Metro Sports Report

Zach's event adds to Elmcrest's rich tradition

This coming Monday, Zach Johnson and friends are putting on the biggest pro-am this area has ever seen.

A Masters champion (Johnson), a British Open champion (Stewart Cink), next year’s coach of the Ryder Cub team (Davis Love III) and a soon-to-be NFL Hall of Famer (Kurt Warner) among others are going to be at  Elmcrest County Club for Johnson’s first Kids On Course fundraiser.

I thought I might spend a few paragraphs on my experiences at Elmcrest. With that, we go back to the 1930s and early ‘40s when the course was called Kenmore. It was a public course, owned by a gentleman from Ottumwa. Many of the greens that were put in during the 1930s are still of championship quality today.

The course consisted of a little shack by the first tee, manned by the gentleman pro golfer named Charlie Burkart. He gave golf lessons, took green fees and sold hot dogs. Later on in this area, he became one of the most beloved golf pros this city has ever known.

Exertional heat illness: A hidden hazard

This week high school athletes begin battling one another for starting positions on their football teams during two-a-day practice sessions. They’ll also be taking on a more subtle but extremely dangerous opponent – the summer heat.

Research indicates that the subtle signs and symptoms associated with exertional heat illness are often overlooked. This may result in potentially more serious problems for athletes than most of us realize.

Because there are several types of exertional heat illness, including muscle cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and hyponatremia, I will define each type and briefly discuss treatment guidelines.

Exercise-associated muscle cramps:

Definition: These painful muscle cramps (especially in the legs) occur during or after exercise and are thought to be associated with dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and fatigue.

Treatment: Activity should be stopped and fluid replacement started immediately. This should include water and sport drinks that contain sodium and other electrolytes. Your athletic trainer should provide these on site for all practices and in the training room after practice.

A recumbent position will help distribute the fluids to your legs. As the cramping eases, light massage and gentle stretching can be started.

Chicchelly joining Wartburg's stellar wrestling team

Braxton Chicchelly already knew a lot about the ultra-successful Wartburg College wrestling program when he was looking to pick a school this spring.

To top it off, he got a ringing endorsement of Wartburg Coach Jim Miller from somebody he trusts.

Chicchelly's father, Chris, wrestled for Miller when Miller was an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa before he began his remarkable career at Wartburg.

"My dad knows him pretty well," Chicchelly said.

That closed the deal for Chicchelly, a three-time state qualifier from Xavier High School who finished fourth at 130 pounds in the Class 3A meet this year.

Chicchelly was hoping to wrestle at UNI himself, but when that did not materialize he focused on Wartburg and Coe College before selecting the Knights.

Marion falls to No.1 Solon in semifinals

DES MOINES - No excuses, no apologies, no serious regrets.

The Marion Indians made it all the way to the semifinals of the Class 3A state baseball tournament this season before running into one of the best clubs in Iowa.

The top-ranked Solon Spartans collected 17 hits and squashed the Indians, 11-2, Friday afternoon to end Marion's season on an overcast day at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Solon (38-4) won the Class 2A state title last year and will be aiming for the 3A crown Saturday night with a lineup filled with college-bound athletes.

The Marion Indians (27-17) fell short, but they went further in the state tournament than any team in school history and posted the only win at the state tourney in MHS annals.

It didn't look good for Marion in May when two of their top pitchers decided not to play baseball this year and another got hurt, but the Indians rallied and had a strong season.

"It's kind of a storybook year, really. Quite incredible," said Coach Steve Fish. "It's been a fantastic year."