Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

Jedidiah Sowatzke of the Stevens Point Horseshoe Club received a pair of national awards recently for finishing in the Top 10 in his age group.

The 10-year old from Wisconsin Rapids was honored by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) after he finished in the Top 10 nationally in the Junior/Cadet Division for both High Point Average and National High Point Game.

“Our club is extremely proud of Jed, as very few are able to achieve these honors,” said Stevens Point Horseshoe Club president Fred Lane. “For Jed’s achievements, he was recognized in the NHPA newsletter and also received a certificate of recognition and an embroidered patch that says ‘National Top 10.’”

“The last four years he’s been practicing and playing,” said his mother Heather. “He’s been getting better, and he’s also gotten awards for how many horseshoes he throws, and his ringer percentage.

“He’s gotten so many over the last few years,” she said.

Sowatzke follows in the footsteps of his mother Heather and stepfather James, who also pitch in the Stevens Point Horseshoe Club.

Sowatzke competed in a tournament for the first time in 2014, when he took second place.

“I feel good when I throw, and I like it when there’s people watching me,” said Sowatzke.

For the 2017 season, he received a National Top Ten Award for High Point Average for the Junior/Cadet Division, after he finished ninth in the country with an average of 37 points per game.

He also received a 2017 National Top Ten Award for High Point Game in the Junior/Cadet Division, after he placed ninth with a 53-point game.

Sowatzke competes locally in the Stevens Point Horseshoe Club’s Tuesday night league at Mead Park, where he goes up against adults with a handicap applied, as he has to give up points or he receives points to make it a tough match.

On the weekends, he also plays in tournaments across the state against kids in his own age group.

“I like meeting new people,” said Sowatzke. “And we get to travel.”

“Me and his father both like seeing him pitch as much as we can, because it brings a joy to him,” said Heather. “There aren’t too many things that a whole family can do where there isn’t drinking involved.

“So this is nice that it’s at a park, and he can play with me,” she said. “It’s really nice for all of us.”

Sowatzke said that his favorite memory of pitching horseshoes was when he beat his step dad for the first time, while he also said that he can beat his mother in horseshoes.

“I’ve done it plenty of times,” said Sowatzke. “And I beat my dad like three times now.

“(My favorite part of horseshoes is) playing with my family,” he said. “I just like to play.”