It’s fun to look at the faces of the kids competing in the state pedal pull championship.
Some of the competitors have big smiles as they look ahead at their parents, who are urging them to pedal hard. Other faces have a great look of determination as they try with all their might to pull the heavy load behind them. A few kids wind up crying for whatever reason as they leave their miniature tractors behind.
Rorik Nelson, a 5-year-old from Bertrand, competes in Saturday’s Kids Pedal Pull State Championship.
Saylor Anderzhon, a 5-year-old from Milford, competes in Saturday’s Kids Pedal Pull State Championship.
The Nebraska State Championship Pedal Pull is a big deal. At least 3,000 people filed in to the Heartland Events Center for the annual event Saturday morning.
A total of 835 kids took part. That number was five less than last year, but the third-largest number since the event moved to Grand Island.
The competition is open to boys and girls ages 4 to 12.
It’s particularly popular with 5-year-olds. That category attracted 120 kids Saturday — 60 boys and 60 girls.
Arthur Garrett, a 4-year-old from Lincoln, competes in Saturday’s Kids Pedal Pull State Championship.
The top four finishers in each division (72 kids in all) qualified for the national kids pedal pull, which will be held Sept. 28 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.
It was the fourth year in a row the Heartland Events Center has hosted the event. Some years in Grand Island, it’s been held outdoors.
McCoy Lavicky of Wahoo was the 4-year-old boys champion Saturday.
The organizers of the event clearly prefer the indoor setting.
“We just love this facility and hopefully we can continue using it,” said John Vossler of Plymouth, who’s president of the Nebraska Pedal Pullers Association.
Cheering on the pedal pullers are “a lot of moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and brothers and sisters,” Vossler said.
Marvine Koliha of Howells is a fixture at the state pedal pull championship.
Lauren Elliott, a 5-year-old from Lincoln, competes in Saturday’s Kids Pedal Pull State Championship.
“I like working with children and this is my way of keeping in contact with them,” said Koliha, who is a former teacher and paraprofessional.
Her late husband, Allen, got started in pedal pull many years ago.
Koliha is secretary-treasurer of the Nebraska Pedal Pullers Association.
Koliha, like Vossler, isn’t above lobbying for a permanent home in the Heartland Events Center.
Kayla Reuter of Humboldt competes in Saturday’s Kids Pedal Pull State Championship.
She noted that Saturday’s event had a big turnout. “I hope the State Fair Board realizes this and that we can keep coming here in this building,” she said.
McCoy Lavicky of Wahoo took home the first-place trophy in the 4-year-old boys division.
His dad, Luke, said McCoy gets a lot of practice around the yard while he’s having fun. A neighbor gave McCoy a small pedal-powered tractor, which he uses to pick up grass clippings. He also used it to collect spent fireworks in July.
McCoy said he plans to put the trophy on his dresser.
Some of the pedal pull organizers have been at it a long time.
Dennis and Anthony Gabriel of Fullerton have been involved in pedal pull for 32 years. They head up Gabriel’s Pedaling Angels.
A 41-year veteran is Ken Vincik of St. Paul.
Boyd Schantz of Wisner, right, won the boys 5-year-old division Saturday. From left are Knox White of DeWitt, who took fourth; Jason Brockmann of Carroll, who finished third, and Dalton Ludwig of Adams, who placed second.The woman at right is Marvine Koliha of Howells, who’s been involved with the Nebraska Pedal Pullers Association for many years.
Listed below are Saturday’s results:
4-year-olds
Girls: 1. Emmalyn Kuhl, Plainview. 2. Alice Gruber, Waco. 3. Aurora Johnson, Verdigree. 4. Leta Rasmussen, St. Paul.
Boys: 1. McCoy Lavicky, Wahoo; 2. Nolan Lange, Hoskins; 3. Clayton Harper, Blair; 4. Hank Belina, Howells.
5-year-olds
Girls: 1. Julia Buresch, David City; 2. Layna Wietfeld, Leigh; 3. Bridget White, Exeter; 4. Harper Brockevelt, Polk.
Boys: 1. Boyd Schantz, Wisner; 2. Dalton Ludwig, Adams; 3. Jaxon Brockmann, Carroll; 4. Knox White, DeWitt.
6-year-olds
Girls: 1. Cheyanne Glodowski, Ames; 2. Emma Bramer, Amherst; 3. Skylar Buderus, Pender; 4. Haisley Thompson, Gretna.
Boys: 1. Axton Anderson, Oakland; 2. Barrett Jones, Kearney; 3. Hudson Breitkreutz, Beaver Crossing; 4. John Foster, Greeley.
7-year-olds
Girls: 1. Olivia Blum, Henderson; 2. Arabella Greenlee, McCook; 3. Saylor Foley, Merna; 4. Aynslee McDonald, Spalding.
Boys: 1. Bentley Hoskinson, Norfolk; 2. Declan Browning, Beaver Crossing; 3. Davis Ott, Trumbull; 4. Kash Swanson, Spalding.
8-year-olds
Girls: 1. Mabel Bowman, York; 2. Kinsley Tucker, Callaway; 3. Sonya McDermott, North Platte; 4. Annie Tucker, Blue Hill.
Boys: 1. Noah Griffiths, Columbus; 2. Rory Rosener, Fairbury; 3. Ethan Steffes, North Platte; 4. Luke Wemhoff, North Bend.
9-year-olds
Girls: 1. Ella Borgmann, Beattie, Kansas; 2. Laramie Epp, Nebraska City; 3. Lexi Lynn, Vehling; 4. Aubrey Pracheil, Dorchester.
Boys: 1. Easton Einspahr, Wallace; 2. Alcede Prochaska, Gresham; 3. Dakota Hubbard, McDonald; 4, Kaston Doerr, Bloomfield.
10-year-olds
Girls: 1. Kelsey Busch, Burwell; 2. Ameli Schafer, Fremont; 3. Collins Halley, Greeley; 4. Lizzy Hillmer, Plattsmouth.
Boys: 1. Cooper Hunzeker, Table Rock; 2. Ean Fenske, Colon; 3. Marcus Hemje, Crete; 4. Hudson Perry, Central City.
11-year-olds
Girls: 1. Alexis Cumming, North Bend; 2. Blakelyn Meyer, Randolph; 3. Elsie Balyand, Adams; 4. Autumn Walker, Grand Island.
Boys: 1. Cale Klement, Ulysses; 2. Hunter Steffes, North Platte; 3. Casem Novak, Bancroft; 4. Trevin Suckstorf, Pierce.
12-year-olds
Girls: 1. Claire Gubbels, York; 2. Kerrigan Johannes, Arlington; 3. Stella Leslie Leeper, West Point; 4. Abigail Hansen, Craig.
Boys: 1. Lakin Prince, Pierce; 2. Maverick Epp, Bradshaw; 3. Ari Suhr, Norfolk; 4. Levi Strehle, West Point.
