Orv has passion for WCA athletics
Published Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Photo by Tom Hintgen
Retiree Orvin (Orv) Erickson is the number one sports fan of the West Central Area Knights.
The winter months go by quickly for Elbow Lake retiree Orvin (Orv) Erickson who attends home and away West Central Area boys and girls basketball games and wrestling meets.
“I love watching the kids,” Erickson said. “The events at WCA provide a lot of entertainment for me and other retirees, as well.”
Erickson was a star athlete at Elbow Lake High School who graduated in 1951. He worked in the Twin Cities as an injection molding employee and returned to live in the Elbow Lake area in 1999. In his day, Elbow Lake and Barrett — where WCA is located — had their own high schools.
Other towns which also are part of WCA High School include Wendell, Hoffman and Kensington. WCA Elementary North is located at Elbow Lake and WCA Elementary South is in Kensington.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s Erickson played football and basketball for Elbow Lake High School. A former 6-1 center on the basketball team, he recalls those days when he comes for coffee regularly at the Tesoro convenience store.
“Orv is our number one fan,” West Central Area Athletic Director Keith Swanson said. “The kids love him. For that reason, it wasn’t a surprise when the kids (a couple years ago) presented Orv with the ‘Fan of the Season’ award.”
Parents of the players also appreciate Erickson’s love for the West Central Area Knights. Different families of players volunteer to take Erickson along when the Knights play on the road.
“What really amazes me is that Orv oftentimes has the enthusiasm to attend more than one of our athletic events in a single day,” Swanson said. “As an example, I’ve seen Orv at an afternoon wrestling meet and, later that same day — in the evening — be in attendance during one of our WCA basketball games.”
When it comes to wrestling it’s a start-to-finish philosophy for Erickson. During one particular wrestling meet, Erickson was there for the first matches at 8 a.m. and when the final wrestling matches took place close to 7 p.m.
During the fall sports season, Erickson is seen at most of the volleyball and football games. He’s more of a pick-and-choose sports fan during the spring months.
“Yes, Orv is one of a kind,” said Swanson. “We’re fortunate to have him as our number one Knights booster.”
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