This years event started out a little wet with rain delaying the start but the sun came out mid way thru the round with the team of Hall, Vari, Reichart and Freeman taking first place with a round of 62. The second place team of McCromick, McCormick, Brochers and Borchers-(this isn't a law firm but it should be), came in with a round of 64. Closest to the pin was won by Chuck Freeman and the longest drive winner was Tom Ruff. Planning for next years outing has already begun.
At the lunch after the outing Coach Ed Domsitz gave an update on the progress of the team who will be pursuing a third state championship and another perfect season. The team will travel to Thomas More College the week of June 21st. for 4 days of camaraderie and skills training.
Also mentioned by Coach Domsitz was the anticipated match up against Centerville High School on September 10th @ Centerville Stadium. The Knights of Gold will be auctioning off 4 sideline passes for the Alter Centerville game that will be given to the 4 highest bidders. Information about this fund raiser will be posted to this site very soon.
The Knights of Gold and the Alter football program have established a new award to celebrate and honor Alter Football Greats from over the years. The first class of inductees will be selected in 2011 by a committee of coaches, KOG board members and alumni. Additional information about the Gridiron Greats will be coming in future posts on this web site and mailings to the Alter Football Community.
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Jim Polzin | 608-252-6473 | jpolzin@madison.com | Posted: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wisconsin freshman linebacker Chris Borland (left) saw his older brother John this week for the first time in more than a year. John, a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, is stationed in Hawaii and recently returned from a yearlong tour in Iraq. Jim Polzin/The Capital Times
HONOLULU -- The notion that there was even a tiny amount of bravery involved in the decision to put his body at risk by soaring over two Wofford protectors to block a punt earlier this season -- a highlight-reel maneuver that ended with a cartwheel -- is one that makes Chris Borland feel uncomfortable.
The standout freshman linebacker for the University of Wisconsin football team has a steadfast belief of what it takes to be considered brave. Playing football does not fit that definition.
"I don't really like when people refer to football games as wars, or players as warriors or heroes," Borland said. "Having two brothers in the military puts it in perspective. It's just a game. It means a lot to a lot of people, but there are a lot more important things going on than football."
That point hit home Wednesday when Chris Borland was reunited with his brother John shortly after the Badgers arrived at Aloha Stadium for practice. The two hadn't seen each other since John Borland, a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, was married in October of 2008.
John, a member of the 84th Engineer Battalion stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, returned last month from a one-year deployment to Iraq. Chris is the first family member he's seen -- other than his wife -- since his return. Another brother, Joe, is serving in Iraq.
This week has been circled on Chris and John's calendars for a long time. John secured about 50 tickets for Saturday night's game against Hawaii.
John, 25, also joined the Badgers during their trip to Pearl Harbor on Thursday. After the team had boarded a boat to take it out to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, he stood at the front and asked the Badgers to keep Staff Sgt. Solomon Sam in mind as they visited the site.
Friday was the one-year anniversary of Sam's death in Iraq. He served under John Borland in a platoon that ran missions in Mosul, one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq at the time.
It wasn't easy for John to be away from his family for a year, but one of the things that helped him get through it was following Chris' career. John saw the aforementioned punt block on YouTube and sometimes stayed up late to watch games live at 2 a.m. in Iraq.
During the week, John would follow news about the Badgers on the Internet and check out message boards to read the glowing reviews of his brother's fabulous freshman season.
"It was really a morale booster while I was over there," he said.
Chris Borland was named the Big Ten Conference's Freshman of the Year last month by the league's coaches and media after making an impact on defense and special teams. Borland is tied for the league lead with three fumble recoveries and tied for second with five forced fumbles.
None of that surprises John, who is one of seven children (six boys) in the Borland family. John knew pretty early that there was something special about Chris, the second-youngest in the family.
"He was 4 years old, and he'd be the star running back in the backyard football games," said John, who attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was a second-team All-Patriot League performer as a soccer player.
"The kid, from birth, he was the stud athlete in the family."
A Thanksgiving tradition for the Borlands has been the Turkey Bowl in the backyard of the family's home in Kettering, Ohio. When Chris was about 10 or 11, he stretched out to make a diving, one-handed catch and took out a newly planted sapling tree in the process. Chris walked away from the play with a great grab - and blood running from his forehead that made for some interesting Thanksgiving photos.
Neither John nor Chris could make the Turkey Bowl this year, so they settled for a neat moment Thursday at Aloha Stadium. As practice was winding to a close, John grabbed a football and put on his brother's helmet. The two went out on the field and Chris served as the holder as his brother attempted field goals, including a conversion from 30 yards.
"I haven't been able to roughhouse with him much in a while," Chris said. "We missed the Turkey Bowl this year, so we had to make up for it, I guess."
Needless to say, it's been a memorable few days for the Borland brothers.
"I've seen him play, so that's been amazing," John said. "But what I really loved when I got here is half the people didn't say stuff about how he played, they said more about his character.
"That makes me proud as an older brother. It sounds corny, but he's developing into a fine young man. It's awesome to see."
Posted in Jim_polzin, Football on Saturday, December 5, 2009 7:40 pm Updated: 7:54 pm. | Tags: Uw Football, Badgers, Hawaii Warriors, Chris Borland,
