No one takes credit for Swish success
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| 2011 Swsh director Ron Sukenik had a lot of traveling to do over the course of the two-day event, and he had a secret weapon to get him there! |
"It" was the sweetest and smoothest Bonners Ferry Swish to take place to date.
Director Ron Sukenik said he didn't do all that much, and couldn't have done it without everyone else. The Bonners Ferry Rotary Club, official event organizers, seems to think it all just happened by itself, too, though more than 30 of its 38 members were walking around with prized pale yellow T-shirts identifying them as official volunteers.
"It's not about me," Sukenik said, "It's about the volunteers and sponsors. It couldn't happen without them."
Brett Brown and Brad Hollifield both said they're glad the responsibility didn't once again fall in their lap, even though the work they did this year was little diminished from that of the three years prior.
"It was fantastic," Sukenik said. "Flawless."
Seventy teams, 269 basketball players and one main street all combined to make for one great hoops weekend.
Neither the Rotary nor Sukenik were able to shift the credit, but both tried. No matter where you looked this weekend, you found local civic groups, local businesses and local people throwing in together to make everyone welcome and prove why Bonners Ferry deserves the title of the state's friendliest city.
There were Masons, Lions, Eagles, the Chamber of Commerce, Beta Sigma Phi. Bonners Ferry High School athletes competing, Bonners Ferry High School cheerleaders cheering them on, at least one member of the school board out in the heat as a court monitor.
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| Britta Petersen |
"I got a call a few weeks ago from a young woman who said she was working at the Boundary Creek Wildlife Management area for the summer, that she loves basketball and wants to play, but doesn't know many people here," Sukenik said. "I put the word out, and eventually found two more players, and Boundary Abstract graciously sponsored them."
It turns out that the woman who called him was Britta Peterson, a senior at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, who happens to be a four-year all-star, 2011 www.D3hoops.com player of the year, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year, fourth place on the Pointer scoring list with 1,511 career points, second in school history with 664 made field goals, leading team scorer with an average of 14.6 points per game, second in shooting percentage at 58-percent, having hit 188 of 324 shots her senior year.
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| DAD! how much bigger do I have to be to play Swish! |
They fell in their first match ... the first time the three women played together as a team, to Lavendar and Roses; Becky Lowther, Lacey Dinning and Jennita Baker, 17-20, but found their stride in game two, defeating the Allie-Oops 17-10 and then the Salty Pirates 17-14 to make their way back into championship competition, where they once again faced Lavendar and Roses, who won the division, 18-16.
Britta echoed the sentiments of nearly all who participated, Sukenik said.
"Winning would have been great, but I haven't had this much fun in years!"
And at the end of the summer, when her work here is finished and she returns home, she's taking with her memories and friendships that will likely last a lifetime.
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| "Me, too ... check out my moves! Am I the next Seth Franco or what?! |
For a full list of teams, team members and winners, click here.
As mentioned earlier, Sukenik is loathe to claim accolades.
"This was so great," he said. "The prior years' directors (Brett Brown, Brad Hollifield) were fully involved, and we had a core group of volunteers (Anita Stockdale, Collette Allen, Jan Klopfenstien and Robert Hanover) who were there every step of the way. I'm not kidding ... we had an organizational meeting Friday evening to take care of all the last-minute details, and when I walked into that room and saw how many people were there, I choked up. It was amazing, That's when it hit me ... this isn't about one person or one group ... this is truly a community event."
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| Idaho National Guardsmen keep a weather eye out as kids challenge a vertical "rock" climb ... an attraction that was seldom without a waiting line. |
A business not yet even open yet, Mike Naumann's Kootenai Brewing Company, opened a beer garden, marking an unofficial debut after Saturday's games that earned rave reviews.
And while the focus was defintely on basketball, there were other activities, including a huge hit with the kids, a rock climbing mountain manned by the Idaho National Guard a bounce room and a huge slide.
Even old folks had a great time.
"Why aren't you out there playing?" I asked former county commissioner Murreleen Skeen. "They don't have a category old enough for me!" she laughed.
They did have categories for nine young members of the Skeen clan, and Murreleen was there to cheer for each of them. Another former county commissioner, Merle Dinning, was on the sidelines as well, and he looked ready to don shorts and play!
And while the work was fast-paced, even the volunteers doing it were having fun.
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| The pale yellow shirts of Swish 2011 are a mark of prestige, signifying a volunteer. And the jobs aren't always easy. Court monitors Corey Richardson and David Brinkman were among many who lived up to the challenge. |
Members from Boundary Volunteer Ambulance manned an aid station.
"Nothing but a few sprains, cuts and scrapes," Allan Hamilton said as his wife, Vicky, watched the action.
KBFI's JoJo Baker was at courtside, calling action, making announcements and playing music (hint, JoJo ... next year, go a little more up-tempo!)
Making it all happen, in addition to those already mentioned, were Caitlin Alexander, Roger Alexander, Lindo Alt, Don Alt and John Alt. Kenny Baker, Jonathon Bard, Tom Barrows, Steve Binnall, Chris Boeckman, Dolly Boling (who not only volunteered, but opened her store, Hucleberries, to make sure everyone had batteries and all the other things needed), Norm Braatz, Patti Branson, David Brinkman, Megan Brown and Tom Bushnell.
Kevin Callos threw in, as did Kristie Campbell, Patrick Carson, Scott Coogan, the inestimable Marciavee Cossette, Carrie Cox, Mike Cox, Wilma DeVore and her husband Larry. Jean Diehl was there, as were Larry Dirks, Zane Dittman, Jack Douglas and his wife April, Jim Dunnington, Jennifer English, Ketta Everhart, Penny Fairchild, Joel Field, Jackie Gale, Bill Goodanetz, Dave Gray and Dottie, Shawna Gust, Rona Hall, Bob Hall, Fred Hendrickson, Corey Hendry, Angela Hittle, Dick Hollenbeck (without his dog, Scout ... click and scroll down), Clarence Jones, Chamber of Commerce angel Brittany Kersavage, Kirsten Madden, Ed Madden and MAs orris McAllister.
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| Swish isn't all about itself, but it is about synergy ... and it's working. From runs to rides to fairs, festivals and three on three tournaments, Bonners Ferry is living up to its reputation as the "Friendliest Town in Idaho." |
Corey Richards was there to officiate, Barb Robertson, she of the golden voice, was too, alongside her husband, Ken, who as former Badger basketball coach may well have helped account for a bit of the talent seen on the tarmac.
Drew Sanders, Jake Sanders, Leslie Shelton and Paul Shelton. Tony Shope, David Sims, Eric Skeen, Murreleen Sken, and Ron and Evelyn Smith. Don Solum, Karen South, Chase Stanley, Jessica Stebbins and LeAnn Sukenik, who had as terrible a time trying to keep track of her husband, Ron, as did journalists trying to find a minute!
"He took off down there to take down the goal," she said, pointing off yon as events wound down on day two.
Tom Sumpter was there, as was Badger baseball coach Tom Turpin. So was Jennifer VanEtten, Chamber president Rhea Verbanic, Rhonda Vogl, Sam Wallace, Panhandle State Bank president Dave Walter and his wife, longtime BFHS teacher Brenda, Caleb Watt, Zack Wilson, Bob Wynhausen and Blanche Youngwirth.
There were even volunteers who just showed up too late to be added to the "official" list, Audrey Schenk, Elaine Atkins, Mariah Munson, Barb Sargent, Savannah Alt, Jake Wilson, Alexander DeMarco, Dan Hill, Tom Ulappa.
And likely many more who pitched in and weren't mentioned at all, and who don't mind.
Despite the great job he did, Ron's assessment is pretty much what's expected of such an event in Boundary County.
"It was great, and it just happened."