SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDED TO 13-YEAR-OLD COLLIN BLADE

Tournament director Frank Pavich (right) presented the Sportsmanship Award to 13-year-old Collin Blade of Hettinger, N.D. Three years ago, doctors in Denver, Colo., told Blade he wouldn’t be able to wrestle. He has a disease caused by a number of food allergies. Steroid treatment caused a lot of problems, and Blade began taking an experimental drug. He took injections three times a week for eight months and has gone back and forth from Rochester, Minn. Blade is now off the steroids and has to take only one injection per week. He goes back to Rochester in July and, if the report is good, will be able to wrestle next year. Last year’s award recipient, Garret Alickson (left), was also on hand for the ceremony.