Simon gives golden performance

 (I covered high school sports for 16 full years for the West County Journals until the paper's sports sections continually grew smaller as print journalism gradually faded. That's when I went from part-time to full-time work at Western Union. That said, here is an article I did and a subsequent thank you card I received from Priory's Esan Simon, one of the best athletes and one of the brightest and kindest people I spoke with during those years. The story was published on June 3, 1990.)

Simply put, Esan Simon experienced a 'poetry in motion' sort of weekend in the Missouri state capital.

While heading to Jefferson City by van, the Priory senior was busily creating what turned out to be a five-page, typewritten, rhyming poem highlighting his six-year attendance at that west county school.

Simon wrote the poem in response to being named co-winner (along with Rebels track teammate Dan Plas) of the Bakewell Prize for being the outstanding overall Priory student.

The poem was Simon's contribution to the May 28th graduation ceremony, but Simon also waxed poetic after his arrival in Jefferson City. Simon capped off his high school athletic career at Lincoln University's Dwight T. Reed Stadium to the tune of double-gold--first place finishes in both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300 intermediate hurdles at the Missouri Class 3A State Track and Field Championships.

"It's pretty nice--real nice," said Simon, who also enjoyed outstanding high school football and wrestling careers. "I was happy about that; especially it being the last thing I'll ever do for Priory at an athletic event."

Simon indeed saved his best for last, setting personal records in both events--a 38.78 in the 300 and a Class 3A state record of 14.18 seconds in the 110 race. 

"I had absolutely no idea I had run that time, and it wasn't something I had set out to break," Simon said. "But it was the first clean race I ran all year.  Every other race, I had clipped some hurdles and banged up my knees."

That 110 victory was actually a repeat performance for Simon, who last year topped a pair of senior favorites, Berkeley's Alonzo Parish and Clayton's Lance McPherson. 

Simon nearly doubled last year as well, but while running neck-and-neck with Parish in the 300, he banged his right knee against the first hurdle. Simon lay on the track, writhing in pain, awaiting service in the sports medicine tent. 

Despite being the favorite to double at this year's state meet, Simon was hardly overconfident at the outset.

"I didn't even think of last year's state," Simon said. "You try and get it out of your mind. Just because you're hte state champion one year doesn't mean you'll do it the next."

Simon knew all too well that he would have a tough fight on his hands; especially after he and Clayton's Mance Thompson finished in a virtual dead heat in the 110 hurdles at sectionals. Simon also had Charleston senior Brad Moore to contend with in both races.

Was he worried about them?

"You can't really focus on your competitors because it's an internal thing," Simon said. "You just try and perform to your peak. The night before, I was really concentrating on it. I was also trying to pray for this and a lot of people were praying for me."

Simon was merely running even with Thompson in the 300 until the Clayton junior was thrown a bit offstride, being forced to switch lead legs in the process. That dropped Thompson to a fourth place finish.

Simon added that he will drape this year's gold medals over a few tall basketball trophies resting on his dresser. According to Priory hurdles' coach Rick Suarez, Simon has worked hard for everything he's received.

"Obviously, he did a super job!" Suarez said. "He went out and did what he had to do. He's tickled and I am, too. The fact that he continues to work extremely hard after all his success, is what really stands out. A lot of kids with all his talent, wouldn't work as hard as he does.

"He's one of the best kids I've ever had the pleasure to work with--and not because he's a great athlete. He's so modest and amazed at what others do instead of talking about himself."

Danes get slice of American life—baseball, shopping…

 

(Here’s an article I wrote that ran in the June 29, 1988 West County Press-Journal. Not only am I including the article and a great photo taken by one of our wonderful photographers, but also a tough-to-read thank you letter mailed to me from Denmark that included a photo of me interviewing a Danish swimmer! It was one of several thank you letters I received while covering soooo many in-person events from March 1983 through February 1999. I had more than 2.500 paid, published articles just in that 16-year time span. I ended that about four months after I decided to change from part- to full-time work at Western Union due to the decrease in newspaper size. But writing for those publications was such a positive because my stories were hardly ever edited much, they always ran two to five days after they were submitted, and there were always lots of events to cover!)

Anheuser-Busch’s introduction of Carlsberg beer to its United States product line hardly represents the only recent Danish import.

That Denmark to St. Louis flavor was also experienced recently when 20 members of the ‘Swimteam Holback Danmark’ participated in the Burger King/Parkway Invitational Summer ‘Sizzler’ June 24-26 at Queeny Park.

After arriving in New York City, the entourage made its way to Memphis, Tennessee before reaching its home base of Fort Smith, Arkansas on June 17. Four days were ultimately spent in St. Louis, and it was pretty much an eye-opening experience for everyone; especially in swimming.

The Danes had a few outstanding individual performances like Christian Ness’ first-place finishes in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter freestyle for boys 13-14; Jacob Gylling’s second place in the 100 breast stroke; Jasper Fried’s third in the 200 back of the same age group; and a fourth-place showing for Heidi Lemb in the girls’ senior 200 freestyle. Other than that, the Danes finished far off the pace in most events.

“We were looking forward to the trip to the U.S.,” said Danish coach Tommy Christiansen, whose town of Holback is roughly 45 miles west of Copenhagen. “For us in Denmark, the U.S. is the mecca of swimming, and we were told that St. Louis is one of the top places in the area. But we didn’t expect it to be so hot (102 degrees on June 25.)

“We caught a little of the shock right when we got here, and I believe the heat slowed us down. It’s been so bad that nobody’s been in the mood for swimming. In Denmark, when the temperature gets close to 30 Celsius (or 86 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s considered a heat wave. The average high summer temperature is only about 22 (72 Fahrenheit.”

Due to Denmark’s climate, the country is almost entirely devoid of outdoor pools. And the nation only has five 50-meter pools like the one at Queeny Park.

     Yes, that is me on the right interviewing a young Danish swimmer!

Besides the weather, members of the Danish team noticed another obvious area where a world of difference exists between the two cultures. Whether as temporary guests to west county homes or in restaurants, the food here just isn’t the same as in Scandinavia.

“Here in America, they eat junk food a lot,” swimmer Mette Lemb said. “Our coach told us we weren’t going to eat it because he wanted us to swim fast since we’re in hard training. We kept asking for salads, but I love the sweets! We thought we would have to worry about the calories, but with the heat, we probably sweated it off.”

While in St. Louis, the Danish contingent went to a few picnics, saw John Tudor two-hit the Phillies, 2-0 on June 23, and visited what Gersholm referred to as 'Gate of the West’ (the Arch).

Since the U.S. dollar is so weak, shopping was another favorite activity; especially among the females. The team must have heard of the local ‘Meet Me at the Mall’ radio commercials because they spent most of Saturday morning buying up Chesterfield Mall—from t-shirts and Walkman radios to watches and cameras.

                       

Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series: Coming to a park near you

 (Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, it's time for you big-time bikers to start training for the autumn events!  This is a story I did for an Oct. 2023 issue of West Newsmagazine.)

A racing event named for a beloved dog that combines the rugged challenge of mountain biking with the sustained endurance of road cycling is coming to a park near you.

This year's Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series begins and ends at Queeny Park, with the first race of the series taking place on Oct. 8 and the Double Bubba Grand Finale taking place on Dec. 3. Sandwiched between the starting and ending point will be two races in Upper Creve Coeur Park, two races in Faust Park and one in Ballwin's Vlasis Park.

The race in Ballwin is the only event in the series that is not in a county park.

                                     Bubba Memorial Cyclocross 2022 (Source: Big Shark) 

“The Bubba Cyclocross Series has been around for awhile, and we were looking to add another event to The Ballwin Race Series,” Matt Struemph, the city's longtime fitness manager, explained. “When I reached out to Big Sharks Bicycle Company … they were actually looking for a venue. So, I said, ‘Hey! If it fits in our main park, let’s take a look.' And it kind of evolved from there.”

Struemph noted that the race, which takes place on Sunday, Nov. 5, is the first time that a cyclocross race has been included in the Ballwin Race Series. While cyclocross is a competitive sport, complete with specialty bikes, the race is for everyone. In fact, prior to the series opener, from 8:30-10 a.m. on Oct. 8, a free cyclocross clinic is offered for newbies. And, at all races, but especially in Ballwin, ewcomers and spectators are welcome.

“We like to keep our Ballwin events on a recreational level. So, it’s not like a participant would have to go out and buy a special bike,” Struemph said.

However, he did caution that mountain bikes are preferred.

“What won’t work is your standard road bike,” he said.

As with all the races in the Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series, racers can register in advance at BikeReg.com or at 10 a.m. on the day of the race. Races take place in intervals by category throughout the day with start times from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.; for details visit the events page at bigshark.com.

The race is open to youth and adults, from beginners to advanced.

The course is designed as a “short course” of about 1.5 to 2 miles per loop on a 12-to 15-foot-wide path (marked with tape) that will wind through Vlasis Park on all types of terrain.

From January through October, the Ballwin Race Series offers a variety of running, biking and swimming events including the annual Ballwin Triathlon in January, the Ballwin Days Run in August, the Kids Triathlon in September and the Moonlight Howl 5K Run/Walk at 9 p.m. on Oct. 27.

“We try to create a lot of active events for the community and for people to come into our community to participate,” Struemph said.

A portion of city-managed Race Series events goes toward Ballwin's recreation scholarship program, which can be used by qualifying families for swimming lessons, summer camp fees and other programs.

Blues’ Angel: Shanahan Has Hockey Suitors Singing the Blues

 

(While watching the Jan. 20, 2025 Blues’ 5-4 shootout win at Vegas, this article I had published in the Feb. 18, 1987 West Citizen Journal came up on my cell phone photo memories!)

Maureen Shanahan has no trouble making male friends. She has those smiling Irish eyes, freckles that would make Doris Day envious, a soft-spoken, yet enthusiastic personality…AND hockey tickets!

The St. Joseph’s Academy junior is the daughter of St. Louis Blues owner Michael Shanahan, Evidently, Maureen has shown no signs of disappointment for the added attention she receives.

“It’s been a lot of fun and a whole new experience for me,” she said. “You make a lot of friends; especially males. They’re constantly coming up to me and asking, ‘Can I go to the hockey game?’

“When I go to parties, the guys are telling me to trade him or keep another player. Just because I’m the daughter of the Blues’ owner doesn’t mean I have the power to do any of those things.”

After attending several hockey games during her pre-teen years, Shanahan and her family stayed away from The Arena for a few years due to off-the-ice violence.

Shanahan doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. She is privy to a seat in the owner’s box, although she readily acknowledges she would feel just as comfortable out in the stands. But there is another benefit that outweighs any potential detriment to her viewing pleasure.

“We had all the single hockey players over on Thenksgivng Day,” she said. “My friend (Gretchen Haemueller) was over, and it was like, ‘OK. I’ll serve and do this and that.’

“Now, we’ve gotten everyone interested in them. They’re so rough on the ice, but so different in person. They must have enjoyed their visit with us because one player commented to his wife, ‘If I weren’t married to you, I’d get to go to the Shanahans!’”

While the Town & Country resident has become better known to West St. Louis County’s male population, her popularity as a guard on the basketball court has improved as well.

“She’s not one of the tallest guards you’ll see (5-foot-5), but she makes up for it with anticipation and quickness,” St. Joe coach Michaela Witcher said. “She has very quick hands and does a good job of deflecting passes and making guards alter their passes and shots. She also picks up a lot of steals.”

Defense is indeed the strong suit for Shanahan, and she wasted little time exhibiting it Saturday in the third-place game of the Maryville Tournament.

Shanahan heled the Angels build a 21-13 lead late in the first quarter by breaking up a layup attempt by McCluer North’s 5-11 senior center Alanna Gehner, who led all scorers with 28 points. Shanahan miraculously ran right through the ball, dislodging it from Gehner without committing a foul.

Although Shanahan does a good job helping Shelly Grawer—whose father is the St. Louis University basketball coach—run the offense, she readily concedes she’s lacking in offensive proficiency.

“I’d love to improve my shooting, and people are always telling me, ‘Will you shoot?’ Right now, I get intimidated too easily. But I’m trying to be more like Shelly.”