As reported earlier, Evan Sachs is passionate about passing on his love of our game to students at St. Anthony High school.
It's working.
This week, four St. Anthony students competed in a bridge tournament. If you check out the photographs, you'll see that "only" four students, Billy Anstott, Jr., Mitch MacGregor, Jim Goodsell and Tony Madej, played. But, what you cannot see is that students from around the U.S. and Canada were also participating in this event. In addition to three Canadian locations, students in Illinois, George, Iowa, California, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and Texas were vying for a win!
Supported by a grant from Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, as part of their Bridge in a Box program, students from many locales were able to enter this tournament. Goodie bags were supplied for competitors, and the event was matchpointed across the field. Scores were sent by email to organizer Patty Tucker of Georgia.
The Gates-Buffett grant also helps provide resources so that bridge can be taught during a normal school schedule. At St. Anthony, students receive one hour of bridge education a week on Wednesdays as part of a "school enrichment" program. Currently, anywhere from 5 to 8 kids are involved with the program.
What did the kids have to say about the six boards they played Tuesday?
"We had fun; it was our first time competing against students from other states."
"I'd like to thank Evan for running the tournament and teaching us bridge, and Peggy for coming to cover and photograph our tournament."
With the regional Gopher tournament coming up in a few weeks, some of the students plan on caddying and even entering a 0-5 event!
Of course, we welcome them whole heartedly. And a big thanks to devoted teachers Evan, Patty Tucker, and bridge devotees and supporters Bill Gates and Warren Buffett!
If you'd like to see all the photos of the St. Anthony kids, please view this:
The change of the District NAOP to a one day event is nonsense. The two day, 4 session format is a good test of consistency and a level of endurance that is then repeated at the NAOP national finals. That is also a 2 day, 4 session event, assuming you qualify out of day one.
Who's idea was it to ruin this event? Oh, and drive to Iowa for a single day of meaningful bridge. Grrr
Very poor.
Bill Voedisch
Posted by: Bill Voedisch | August 31, 2011 at 12:15 AM