wanted to start Musicians Against Cancer.”
Utpadel recommends that anyone interested in finding out more about Musicians Against Cancer, or about the Blooming Prairie Cancer Fund can find out more on Facebook. He will be performing at the Geneva Bar from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 5.
Grapplers send three to state, nine medal at sections
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
NRHEG wrestling coach Shawn Larson offered thanks and praise for the 2023-24 Panther squad at the annual winter banquet.
“Before I get into our season and our team, I want to congratulate and thank a lot of people here,” Larson began.
Larson thanked the other winter sports competitors, assistant coaches Nate Jensen and Dillion Kubiatowicz, videographer Daniel Petsinger, staff members Karla Christopherson, Teri Kormann, and Sue Kulseth, as well as Activities Director Dan Stork; NRHEG cheerleaders; the Wrestling Booster Club; and all others who help make NRHEG wrestling successful. Larson also thanked Erik Olson for “his willingness to do any job or work with any athlete” as well as Krey Cory and Lance Perkins for their work in the elementary program. Student helpers Winter Pederson, Aspyn Stenzel, Ciara Stenzel, and Zoe Wilson were also thanked.
“And last but not least by any means, I want to thank all of the parents and families who are involved with these kids,” Larson concluded. “Because you have to give up holidays… And kids will recall their weight when it's Christmas time, or Thanksgiving and things like that. You know, pretty much every Saturday from November to March, you're doing something. I really appreciate all the time and effort, and I mostly appreciate that you let me have time with your athletes. Thank you.”
Season recap
The Panthers finished their regular season with a poor team record due to injuries and had a bad matchup against Medford in the team section meet, losing in the first round.
“Our wrestlers had continued growth over the season and had some good things happen,” Larson said.
Most of those good things were significant individual accomplishments, including nine placewinners at the section tournament, one section champion, George Roesler, and two runners up, Annabelle Petsinger and Ryan Schlaak.
Last year’s state champion Petsinger ultimately suffered an injury at the state tournament and forfeited two matches. Larson stated she battled injuries all year long and showed tremendous character. Next year she will be wrestling at the college level for Iowa Central Community College.
Ryan Schllak had a fantastic run at the section tournament, but had two rough draws and lost both of his state tournament matches.
Roesler won two matches by fall in the state tournament, but lost in the “blood round” just barely missing out on a medal.
“The three wrestlers who competed at the state tournament should know they made the Panther Nation proud,” Larson concluded. “We are proud of you for representing NRHEG well.”
NRHEG winter sport athletes celebrated
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
NRHEG Activities Director Dan Stork extended many statements of gratitude as he opened the 2023-24 Winter Sports Banquet ceremony Tuesday night, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym in New Richland.
All NRHEG winter sports were recognized: Coaches from boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading all spoke. Individual stories recapping their seasons and thank-yous can be found on pages 4 and 5 in this week’s Star Eagle.
Stork recognized co-op sports, including gymnastics and hockey with Waseca, in which Carter Martens had a terrific campaign playing goalie, earning a letter for a second straight year. Nora Flatness was the one gymnast participating with Waseca. She had an excellent year, Stork said, participating with the Junior Varsity.
In total, 18 senior athletes were recognized: Faith Nielsen, Hope Nielsen, Preslie Nielsen, Hallie Schultz, Payton Bunn, Julia Churchill, Brenna Sommer, Isabel Stadheim, Malonna Wilson, Parker Bunn, George Roesler, Annabelle Petsinger, Reese Routh, Daxter Lee, Jackson Chrz, William Tuttle, Sam Olson and Levin Kitzer. Many well-deserved awards were handed out during the evening. A sense of gratitude encompassed the room as speakers, coaches and players reflected on their memorable seasons, and for some, entire careers.
As the program wound to a close, Stork paused to recognize Mark Domeier for earning a “Distinguished Service Award” to be awarded during this week’s MNI Triple A Conference. The award will be presented in St. Cloud during a banquet attended by activity directors from across the state.
“Each year we have the opportunity as AD’s to nominate someone,” Stork said. “Mark began here in 1996 and has done just about everything here.
“Known as the voice of the Panthers, Mark has officiated just about every sport you can imagine, has run the scoreboard and does whatever it takes for these kids to compete… Thank you for your years of support.”
The banquet concluded with photos and good conversation among the hundreds of students, parents, family members and coaches in attendance.
Farm and City Luncheon
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
Good food, conversations, and stories were shared during the annual Farm and City Luncheon March 21, hosted by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce at the Mill in Waseca.
Following a lunch catered by the Pheasant Cafe and served by local FFA Chapters from Waseca, NRHEG, and Waseca, the following families, all from rural Waseca, were honored with awards: Farm Family of the year (FFOY); Sommers Brothers Custom Baling, LLC, Brian & Kirsten Sommers and Matt & Nicole Sommers.
The FFOY award goes to a Waseca County food producer involved in the community. This family has made significant short-term progress and/or innovative contributions with their agricultural endeavors and has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting the fields of agriculture and production. The Sommers will be honored and recognized among farmers across the state at Farmfest this summer.
‘I’m glad I was able to do it’
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
“I think I taught them all the things they needed to know as beginners,” comments NRHEG senior Jaylin Raab, who unexpectedly found himself as coach of the district’s seventh-grade boys’ basketball team, which consisted of 12 players.
It was not how he expected to see his senior year with the sport develop.
“I wanted to play with my team,” Raab remembers. “I expected to play…until I got the bad news.”
Active on a number of NRHEG teams since middle school, Raab remembers the spring day at a 2023 track meet when he took a run for the long jump. “I landed wrong,” he describes. “I heard a weird sound, and I felt a lot of pain.
“I crawled to the other side of the area and I went to the emergency room at the Albert Lea hospital right away.” Though Raab used crutches and wore a “boot” for a while, it was eventually determined he had experienced damage to the peroneal nerve in his right leg. As fall and then winter began, the injury caused him pain and led to “foot drop.”
“I had surgery on December fourth,” he said. “That pretty much ended my chances of getting any playing time during the [basketball] season. My leg was getting a little better, but I expected to spend my senior year on the bench.”