A trio of former Panther athletes did their alma mater proud Saturday, but they didn’t do it on the basketball court, track or wrestling mat.
Catherine Wendland, Caden Johnson and Levi Ellingson — all recent graduates of Tracy Area High School — took first place in the 2nd Annual Oar-less Canoe Races on Lake Yankton during Balaton’s Fun Fest.
Although it wasn’t always pretty, the young, athletic (but late-arriving) TMB trio nearly lapped the field in pursuit of the Balaton Fun Fest “traveling oar” trophy and the $60 that came along with being the best water warriors of the weekend.
“Getting around the buoy, trying to use half your body without tipping, was borderline impossible,” said Johnson. “Cat was our steerer, that was our whole plan — she was not steering; I think Levi did all the steering in the back of the canoe.”