MARILYN HAGERTY: Cooley brothers are off to Ironman competition at Las Vegas

• Marilyn Hagerty

Marilyn Hagerty

Talk about it

They swim. They bike. They run.

This weekend, brothers Sean and Jake Cooley, who are UND students, are taking part in the Ironman World Championship near Las Vegas.

Their plans were to leave today. It wasn’t easy for Sean to get time off as a first year medical student at UND. But he managed. And Jake, a pre-med student, said they will be missing only two days.

The brothers qualified earlier this summer in competition at Lawrence, Kan. There they met requirements, and they paid $300 each to compete in Las Vegas.

For them, it is a challenge. They want to be part of the 70.3 World Championship on Sunday. The race begins with a 1.2 mile swim in Lake Las Vegas. Then, there’s a 56-mile bike tour that includes steep climbs. They finish with a 13.1 mile run.

More than 60,000 athletes will take part in the Ironman 70.3 series all over the world this year. Each age group winner will qualify for the 2012 world event.

So, do you wonder why these two students are running, biking and swimming when they could be watching television? I guess it’s because they are athletes and love competition. They are the sons of Marv and Bev Cooley of rural Thompson, N.D. Sean, 26, played baseball at UND. Jake, 22, was a state champion wrestler for Grand Forks Red River High School.

Their older brother, Matt, played UND Sioux football for two years. He now is a captain in the Army.

Cushman Classic

The second weekend of September rolls around with dedication of a tree to the memory of a longtime barber at 2 p.m. today in front of UND Memorial Union. Jerry Pokrzwinski loved people and the university...And the annual Cushman Classic football game between Red River and Central teams is tonight...The John Seitz Memorial Late Model Invitational continues tonight and Saturday at River Cities Speedway...There’s a Choice Financial 10k Fun Run/Walk on Saturday...And Special Olympics of North Dakota State Soccer and Bocca tournament is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The Tour de Forks Bike Ride/Walk Sunday from Lincoln Drive Park is a benefit for Altru’s Breast Cancer Coalition...The Farmers Market will be up and running Saturday morning and better that ever in Town Square...AudioBody opens the Chester Fritz Auditorium season Sunday.

Hipples Chips

When a high school class hangs together for 50 years, the members develop new friendships and hold on to the old. That’s the way it is for Central High School graduates of 1961, who are gathering this weekend.

Virginia Stewart, who is hosting the group with meals catered at her house, said 54 will be attending. That includes mates. They are coming from all over the country, as well as from Grand Forks.

The classmates have had a good record of success, but they know of no Nobel Prize winners among them. Back in their days at Central, they frequented Riverside Pool and went to hobnobs at the Y. They frequented the Kegs drive in and went to the Armory for roller skating. Scott’s Music store had booths where they could play records before buying. They enjoyed buying Grand Forks own Hipple’s potato chips way back then and sledding on the “hill” at Lincoln Park.

Very few of these old grads had cars. They usually walked here and there, rarely taking the bus.

Ask Marilyn

Q. How come the Norwegians are holding a lefse making class Saturday morning at the Sons of Norway?

A. They want everyone to share in their joy of making this Norwegian delicacy. They say lefse is like a tortilla, only made from potatoes instead of corn. Lefse can be used in many ways other than just rolled up with butter and sugar. Some roll meatballs or salmon in it. Uff da! It wouldn’t be Christmas around here without it. Not even Thanksgiving.

Q. What is the Malpractice Bowl?

A. It’s the annual football games between the UND Schools of Law and Medicine. It’s at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, with the women’s game before the men’s game. The School of Law is pumped for this 2011 meeting because they have Andrew Sorbo, former Sioux player, returning, along with Matt Lien, who played football in Europe. Last year, the men and women law students were victorious. They think they can repeat their success over the future doctors.

Ashley, Sue, Charlie

Cheerful people of the week: Ashley Hardee, Sue Litzinger, Charlie Bridgeford.

Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.

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