submitted by Jeanette Class, member of Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club

It was a C-O-L-D three days in Wisconsin but the Show-Me State horseshoe pitchers were RED HOT on the 24 courts inside the Edwards Sports Arena in Telfer Park. Everyone who looked at the forecast brought extra layers of clothes, plus earmuffs, gloves, blankets, hand warmers, etc. It was pretty comfortable Friday but Saturday morning at 7:30AM was a windy, winter mornings (with temps in the 30’s). Missouri #1 got the privilege of playing at that time.

Twenty teams were included in this event with five teams coming from Missouri, five teams from Wisconsin, three teams from Minnesota, two teams from Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and one team from Michigan. Each team meets all other teams for one match in a round-robin format.

On Friday morning Announcer Jeff Secord introduced the pitchers and the National Anthem was sung by Kevin Brekke. The team captains gathered at the scorer’s table prior to each match for a coin toss by Jeff Secord to determine who chooses the individual opponent pairings for the team match. And May Madness was about to begin for three full days of competition.

Wisconsin cheese, anybody? Free Wisconsin cheese? When a pitcher would pitch a game of 70% or higher, their name was tossed in a bucket for a chance to win a block of delicious Wisconsin cheese. If your name was drawn you and your team members won a block of cheese. Missouri team members Mick Gillette, Gregg Craven and John Sapper and their teammates all went home with these souvenirs.

The Finals:

Missouri Team #1 (Mick Gillette, Gregg Craven, Rich Altis and 40’ Steve Johnson) was 2-2 on every round with seven 4-0 sweeps for a total of 57.5 wins in the 19 rounds (76 games). There was a switch from last year when MO#1 was 2nd seed and Michigan was first. It was Missouri’s turn to sit out the first two games and play one game for the championship. This year MO#1 was top seed, MI was 2nd seed. Wisconsin #1 was 3rd, MO#2 (Ed Griffith, John Sapper, Jim Howard and 40’ James Driver) was 4th and MN#1 was 5th.

This time Missouri didn’t have to face Michigan. They were defeated by Minnesota #1 and MO#2 lost to WI#1. The next round MO#2 defeated Michigan for 4th place. WI#1 beat MN#1. That put Minnesota#1 into 3rd place, which meant WI#1 and MO #1 would play for the Championship Title.

Gregg Craven was not happy with his losing performance in that game and having not seen the other scores yet of his teammates, he was a little surprise to have people congratulating him before finding out that Steve, Mick and Rich had all won their games! A repeat for the team and Missouri’s third Team World Championship ever in the 27 years that this event has taken place. Missouri’s Team #1 team average of 64.01% was the best for the weekend.

And for the first time in its history Missouri had two teams in the finals. Ed Griffith had the best individual average for the Missouri players with 68.10%, which was 3rd of all players by only 0.11 percentage points.

Missouri Team #3: Audra Craven-50.13%, Virgle McCown-51.45%, Cori Stoverink-39.21%, Donra McCown-36.97%

Missouri Team #4: Gary Null-40.94%, David Schneider-34.85%, Mel Bruemmer-38.17%, Rich Reina-32.79%, Edgar Stoverink 30%

Missouri Team #5: Wesley Stoverink-40.3%, Kevin Chambers-32.37%, Sam Godboldt-24.34%, Carol Howard-22.81%, Edgar Stoverink 30.7%

We wish to thank Tournament Director Earl Paulsen, the Beloit Horseshoe Club and all sponsors who made this event possible. It was a well organized and planned event. We want to thank the 2016 Missouri Team World Committee Mel Bruemmer, Gregg Craven, Jim Howard & Virgle McCown. If you are interested in representing Missouri next year at this event, contact Mel at 573-821-6350 or mlbruem@aol.com. Team World is the most fun event in horseshoes, a little chilly, but fun.

Missouri Team #1 Wins Ringers Shoes R%

Gregg Craven 16 530 800 66.25%

Mick Gillette 15 530 800 66.25%

Rich Altis 16.5 512 800 64.0%

Steven Johnson 13 478 800 59.75%

Missouri Team#2 Wins Ringers Shoes R%

Ed Griffith 19.5 572 840 68.10%

John Sapper 15 508 840 60.48%

James Driver 12 469 840 55.83%

Jim Howard 14 418 840 49.76%