Competition continues at CSG

Lincoln-Athletes in 29 sports competed Sunday in the second day-and the second straight day of triple-digit heat-of the 2012 Cornhusker State Games, as officials at outdoor venues shortened games and added hydration breaks to keep athletes safe.


The heat didn't bother the water skiers as five American records were broken, including two by 71 year-old Bud Piercy of Ashland who went 53 feet in the ski-jump. It was nine year-old Sam Weber who stole the show however, by clearing 52 buoys at 19 mph in the slalom, then scoring an impressive 820 in the tricks competition. Both were good for gold medals in the Under 14 division.


The drama of the British Open Championship had nothing on the State Games disc golf tournament as three were still in contention for the overall gold on the final hole. LaVista's Chris Shuman birdied the final hole for a two-day total of 190 and a one-shot win over Kearney's Clayton Brown. Brown was one of four golfers to card holes-in-one on the Lake Hastings course. Disc golf, in its third year of community rotation from Kearney to Omaha and now Hastings, attracted 65 participants, a five-year high.


Baseball medal rounds had a diverse geographic representation. Syracuse won the 7th & 8th grade gold over Holdrege with Alma taking the bronze. The David City/Osceola Black Sox bested Lexington for the 3rd/4th Grade gold. Wayne won the bronze. In 5th/6th Grade Red, it was Johnson County over Ogallala for the gold medal and Cozad earning the bronze.


Skeet shooter Jonathan Proctor broke 74 of his 100 clay targets, but failed to medal. It was not the Omaha resident's first state games experience, but his first in Nebraska. Proctor, 33, moved to Nebraska from the Washington DC area two years ago. In his high school days, Proctor competed in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games of Virginia. "I love doing this kind of stuff, so I was pumped to see that they had a State Games in Nebraska," Proctor said.


Chess Director Mike Gooch reported an emotional end to Saturday's competition, when 27-year participant Gary Marks of Lincoln was inducted into the Nebraska Chess Hall of Fame. Marks was recently diagnosed with cancer and although registered this year, was unable to compete in the 28th annual edition.


Also from Saturday night, 22 year-old Sean Lentz from Omaha, who is legally blind and has no central vision, took a gold medal in the beach wrestling 187-pound weight class.


Fencing attracted a record 75 participants. Other sports with record participation include badminton, 78, fishing, 94, taekwondo, 185. Judo's 60 was the most since 1989. Youth track & field saw a ten-year high with 390. Soccer's 1,048 is the most since 2004.


Overall participation surged to 11,589, eclipsing the 2011 mark of 11,511. The Games continue next weekend as 22 sports remain in the state's amateur sports festival for Nebraskans of all ages and abilities. Those interested in late entry sports can find information and register at CornhuskerStateGames.com.

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