Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Howard Lake, Lester Prairie, Winsted, Watertown, Mayer, New Germany, Waverly, MN and the surrounding area

KOVAR: What a difference 2 years makes


It’s amazing what can happen in two years. Come May 23, it will be officially two years that I have been writing for the Herald Journal. Two years. 730 days. 104 weeks. A lot can change in that amount of time.

When I came here, the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted boys track and field team had just punched their first trip ever to the Class A State True Team Meet. Being relatively new to the area, I wasn’t 100 percent sure of the whole story and what surrounded the team.

Flash forward to last Tuesday afternoon at HLWW High School, and the story comes full circle. I didn’t really know the circumstances that surrounded HLWW’s section title two years ago. They lost one of their best sprinters, and even more importantly, one of their friends, just days before the section meet. Gavin Krtizeck was seriously injured in a car accident just days before the True Team meet two years ago. Devastated by the news, the Lakers rallied around each other, and accomplished something no other team in school history had done.

Gavin Kritzeck was back as he helped lead the Lakers to their second Section True Team title in three years.

Gavin Kritzeck was back as he helped lead the Lakers to their second Section True Team title in three years.

“Honestly, that was one of the most special meets I’ll probably ever have in my career,” Lakers coach Andy Hertwig said in an earlier interview. “The emotions of Monday’s practice, where kids were crying, only to come back Tuesday and have personal bests after personal bests. It was honestly so special. There’s no other way to put it. It was so exciting. Not only the team, but the community. Everyone was wearing the orange Team Gavin shirts. It was something I’ll never forget.”

Two years later, the Lakers looked to claim the Section 4A title once again, but this time, all together.

Although limited, Kritzeck was there with his teammates and brothers as the Lakers won their second Section 4A True Team title in three years.

After getting to know Kritzeck for a story I did last season on him working himself back to where he was at before the accident, I became inspired by him. Doctors thought that he might not ever walk again. Well, Gavin Krtizeck is unbreakable, and there’s a special family surrounding the HLWW track and field team.

Knowing everything Kritzeck and his teammates have gone through the past two years, there was nothing but a smile on my face as Kritzeck, along with his teammates, swarmed their head coach after being announced as champions. It’s one of the moments where you just have to stop and take it all in.

I stood there waiting to take a team picture, when I looked at Kritzeck. He was kneeling there, front and center, holding on to the Section True Team championship trophy with a big smile. In that moment, there was pure joy.

It’s coming up on two years since I’ve joined the great team at Herald Journal. I’ve learned more and more each day. There’s been state championships, and incredible individual performances, but that’s not my favorite part. It’s the people.

It’s seeing athletes around town who wave at me. It’s athletes asking me to tweet at them or put them on Twitter. It’s the special relationships I’ve been able to develop with them, and being able to be there to capture moments and tell stories that mean so much to them and their family.

It’s a pretty good gig, if you ask me. Yeah, there’s long days and late nights, but that’s nothing compared to being able to see what I saw Tuesday evening when Kritzeck and his teammates were crowned section champions once again. It was a surreal feeling, a feeling that this time, they were able to celebrate all together.

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