Press-Gazette boys track and field athlete of the year: Blahnik wraps career with discus title

As if Kennedy’s success wasn’t enough, Zach Blahnik was named Press-Gazette boys track and field athlete of the year as well…

There was something about the WIAA state track and field meet that always made Zach Blahnik feel a bit uneasy.

Perhaps it was the endless the anticipation of warm-ups or the pressure of being a top seed in the Division 3 discus every year since he was a sophomore.

Whatever it was, Blahnik wanted to make sure he felt at home during his fourth and final state appearance this year, so he brought a slice of it with him to La Crosse.

The morning of the first day of competition, Blahnik lined his Super 8 motel room with all the comforts of Algoma, setting up his Playstation 3, popping in Battlefield 3 and letting his mind drift away from the track.

A two-time state champion in the shot put, Blahnik failed to qualify in the event after battling a persistent groin injury, but still entered as the top seed in the D3 discus once more.

However, Blahnik’s feelings toward the discus were mixed. He scratched on all three preliminary throws at state during his sophomore year before taking second as a junior despite having his worst showing of the season.

With one last shot at redemption, he didn’t leave anything to chance. Fully decompressed and rejuvenated, a relaxed Blahnik not only captured his first state title in the event but also broke the D3 state record with a toss of 175 feet, 6 inches.

For his efforts, Blahnik is the 2012 Press-Gazette boys track and field athlete of the year.” via Press-Gazette boys track and field athlete of the year: Blahnik wraps career with discus title | Green Bay Press Gazette | greenbaypressgazette.com.

Zach, too, is a great kid and I’m grateful for the way he’s taken my son Quin under his wing and helped him along…

June 29, 2012 0

Algoma’s Kennedy Blahnik Named Gatorade Athlete Of The Year

Couldn’t happen to a nicer kid!

In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, announced Kennedy Blahnik of Algoma High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade Wisconsin Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Blahnik is the first Gatorade Wisconsin Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Algoma High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track, distinguishes Blahnik as Wisconsin’s best high school girls track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year award to be announced in June, Blahnik joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Allyson Felix (2001-02, Los Angeles Baptist, Calif.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt HS, Ia.) and Bianca Knight (2006-07, Ridgeland HS, Miss.).

The 5-foot-9 sophomore thrower won two individual state championships this spring and led the Wolves to a third-place finish as a team at the Division 3 state meet. Blahnik set a state record in the shot put with an effort of 47 feet, 11 inches and launched the discus 146 feet, three inches. A two-time First Team All-State selection, Blahnik was undefeated in both her signature events in 2012. Her state meet shot distance ranked as the nation’s No. 16 throw by a prep competitor at the time of her selection.

Blahnik has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of her church community, she has served as the treasurer and vice president of her graduating class and volunteered locally as a vacation bible camp counselor.

“Kennedy Blahnik is an exceptional track and field athlete in our area,” said Duane DuMez, head coach at Kohler High. “The fact that she is throwing this well at such a young age and has already broken state records is a remarkable accomplishment.”

Blahnik will begin her junior year of high school this fall.” via Algoma’s Kennedy Blahnik Named Gatorade Athlete Of The Year | Door County Daily News.

Kennedy is a good friend of my son Quin’s — she kicks his a$$ in the weight room — and I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow up over the years. Not only is she a great athlete, but a super scholar and nice person as well. Kudos to Kennedy, and her mom and dad Terri and Dean as well…

June 29, 2012 0

Surface Computing: The iDesk Final Frame

Tech | Apartment Therapy via Surface Computing: The iDesk Final Frame.

June 29, 2012 0

Your moment of zen

via Your moment of zen.

June 29, 2012 0

The Top 10 Habits of Grateful People

“‘Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” — Henry Ward Beecher.

It is no secret that gratefulness is correlated with life satisfaction and happiness. Countless research findings, particularly in the rapidly emerging field of Positive Psychology, have shown that gratefulness and life satisfaction go hand in hand. Those who tend to be more grateful rather than bitter are generally more positive, more satisfied with their lives, and will be able to see the silver lining even on cloudy days.Despite this intuitive understanding of the importance of gratefulness, all too often when life throws us curve balls, this grateful mindset all but disappears. It certainly is easier to be grateful when you are on a winning team and things go in your favor. However, the true test of resiliency and gratefulness is when life does not go your way. If you find yourself losing more than you are winning, and can’t seem to get over past regrets, disappointments and life’s injustices, gratefulness is overturned by a sense of injustice. Experiencing loss, frustration and even trauma, especially if we feel blindsided, certainly can make it difficult not to indulge in negative feelings. After all, we might wonder, when things go wrong what really do we have to be grateful about? No matter what happens to us, if we “dig deep” we often can find that there is really plenty to be thankful for in our lives. The following are the 10 top habits of people who remain steadfast in their ability to be grateful, and can temper the blows life gives them with an unwavering “attitude of gratitude” mindset: The Top 10 Habits of Grateful People…Even In Tough Times.

June 29, 2012 2

Makers gonna make

Holy Kaw! via Makers gonna make.

June 29, 2012 0

It Has Only Been Recently in History that Many Christian Groups Began Viewing Drinking as Sinful

Reference via It Has Only Been Recently in History that Many Christian Groups Began Viewing Drinking as Sinful.

June 29, 2012 0

Cantilevering Swimming Pool Embedded In Residential Layout

Interior Design, Design News & Architecture Blog Magazine. Get more here: Cantilevering Swimming Pool Embedded In Residential Layout.

June 29, 2012 1

Young Winston Churchill in uniform, 1895

Get more here: Young Winston Churchill in uniform, 1895.

June 29, 2012 1

Don’t you miss “do-overs”?

Anderson Layman’s Blog via Don’t you miss “do-overs”?……….

June 29, 2012 2

What do people think about your idea?

Lead.Learn.Live. via T.G.I.F. w Dilbert.

June 29, 2012 0

Cool!

Live & Learn

A mixture of coloured water and milk shot at 5000 frames per second.

Image Source: Explore

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June 29, 2012 0

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Updated

LOL. David Kanigan delivers again! Lead.Learn.Live. via Modernized Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs….

June 29, 2012 0

Daisy in the Dark

Pops Digital via Daisy in the Dark.

June 29, 2012 0

Dog Restrainer, 1940

Looks like a tool for rich people who want to own a dog but don’t actually want to touch it. What will they think of next? Source: LIFE Archive via Dog Restrainer, 1940.

June 29, 2012 0

A man must know his destiny

A man must know his destiny. If he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.” George S. Patton. via George S. Patton: A man must know his destiny : All SWAGGA.com.

June 29, 2012 0

Take It Slow

The Daily Love via Visual Inspiration: Take It Slow.

June 29, 2012 0

Listen Up! Your Body Has Something To Tell You This Weekend…

The weekend is almost here, the finish line is waiting for you… you can do it!

If you’re crossing the line feeling a little worse for wear and carrying the load of the week on your back – your mind and body are probably calling out for some well-deserved rest…..however you have other plans.

There’s that amazing party tonight, spin class tomorrow morning, followed by lunch with friends, shopping, some work in the afternoon, drinks in the evening, your nieces birthday on Sunday and then dinner at your parent’s house. You’re exhausted just thinking about it, but it’s nothing that a bit of coffee and concealer can’t fix, right?

But then the next week comes and follows a similar pattern and the coffee and concealer aren’t doing the job and you feel a cold coming on. Sound familiar?

Why don’t we listen to our body when it’s telling us to slow down? We often think we can trick it into thinking we’re fine, but the truth is your mind and body are connected, so any stress felt in your mind, will also be felt in your body and vise versa.

So this weekend, if you feel your mind and body are begging for some respite, listen to what their synchronized little voices are saying! Even if you can only squeeze in an hour or two – your body will thank you for it!

Here’s a few of our favorite ways to give our mind and bodies a little lovin’:

Cancel any early morning classes or activities – wake up naturally, then treat yourself to breakfast in bed and snuggle up with a book. Don’t entertain any feelings of guilt for not going to that spin class!

Get in touch with nature – go for a walk in your favorite park or if you can, escape to the countryside or to the beach for a few hours. It’s amazing how quickly the cares of the week float away after a hike or when watching a sunset and becoming mesmerized by its beauty. Not only is this good therapy for the mind and body, it’s these precious moments where some of the best dreams or plans are born.

Avoid emotionally draining or negative people. Perhaps you have plans with a friend or family member who has a tendency to complain about their life in great detail every time you meet. After two coffees and a piece of cake with them, you end up leaving feeling deflated and heavy – and that’s not from the post sugar and caffeine come down either! Cancel your plans with them and stay at home and make yourself a cake instead!

Eat well and laugh with someone you love. Go to your favorite local restaurant with someone special and spend the afternoon putting the world to rights, eat some good food and most importantly, laugh!

What are your best ways to unwind? Tell us what sends you to your happy place!” via Listen Up! Your Body Has Something To Tell You This Weekend….