A Willmar graduate is known by a certain segment of the Metro radio audience as "the Biggest Vikings Fan in the Twin Cities."
That would be Karen Jorschumb, who graduated from here in 1987. Then Karen Berkeland, she was in the band and played tennis.
She knew nothing about football, although her boyfriend and future husband, Steve Jorschumb, played on the line and captained the 1985 Willmar team.
Karen has a five-minute radio show each Monday and Friday morning during the Vikings' season on KS95, a pop music and talk station.
She's billed as the "Momcaster."
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She got her gig a year ago by winning a contest.
"I was listening to the station last September (2006) and they said they wanted a 'Momcaster' who loved football and was a big Vikings fan," said Karen by phone from her home in Bloomington. "They set up a contest with me and another mom. We did some play-by-play and had a trivia contest and I won by a phone vote."
She concedes it wasn't exactly a scientific vote, saying, "My brother-in-law called in the deciding vote."
He mentioned that Karen was related to Vikings' kicker Ryan Longwell (a second cousin whom she has not met), perhaps impacting the decision.
What makes up her twice-weekly show?
"I usually spend an hour in research trying for some tidbits hopefully no one else has. I always predict a Vikings' victory, so they call me the 'Eternal Optimist.'
She also rattles off a recipe each show that is suitable for tailgating.
Jorschumb graduated from St. Cloud State University and currently works as an accountant for Cargill.
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She does the radio show from home after dropping off the children, Emily, 8, and Colby, 5, at school. Steve, who also wrestled at Willmar, works for the city of Bloomington and is a volunteer fireman.
She was a football widow until confronting Steve during a Vikings' telecast.
"I got sick of being ignored on Sunday," she said. "I said 'Teach me this silly game.' Now it's his entire fault. He's created a monster."
KS95 morning show hosts Greg and Melissa brought her back for a second year this fall. She says she'd drop her daytime job for radio in a moment if she could get paid for it.
What's her spin for the Detroit game this Sunday?
"I'm definitely predicting a win," she said. "The Lions are on the skids. The Vikings are headed in the other direction."
Spoken like a true fan.
On the fly
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n Andrea Brown and Callie Nelsen will play key roles for the Gustavus Adolphus softball team next spring. Brown started in right field as a freshman, but can also catch or play third. With the graduation of senior Joyce DeWitz, Nelsen expects to share the starting duties with Betsie Collins. Both backed up DeWitz last spring. The Gusties held eight practices and a scrimmage this fall.
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n Sam Sussenguth and the North Dakota State Bison, currently 3-3, play the Minnesota Gophers at Williams Arena at 8 p.m. on Monday. The 6-8 Willmar graduate, the first forward/post off the bench, is averaging 4.5 points and 5 rebounds per game.
n In boys hockey, Brainerd and St. Cloud Tech are the teams to catch in the Central Lakes. But Little Falls again will be exciting with the Hanowski brothers (Ben and Beau) back. Jared Festler, the Flyers' top scorer, opted to spend his senior year playing for Lincoln (Neb.) in the USHL. Fergus Falls returns high-scoring Cody Peck.
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n Junior Mahad Hassan and sophomore Jackie Johnson were named boys and girls MVP, respectively, for Cardinal cross-country. Hassan, who finished fourth in the state meet, ran at the Midwest Footlocker Cross-Country Championships on Saturday in Racine, Wis., finishing in the top 40 among 200 runners in the seeded division.
