MLA boys basketball players from Mountain Lake’s Public, Christian mentor students in their classrooms
Mountain Lake Area (MLA) Wolverine boys basketball players continued their annual tradition of a “basketball court-to-classroom-connection” during this week’s student mentoring time known as “Elementary Week.” A total 34 varsity and B-squad players, in grades nine through 12, are helping in elementary classrooms from kindergarten-to-sixth-grade this week at both Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) and Mountain Lake Christian Elementary (MLC).
Shawn Naas, Wolverine boys basketball head coach, began the tradition when he took over the top coaching spot 23 years ago as a way for the high school players to tutor and provide role models for the younger students.
The week will reach its climax tomorrow (Friday, February 10), when elementary students from both schools converge on the public school auditorium for “Elementary Night” as the Wolverines take on the Fulda Raiders. Admission for students is $2 or a student activity pass. The freshman game starts at 5 p.m., and the B-squad tip-off is at 6 p.m., with the varsity tango to follow.
A special section of seats will be reserved just for elementary students. Prior to the varsity game, MLES sixth-grade students, led by the school’s grades 6-12 vocal instructor, Andrea Brinkman, will share the National Anthem. Halftime entertainment is also scheduled for both the B-squad and varsity games. At the half of the B-game, kindergarten-through-third-grade Saturday basketball players will be performing. At the mid-game mark of the varsity game, winners of both the MLES and MLC grades 3-6 Free Throw contests will be announced. Also at the varsity half, prizes will be given away to registered elementary students.
The week of activities is sponsored by the MLA Boys’ Basketball Program.
This year’s group of Wolverine basketball players participating as classroom assistants, and their grade, includes:
Mountain Lake Public Elementary
Kelli Tucholke’s kindergarten classroom – Braden Rempel (10).
Nicole James’ kindergarten classroom – Junior Louangsaphakdy (11).
Kim Blomgren’s first-grade classroom – Tommy Kraemer (12), Ryan Blomgren (10) and Drake Harder (10).
Stacey Stade’s first-grade classroom – Sam Grev (12), Kade Kremmin (9).
Mikkala Hup’s second-grade classroom – Weston Osland (11), Eli Karschnik (10)
Joan Raabe’s second-grade classroom – Travis Willaby (11).
Jennifer Fast’s third-grade classroom – Brodie Freeman (11) and A. J. Vongsy.
Marilyn Tusa’s third-grade classroom – Hunter Dahna (12), Adam Karschnik (9)
Pamela Anderson’s Anderson’s fourth-grade classroom – Regan Syverson (10) and Emilio Garcia (9)
Stephanie Willaby’s fourth-grade classroom – Aaron Fast (12), A. J. Vongsy (11), Eli Karschnik (10) and Sam Paulson (9).
Nate Brinkman’s fifth-grade classroom – Marcus Boyd (11) and Collin Hampel (10).
Cheri Strom’s fifth-grade classroom – Kris Menken (11) and Jon Faber (9).
Kyle Blomgren’s sixth-grade classroom – Andrew Fast (12), Josiah Gardiner (10) and Brandon Louangsaphakdy (9).
Annette Kunkel’s sixth-grade classroom – David Larson (10), Paton Buller (9) and Spencer Khamvongsa (9).
Principal Karl Wassman Lunch Duty – Joel Salgado (9), Isaac Grev (9) and Fletcher Hanson (9).
Mountain Lake Christian Elementary
Assisting in various classrooms – Levi Stoesz (12), Abraham Stoesz (9) and Bryce Adrian (9).
