June 10, 1995

Wisconsin’s Division 3 girls state champion in the long jump and 200-meter dash, wasn’t sure if she wanted to participate in track this spring.

“I’m lazy,” smiled Jaclynn Kriegl, who may be the unlikeliest of state titlist.

With a nudge from her father, John, the Florence High School freshman won those state crowns along with a third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 800-meter relay.

“I wasn’t going to run track at the beginning of the year,” she said before heading off to water ski. “My dad said it would help me for basketball.”

John (Jack) Kriegl, Florence High School principal, made it to the state track meet in three events. Jaclynn’s brother, Joe, also won a state long jump championship.

But the 15-year-old Jaclynn, despite breaking school 100- and 200-meter records, didn’t seem destined for state laurels.

She hyperextended a knee late in the regular season and her Achilles tendon acted up prior to the state long jump. Kriegl still soared past her best long jump mark for another school standard.

“I have no idea,” she said in trying to explain a 17-feet, 11 1/4-inch leap. “Usually I glance down at the board before I go. This time I said to myself ‘Jaclynn, don’t look at the board, just run and jump.’ It didn’t feel any different.”

She headed to La Crosse, Wis., after posting practice efforts in the 14-feet range. And she didn’t long jump early in the season, leaving that role to her sister, Aundrea.

The final tally for Jaclynn from the Division 3 track meet:

— Long jump, first, 17-11 1/4

— 200, first, 26.34

— 100, third, 12.84 (She ran a 12.40 in the sectional with the state winning time at 12,80).

— 800-relay, fourth, 1:50.16 (Teamed with Stacy Olson, DeAnn Gustafson and Tricia Rochon).

By the way, Kriegl intends to run track next season …

Former Northern Michigan University running back Steve Avery vowed to help the homeless if he made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster last season. Waived “seven or eight times” since departing NMU in 1988, Avery cracked the depth chart at running back. He followed up his promise, bringing five bags of groceries to one group of homeless, and delivering 40 breakfast sandwiches to another.

“If I am straightening out somebody’s life, that’s great, but I don’t go in there trying to preach anything,” he told Pro Football Weekly …

Mar. 12, 1997

Anna DeForge, a junior guard-forward at the University of Nebraska, earned All-American honorable mention basketball honors from the Associated Press. Seems like only yesterday she starred at Niagara High School …

North Dickinson head boys basketball coach Rich Ferguson broke the pregame tension Friday night prior to the Class D District basketball final. When Forest Park ace Mike Hammill was introduced, a smiling Rich yelled over to Trojans head coach Ward Helakowski, “You starting him?” …

With DeTour and Engadine winning regional semifinals, next Tuesdays Class D quarterfinal will be in Escanaba. DeTour swamped a once-beaten Gaylord St. Mary’s squad …

Kevin O’Neill, named earlier this week to guide Northwestern men’s basketball program, once stopped in Florence to scout North Dickinson’s Todd Lindeman. O’Neill, during his Marquette University coaching stint, offered his top assistant job to Tom Izzo …

Wausaukee’s Anthony Pieper, questionable for Marquette’s NCAA tournament trip because of shoulder problems, plans to be a student assistant coach with the Golden Eagles next season.

Mar. 21, 1997

That was no mere Negaunee Miner team destroying Norway’s Class C regional basketball championship aspirations. The Miners’ Dane Pascoe has Mountaineer blood, son of Steve and Iron Mountain grad Cristine (Secinaro) Pascoe. She’s the daughter of Irene and Alphonse, a first-rate musician and barber known as the Fonz.

“We’re proud of Dane,” says Irene. Dane was named the NMU Class C regional basketball tournament outstanding player. The stellar defensive back has also been selected to play in the all-star football game with Kingsford’s Gary Rose, Iron Mountain’s Gary Mouw and Norway’s Tony Ebeling …