Reprinted with permission from Pipestone County Star
By Kevin Kyle
Having won three individual state hurdles championships, a trio of state relay titles and six other state track & field medals, it’s easy to believe 2004 Pipestone Area Schools graduate and Pipestone-Jasper Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (2018) Kati (Newgard) Bobeldyk must remember everything about each of those triumphs – from the spikes she wore to the food she ate prior to her events to the athletes she raced against.
However, 14 years removed from the state track & field meet and the many courts she played on as part of the PAS varsity volleyball and basketball teams, the clarity of Bobeldyk’s memories is most keen on actions outside of competition.
“When I look back, it’s not about the medals or the wins and losses, it’s about the bus and van rides, the hotels, the dancing around the locker rooms and all those wonderful relationships I developed while participating in those sports,” said the winner of 13 varsity letters. “It’s hard to remember specifics about competing, but I remember a lot about all the fun I had with my teammates and coaches… so many wonderful people.”
Of course, prior to developing those memorable relationships with her teammates and coaches, that began her seventh-grade school year as a member of the varsity track & field squad, Bobeldyk was certainly up to speed athletically through her genes and equally active siblings.
“We were all involved,” said Bobeldyk, the youngest daughter of Tom and Sandi Newgard’s brood of three girls and two boys. “We were always doing something athletic and always had someone to do sports with. Being in between the two boys (TJ and Wade) I couldn’t get them to play dolls, so it was football or basketball.
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