Outside the Lines

Gala a resounding success
By all accounts, the annual gala in support of the local Boys and Girls Club proved to be a most satisfying event. Early estimates indicate a profit similar to last year’s $20,000 total.  From the raffle drawings, to the auctions, to the program, to the food provided from the Servicemen’s club Foxhole menu, the large crowd in attendance seemed to have an enjoyable and entertaining evening.
The live auction generated a lot of spirited action, and baked and canned goods proved particularly attractive to bidders.  When one keeps in mind that all the profits from the gala go towards upkeep and programming for the year’s schedule at the club, it is even easier to express support at this community event. A tip of the hat this week to the Blooming Prairie community for the continued support, both in volunteer service and monetary donations, to the club activities.  Well done, everyone.
Season winding down
While the basketball girls were easily wrapping up an undefeated conference schedule, the boys were playing one of their best games of the season, at least at home, when they battled No. 9 ranked Maple River down to the last minute of their game last Friday. 
 In fact, they had chances to win the game, I thought, but for a couple of turnovers and a coupe of erratic shot attempts in the last minute of play. I think that is the second or third time that a victory was in their grasp, only to find a way to lose the momentum late in the contest. 
Anyway, it was a hard-fought and well-played game, with both teams unafraid to get a little bruised diving and scrambling for the ball.  Earlier in the week, they defeated Bethlehem Academy at Faribault, and the team deserves a tip of the hat for their efforts in both games last week.
The basketball girls had a rather easy week in claiming the Gopher conference championship, but they now have three games left before the playoffs.  The opposition comes against three teams with winning records, and the girls will have to be playing good basketball if they want to keep their overall record at just two losses. 
It should be a very interesting week and a half before the playoffs begin. By the way, the wrestling team will be participating in the playoffs starting this week.  The team competition will not affect them much, but the individual section tournament next week offers a few Blossoms wrestlers a chance to move on in competition. Good luck to the wrestlers.
Rumpza opts for Winona State
BPHS senior, John Rumpza, last week signed a national letter of intent to play college football at Winona State University, after mulling offers in both basketball and football.  
“A couple of years ago, basketball may have been my first choice,” remarked the 6’7”’ Rumpza, “but now football is definitely my first love, and I didn’t entertain basketball ambitions at all. 
That is probably a no-brainer when one considers his football career at BPHS.  Just last fall he threw for 3,133 yards on 194 of 297 pass attempts.  He threw for 44 touchdowns, with only 3 interceptions all year.  In his career, he is the second-leading touchdown passer in state history with 112 tallies, and he passed for a total of 8, 856 yards,
Rumpza is not only an exceptional athlete, but he also excels in academics and other activities in and out of the classroom..  As Coach Chad Gimbel remarked, “WSU is getting a great football player, but Rumpza is also a great kid, an excellent student, a born leader, and a tough competitor.”
Rumpza will redshirt his freshman season and then play a year behind present WSU quarterback Jack Nelson.  If anyone ever deserved a tip of the hat, it goes this week to an extraordinary athlete and school citizen John Rumpza.  Congratulations and the best of luck in the future.
SNOW ROYALTY PICKED
Another big tip of the hat this week to Taylor Hagen and Jake Decker, who were chosen by their fellow students to reign over the Snow Week activities at BPHS.  A number of special days followed the annual coronation program last Monday, and all indications were that the various events generated a lot of fun at the high school. 
 It all culminated with a Snow Dance on Saturday night.  More interesting yet, was the fact that it even snowed on a couple of the days last week.  The period between Christmas and spring is always a tough few months to get through and this break in the routine usually helps everyone through a melancholy segment of the school year.  I hope the students enjoyed the little variation from the normal.  Congrats to the Prince and Princess and to the other students up for the honor.  They were all deserving candidates.
ANOTHER SPORTS GIANT DIES
Late word came over the weekend that Dean Smith, the coach with the most game victories, until very recently, died on Saturday.  Smith coached at North Carolina for many years, and he year in and year out had one of the best college basketball teams in the nation. All college basketball fans will certainly miss his presence, although he had not appeared in public for some time.
  Time to go, but continue to think spring, and we’ll talk again.