 |
Bruins stretch win streak to eight games
Tigers ride hot streak into Pac-9 season
|
A tribute to Dad |
Ten-year-old Karly Knauss won a skating competition
as her dad's favorite song played |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Karly Knauss will always remember her
father. All she has to do is look at her gold medal.
The
fourth-grade student at Mabel Rush Elementary School is an avid ice
skater who has been taking lessons for four years and has competed
in upwards of 30 competitions. But her trip to Jackson Hole, Wyo.,
recently will likely be one she’ll carry with her for a lifetime.
Last summer, Bob, Karly’s 49-year-old father, suddenly died of a
heart attack. Prior to his death he had always talked about how the
song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” from the movie “The Wizard of
Oz,” was his favorite. The song was so much his favorite that he had
even mentioned that he wanted it played at his funeral.
“For some reason all of the time before he died, he always said
that he wanted that,” said Debbie, his wife and Karly’s mother. “He
said it a lot.”
After Bob’s death, Karly wanted to dedicate a skating routine to
her father and his favorite song. When the daughter and mother
traveled to Wyoming for the Jackson Hole Invitational March 10-12,
Karly got her wish. She skated her artistic routine to the song and
ended up winning the event, beating out five other competitors from
the Northwest.
Karly had performed the same routine in a noncompetitive Christmas
show in December on home ice in Sherwood, where she practices four
times a week.
“Everybody there in Sherwood kind of knew what happened,” Debbie
said.
Karly also won the compulsory event in Wyoming and placed second in
the showcase competition — both in the pre-preliminary group. Karly
said she wasn’t expecting to do as well as she did.
“That’s because this is my first year at a higher group than I
usually am,” she said.
In July 2005, Knauss traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo., to
compete in the National State Games of America, an event held every
two years. There, Knauss placed in three events — third, sixth and
12th. Knauss qualified for the event by winning all three
competitions at the State Games of Oregon in Sherwood a month
earlier.
Bob had died after the State Games, but Karly said she didn’t think
about not going to the National State Games.
“I still wanted to go,” she said.
As Karly continues to practice and compete in events, her plans
include what every skater hopes — to become an Olympic competitor.
She eagerly watched in February the skating portion of the Olympics
on television, particularly her favorite skater Sasha Cohen.
“I thought it was really interesting,” Karly said. “(Cohen) fell
twice and it seems like in her long program she doesn’t do as well.
She’s a good skater, though, and she has a good spiral.”
But before she thinks about the Olympics, Karly is enjoying her
time traveling to different cities and competing. She’s even got her
classmate and best friend, Samantha Russo, taking lessons with her.
Karly said other friends at school know she skates.
“They think it’s pretty cool,” she said.
Her father thought the same, even though he didn’t know the finer
points of skating, Debbie said. He simply enjoyed watching his
daughter skate and compete.
“He didn’t really know what kind of moves there were,” Debbie said,
laughing. “He thought they were all axels.” |
|
From
April 1, 2006, Newberg Graphic
Click Here to Subscribe |
|
|
