Disa Daucsavage, then Disa Hillstrom, came to Willmar in 2000 as a classroom teacher and second-generation running coach. She has presided over the most successful decade in the cross-county program's history, including six conference titles and consecutive boys state championships, with co-coach Jerry Popp, in 2005 and '06.
She has resigned her coaching post and began maternity leave from her first-grade classroom at Kennedy this week.
"We're expecting four babies in the next four weeks," said Daucsavage. "The doctor was surprised I was able to work this long. I'm suppose to get off my feet and rest."
She and her husband, Trevor, have a three-year-old son. After the shock, "We are just getting ready for them to arrive."
The breakdown is three boys and a girls, and she will not be allowed to go past a 34-week term, she said. Resigning coaching was a difficult decision but it was not possible to continue at this time.
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"We'll see how things are going in a couple of years," she said.
State bowl here
The Kandi Lanes at the Kandi Entertainment Center in Willmar is hosting the Minnesota State Open Bowling Championships for the second time in six years.
The event runs 15 weekends, Jan. 30-May 9. Tournament chairman Tom Groh, 67, of Roseville said 639 teams are signed up, bringing 2,980 bowlers to the city.
Austin hosted last year and Duluth will in 2011.
The influx of men and women, which peaks in March, is a boon to motels and restaurants.
"They (the bowlers) don't spend that much time (bowling)," said Groh. "They go out in the town and some will go down to the casinos."
Local attractions and services are heavily promoted with literature sent out to each team captain. Each bowler receives a "goodie bag" on arrival.
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KEC owner/manager Keith Patterson said the Willmar Convention and Visitors Bureau plays a big part in a winning bid. CVB stakes the tournament purse $5,000 but feels that is quickly recouped in revenues and the city tax.
Spicer games
Spicer will share in the 2010 Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament along with designated hosts Willmar and Bird Island.
Green Lake Diamonds will be the site of four games on Aug. 21, the tournament's second day. The park will also be a backup in the event of wet grounds or makeups.
The use of a third ballpark eliminates the tournament needing to open on Thursday night.
The 87th Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament runs Aug. 20-22, 27-29 and Sept. 3-6.
Fast start for Dahl
Gretchen Dahl's coaching career is off to a good start. The Faribault Falcons girls hockey team finished the regular season 17-7-1, the program's best record since its initial 1996-97 season.
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Dahl, a 2002 Willmar graduate who set goal-scoring records in the first four years of the Cardinals' program, is also the head girls tennis coach.
After receiving the No. 2 seed in Section 1A, the Falcon skaters riddled Waseca 13-1 and Albert Lea 5-1. They meet No. 1 Red Wing Friday in Owatonna for the championship. Gretchen's father, Ross, coached the Cardinal girls through their first eight seasons and is now a boys assistant coach here.
Warriors get rest
Ridgewater College wrestling coach Tom Beyer welcomes the week off before nationals to heal up after three months of wrestling.
"We're a little banged up," he said Tuesday
Nine wrestlers depart next Thursday for Des Moines for the Friday-Saturday tournament which combines NJCAA Division I and III individually, but recognizes team champions in both divisions.
On the fly
Four ex-Warriors are on the roster for Southwest Minnesota State baseball, which opened with games at the Metrodome Feb. 4-5: senior pitcher Brad Haag (St. Cloud Apollo), third baseman Matt Bauer (Tracy-Milroy-Balaton), pitcher Nic Locniker (Albany) and catcher Travis Koenen (Willmar).
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St. John's University junior Drew Larson, a state runner-up for the Cardinals three years ago, is 14-7 with two technical falls going into the Division III national qualifier at Augsburg. He's the fourth seed at 149.
Gustavus Adolphus freshman swimmer Sara Hund has the second-fastest time in the 50 freestyle (24.71) going into the MIAC championships at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center this weekend.
