Most famous person in Waseca

A lot of things jump to my mind as I sit down to write this evening. 

I’m pretty sure Dave Zika is famous, at least in Waseca. Compliments for Dave and his writing keep on coming. I’m grateful to have him on our team here at the paper. 

This week has been somewhat of an adventure in the ‘newsing’ world. Much of what I’ve been doing is laying some foundations for future weeks. 

The Waseca band went to Florida this week. I had originally intended to take photos of the sports teams, but when I began talking with Waseca sports coaches via email on Friday I learned too many people were missing for me to get the photos I wanted. Then I called down to the school to talk to activities director Joe and, well, he was on vacation. I told the nice lady I was talking to about my intention to show up to practices that afternoon. I was met with a hearty “good luck.”

So I showed up. I knocked out a couple interviews, took photos of the baseball team and scheduled photos for the Track, Softball, Golf, and Tennis squads. 

Tennis hadn’t started practice yet. Golf only had half of their team. Softball was scrimmaging in Austin. And, well, the tracksters were all there but sometimes I hear grumbles from the females on these teams when they don’t know their pictures are going to be taken.

But baseball, there was no good reason I couldn’t take their pictures. 

Good luck indeed. 

Golf has a new coach, Tony Schied. 

I spoke briefly with him and learned he’s a Waseca teacher. I look forward to learning more.

I talked to coach Dave of the track team. He was great to chat with. He’s been head coach since 1999 and I’ve only been alive since 1997 so he had a lot to say. 

Taylor Phelps coaches baseball and is preparing for year number two. He served as an assistant prior to taking over the head job. He’s a nice young man, but I can tell the difference between folks with a couple years under their belt compared to a lifetime. 

What I mean is, Taylor seemed a little nervous and Dave was cool as a cucumber. So when I was done interviewing Taylor, as soon as my microphone was off I asked, “So how do you actually think they’re gonna do?” 

He didn’t miss a beat and looked like he relaxed a bit as we talked for another five minutes or so off the record. I didn’t follow last year’s team all that closely, but when Dave Zika and the Nelson brothers start talking sports in my office, I learn real quick. 

My head baseball coach used the strategy of putting our best pitcher against a team's worst pitcher. We were a so-so team and by doing this in the regular season we ensured we beat the teams that we should beat. Instead of losing close games, we had our best ace on the mound and they had their worst. It was all about matchups. Taylor assured me he would “match competition with competition” this season. But he did get a smile and laugh when he learned of this “alternative” coaching method.  

Back when I first began planning for this newspaper I knew it would take some adjusting from folks. People down at the school aren’t used to having the media there as often as we are. And people in the community, I don’t think, are used to having members of the local paper out and about as often as we are. 

It’s a learning experience for all of us. 

Oh, so speaking of things on my mind, I turn the page to a more somber point. 

My cousin Taya called me today asking for a photo. My friend Bryant (Taya’s husband) died in October of 2022 and she and family were creating the headstone/footstone. They wanted to use a photo I took and wanted the original. I never thought when I took that photo or any photo for that matter, that it would be used this way. It was a really good photo. I think about my friend every day. When I’m having a bad day I think it would be nice to see him. And when I’m having a good day, I want him there. It’s really hard to lose a lifelong friend. 

Back to ‘newsing.’

Saturday Deb and I went to visit the Root family in New Richland to learn about their family history which includes 5 brothers who all served in WWII. We were surprised to find we were treated to lunch and a mini family reunion all at the same time. It was only supposed to be me; Nona, 94; and her son Ron. Well, Buddy Root, his wife, Greg Jewison, Kathy (Nona’s daughter) and three others via phone call also showed up. 

We had a splendid time. 

Three hours, two full bellies and many stories later, my Saturday afternoon was complete. 

Here’s to another week.

“I think all good reporting is the same thing – the best attainable version of the truth.” — Carl Bernstein