"March Madness!"

This weekends Basketball Winter Games competition lived up to our own version of "March Madness!" Highlighted by spirited competition,talented athletes,and our share of "ruffled feathers" from the parents!
Turnout was strong and the staff was terrific in there execution of the event and the other sports such as Equestrian which set an all time attendance record!
As the Winter Games wind down we need to focus on the Celebration Banquet taking place on April 29.
The "Madness" never seems to stop....that's a good thing!

Wid

7/11

(A copy of an email sent to Dr. Rund, Vice President of Student Activities at Arizona State University regarding the results of one of the more significant meetings I have had in my 16 years as the Executive Director of the Grand Canyon State Games.)

Dear Dr. Rund,

7/11

We’re back! After “7” long years away from ASU in 20”11” and until the year 2016 the Grand Canyon State Games will again create the Olympic village atmosphere on the campus of ASU with our Summer Games / Winter Games / Opening Ceremonies / and Celebration Banquet.

Our meeting with the “TEAM” yesterday was euphoric. They were very enthusiastic, professional, and accommodating. Thank you for your obvious influence on the results of our visit.

Now the other “Two Heads” of the “Three Headed Dragon”!
1. Sponsorship
2. SportsWORLD

When may we visit?

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Wid

You are invited

"One of my First Trips"

One of my first trips when I got this job 16 years ago was to drive to Flagstaff, AZ to meet with the General Manager of the Snowbowl JR Murray. My intent was to convince him that the Grand Canyon State Games should be a year-round event. I remember distinctly how impressed I was with the reception I received from not only JR but from Brian Beamer, the President of the Flagstaff Ski team and Rick Smith the Director of the High Altitude Center. The meeting took place in the Hart Prairie lodge. JR had set up a nice meeting area, a grease board, and some brochures with information about the Snowbowl and Flagstaff. Thus, the Winter Games were a reality.

We started with skiing and hockey in Flagstaff in our first year. Now 15 years later, we are the largest Winter Sports festival in the country featuring 42 sports and over 10,000 athletes.

This past weekend, in our signature event, the atmosphere was abuzz with Snow. The Flagstaff ski team lead by Lynda Fleischer executed a flawless event. With the help of veteran staff members like Dave Smith from the Snowbowl, Brian Beamer from the Ski Team, and Pat Bell former GCSG employee, the support was strong. Another highlight of the weekend was our very own staff member Tara Heinrichs son, Hayden (age 4) learning to ski for the first time with the help of the very talented ski instructors at Snowbowl. Snow, smiles, and exhilaration were plentiful on the mountain this past weekend.

Thanks JR!

~Wid

"It Wasn't the Same"

After attending our adult Track meet as a part this country's largest amateur Winter Sports festival, featuring over 10,000 athletes in 42 sports, something was missing. James Smith, our Track Commissioner, was fabulous. Tara and Gary were stars as always. The interns were plentiful and tremendously effective. But something was missing.

Michael Slaughter and Roy Clark were not in attendance. They have recently passed away but still stand strong in my mind as stalwarts not only in our community but in the sport of Track and Field. We will do our best to remember their contributions and their intense inspiration they gave to one and all. The Power Player Award will be named in their honor as a small token of our sincere feelings towards these two role model athletes. "Something was missing."

~Wid

Stimulating Creativity and Imagination: 2011 Essay Results Are In

The thoughts are on paper, pens are down, and the judges have completed the task of selecting the medalists. Grand Canyon State Games along with our proud sponsor, Arizona Christian University, formally Southwestern College, received an overwhelming response from 2,487 students from all the public, parochial, private, charter and home schools throughout Arizona and America. This year’s participation brings the fifteen year total of entries to 50,277, ranging from kindergarten to adults from 49 states in the US.



The goal was for the authors to express their dreams and ideas for a successful life and a better community. The essays were written to provide critical thinking and encourage the thought that one person can make a difference in a community. As a reward for the creativity medals will be given out to the top three finishers of all grade levels and the adult age groups. Eleventh grade, twelfth grade and adult participants will also receive scholarships from Arizona Christian University.



To celebrate all the winners, an invitation will be sent out for our Appreciation Banquet on April 29th. This will recognize all art and essay winners, sponsors and volunteers for their dedicated effort and hard work.



Congratulations to all participants!

Below are the list of the essay winners:

Kindergarten:
Gold: Katie Ritchie, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Gold: Krisha Agarwal, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Silver: Jairus Wong, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Silver: Leyna Nguyen, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Bronze: Chinmayi Bhagvat, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Bronze: Kunal Ballapragada, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Honorable Mention: Olivia Zhao, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori
Honorable Mention: Zubin Sidhwa, Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori

First Grade:
Gold: Sadhana Kumar,
Silver: Sloane Jenkins, Bios Christian Academy
Bronze: Shruti Ramkumar,
Honorable Mention: Ashlynn Kooima, Bios Christian Academy

Second Grade:
Gold: John Beate, Circle Cross Ranch
Gold: Clarissa Still, Bios Christian Academy
Silver: Jasmine Martinez, Circle Cross Ranch
Bronze: Macy Krahenbuhl, Circle Cross Ranch
Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Smith, Franklin NorthEast
Honorable Mention: Benjamin Vasey, Bios Christian Academy
Honorable Mention: Elias Crislip, Bios Christian Academy

Third Grade:

Gold: Mila MacLeod, Legend Springs Elem
Gold: Jack Greger, Legend Springs Elem
Gold: Michael H. Ernst, Legend Springs Elem
Silver: Olivia Cabelli, Charter
Silver: Chloe Elisebeth Tinguely, Copper Basin
Bronze: Savannah Hardinger, Copper Basin
Bronze: Trevor Jackson, Copper Basin
Honorable Mention: Sarah Leever, Legend Springs Elem
Honorable Mention: Danny Cetta, Copper Basin

Fourth Grade:

Gold: Sophia Moyer, Benchmark Elementary
Gold: Isabelle Kerns, Circle Cross Ranch
Gold: Jordyn Zurek, Benchmark Elementary
Silver: Bebe Katsenes, Benchmark Elementary
Silver: Will Lachapelle, Benchmark Elementary
Silver: Brady Wiley, Triumphant Learning Center
Bronze: Trerrin Dixon, Triumphant Learning Center
Bronze: Angela Kan, Legend Springs Elementary
Bronze: Savannah Martinez, Circle Cross Ranch
Honorable Mention: Hanna Loughlin, Legend Springs Elem
Honorable Mention: Kyra Ehrlich, Circle Cross Ranch
Honorable Mention: Rachel Clark, TLC
Honorable Mention: Emma Eide, Benchmark
Honorable Mention: Kassie Fischer, Circle Cross Ranch
Honorable Mention: Vara Tummala, Legend Springs Elem

Fifth Grade:
Gold: Kinner Patel, Legend Springs Elem
Silver: Hanna Morgan, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies
Bronze: Bailey Williams, Legend Springs Elem
Honorable Mention: Brittani Rusnak, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies
Honorable Mention: Christina Williamsen, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies

Sixth Grade:
Gold: Diego Silva, Dodge Middle School
Silver: Jiaqi Wen, Legend Springs Elem.
Bronze: Sarah McMahon, Legend Springs Elem.
Honorable Mention: Marlee Baxter, Coatimundi Middle Sch.
Honorable Mention: Megan McMorrow, Cactus Middle Sch.

Seventh Grade:
Gold: Maeve Kennedy, Mesa Academy
Silver: Monica Smith, Circle Cross Ranch
Bronze: Miles Bimrose, Connolly Midle Sch.
Bronze: Sakthi Kumar, Mesa Academy
Honorable Mention: Cayman Williams, Mesa Academy for Advanced Studies
Honorable Mention: Autymn Johnson, Circle Cross Ranch

Eighth Grade:
Gold: Meha Shah, Valley Academy Charter School
Gold: Chloe Cleveland, Bios Christian Academy
Silver: Tessa Williams, MAAS
Silver: Yliana Castillo, Cactus Middle Sch.
Bronze: Nathanael Pierce, Bios Christian Academy
Bronze: Alexis Diaz, Cactus Middle Sch.
Honorable Mention: Makayle Jaimes, Cactus Middle Sch.
Honorable Mention: Madison Gail Zuber, Franklin JR. High

Ninth Grade:
Gold: Alexander Gerard Ryan, Hamilton High
Gold: Jessica Fletcher, Bios Christian Academy
Silver: Lindsay Zapata, Hamilton High School
Silver: Yaneli Montijo, Rio Rico High
Bronze: Ashley Meder, Rio Rico High
Bronze: Patrick William Sarette, Hamilton High
Honorable Mention: Se Eun Amy Chung, Hamilton High
Honorable Mention: Diego A. Martinez, Westwood High
Honorable Mention: Marcus Schultz, Westwood High

Tenth Grade:
Gold: Benjamin Philip Palmer, Home School
Gold: Megan Babitt, Freedom Christian Academy
Silver: Elizabeth Bradley, Hamilton H.S.
Silver: Angelina McCaster, Hamilton H.S.
Bronze: Jakub Stechly, Hamilton H.S.
Bronze: Renae Hintze, Xavier College Prep
Honorable Mention: Reid Pierce, Bios Christian Academy
Honorable Mention: Jamie McNair, Xavier College Prep
Honorable Mention: Meredith Beasley, Xavier College Prep
Honorable Mention: Tori Colgan, Bios Christian Academy
Honorable Mention: Shelby Sparrow, Hamilton H.S.
Honorable Mention: Megan Ward, Xavier College Prep

Eleventh Grade:
Gold: Jacob Gregory Davis, Benson H.S.
Silver: Lorenzo D. Tervya, Poston Butte H.S.
Bronze: Dafina Haliti, Cortez H.S.
Honorable Mention: Samantha Edmiston, Benson H.S.
Honorable Mention: Jessica Naranjo, Poston Butte H.S.
Honorable Mention: Kimberly Brogan, Benson H.S.
Honorable Mention: Hallie Hillner, Poston Butte H.S.

Twelfth Grade:
Gold: Meadeshia Mitchell, Hartford, CT
Silver: Tamara Choate, Benson H.S.
Bronze: Savannah Quiroz, Benson H.S.
Bronze: Beth Sneed, Bios Christian Academy
Honorable Mention: Andrew Duran, Center for Academic Success
Honorable Mention: Vishra Patel, Village Academy H.S. (CA)
Honorable Mention:Emily Macrane, Bios Christian Academy
Honorable Mention: Shante A. Adkins, Agua Fria H.S.
Honorable Mention: Megan A. Sanchez, San Manuel H.S.

Adult Division 25+:
Gold: Brian J. Zahn
Silver: Ruthann Lundering
Silver: Mitzi Racine
Bronze: Swarna Sitaraman

Adult Division 19-24:
Gold: Kelley Levine
Silver: Celeste D. Orton
Bronze: Briana Radosevich
Honorable Mention: Janet Gutierrez
Honorable Mention: Rica Garcia
Honorable Mention: Kate Kautzky

SPANISH
12th Grade
Gold: Paola Hurtado, Cortez H.S.


Top Ten Schools With the Most Student Participation

Large Schools:

1. Legend Springs Elementary

2. Poston Butte High School

3. Circle Cross Ranch

4. Copper Basin

5. San Manuel JR High

Small Schools:

1. Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori

2. Mesa Academy for the Advanced Studies

3. Bios Christian Academy

4. Triumphant Learning Center

5. Dodge Middle School

~Wid

Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get Healthy!

Get Up!
I can't!
Without the support of my lovely wife Cinda, I am not able as of yet, to get up from my knee machine that ensures constant movement for range of motion and my ice machine that’s on 24/7 to percent swelling. Both important factors in my rehab!

Get Active!
I actually got in trouble at the hospital for being overzealous in my activity. My one hour surgery turned into 3 hours due to the massive cleanup job my doctor had to do to fix the debris left over from the first two knee operations some 40 years ago. The price I have paid for the great game of football! I, in fact, set up a chin bar and used my stretch cord and attempted to push my limits. I have to stay active smarter and mind the doctor’s orders, but I did get out of the hospital one day early. I am on a fast road to recovery.

Get Involved!
I encourage all of you to stay involved in whatever makes your own world go around, whether it be family, friends, work, your faith... It is extremely important to prioritize the importance things in life.

Get Healthy!
Without your health you are nothing. We, too often, take our health for granted, as I have been reminded minute by minute through this ordeal. A special thanks to everyone that has expressed their support and encouragement. I can't thank you enough but I can try!

Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get Healthy!
~Wid