Winter Games 43 Results!

Chili Cook-Off sponsored by Ruthven Meat Locker

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Best Overall - Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis

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Best Decorated Booth - The Catlins

Chocolate Classic sponsored by Ingvall Real Estate Team

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1st: Central Bank - Relay for Life

2nd: Mary Abbott

3rd: Painted Ladies

Axe Throwing – 10 for $10 Tournament at The Throwing Post

 Men: Jason Weaver

Women: Emily Boettcher

Bean Bag Toss Tournament sponsored by The Gardens

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1st: Bag Twins

2nd: Laven

3rd: Jensen's

4th: Pit Boss 4 Baggers

Consolation Winner: Dammit Dave

Consolation Runner-up: Shrivalous Sacs

Broomball sponsored by MHR Insurance

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1st: New Ulm Broomballers

2nd: ESSOBEES

3rd: West O Beer/Kraninger Construction

Cribbage Classic

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1st Place - John Hough

2nd Place - Mallory Mulligan

3rd Place - John Berry

4th Place - Rich Jones

Flag Football sponsored by Parks Marina

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1st: 4th and Long

2nd: The Revolution

3rd: Ash Creek Assassins

Stump Tournament sponsored by West O Beer

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Results Coming Soon!

Polar Plunge sponsored by Okoboji Motor Company

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Even with the frigid temperatures, over 135 plungers jumped into the icy waters of West Lake Okoboji raising funds that benefit the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue.

Snow Softball sponsored by The Ritz

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1st: Martins

2nd: Boji Nites

3rd: Schoonys

What a weekend!

THANK YOU!

On behalf of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce we would like to thank so many for making our 43rd Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games another success for our business community.

Thank you to our sponsors for making so much of this possible. Our Presenting Sponsor GrapeTree Medical Staffing. A huge shout out to our Platinum Level Sponsors EV Smart of Okoboji and West O Beer. Gold level sponsors include Hy-Vee, Pure Fishing, Rosenboom, Fireball, and Dr. McGillicuddy’s; and our Silver sponsors include Alliant Energy. Thank you to our individual event sponsors Okoboji Motor Company for the Polar Plunge, Bank Midwest for the Burning of the Greens & Fireworks Extravaganza, The Gardens for the Bean Bag Toss Tournament, The Ritz for Snowball Softball, Ingvall Real Estate Team for the Chocolate Classic, Ruthven Meat Locker for the Chili Cook-off, Kozy Heat for the 5K Fun Run, West O Beer for the Stump Tournament, MHR Insurance for the Broomball Tournament, and Parks Marina for Flag Football. We would also like to thank Black Hills Energy for sponsoring the Winter Games schedules, Regional Transit Authority for providing transportation for our cheerleaders and media, and Diamond Concrete for providing the storage containers for the collection of trees. 

We appreciate the leadership of this year’s Chair Michael Meyers, co-chair Rachel Fandel, our Winter Games Intern Jenny Dykema, and our 8 wonderful Winter Games Cheerleaders. A huge thank you to Dave Petrick and Rocky Thompson Photography for providing us with amazing footage of the games all weekend long. Thank you to our hundreds of volunteers, event chairs, Arnolds Park Amusement Park’s hard-working staff, KUOO, the Dickinson County News, the Lakes News Shopper, MC22, and all other news outlets for their non-stop coverage. Thank you to County and City governments for working with us, the courageous Law enforcement of the Lakes Region, the Iowa DNR, Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue for keeping us safe, and all of the Chamber businesses that hosted events that lead to a memorable weekend for our tens of thousands of visitors. It takes a very special community to unite & support an event that brings joy to our locals and visitors alike with an economic boost for our Chamber Members. Thank you to each and every one of you.

Blain Andera — CEO/President

Kiley Zankowski — Director of Marketing and Events

Morgan Strauss – Marketing and Events Coordinator 

Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

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Meet your 2023 Winter Games Cheerleaders!

Introducing your 2023 Winter Games Cheerleaders!

After collecting nominations for all of December and holding a community-wide voting on January 4th & 5th, the Winter Games Committee has officially tallied up the votes! We now present to you the 2023 University of Okoboji Winter Games Cheerleaders!

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Scott Nolte

"Scott is the Sports director for KUOO, he is at all area athletic events supporting the kids, he's very passionate about his job and no matter how tired he is he always has a smile on his face and is very enthusiastic to talk about and showcase our area athletes. Scott also loves supporting other events around the area from broadcasting in the cruiser for 4th of July to Winter Games, he's always up to the job and never complains about weather or anything else that may be challenging. He loves supporting the arts as well, doing a weekly interview with OST and going to as many of the shows as he has time for. Scott goes above and beyond for the community as well, spreading the word over the air waves about events and fundraisers, for meaningful causes, encouraging everyone to get involved! Scott is incredibly humble and goes out of his way to help anyone he can. Scott is a strong, positive role model!"

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Sheree Sanderson

"Sheree is never without a smile, helping hand, or a positive word to share. She's a community business owner and highly active in the real estate industry. Sheree would be a fantastic fit for the U of O Winter Games Cheerleading squad with her high energy, love for the Lakes, and by being a local native. To know her is to love and be loved by her!"

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Laurie & Brad Simington

"Laurie and Brad are just one of those couples that give of their time and their talents for the betterment of the community! They are almost always in attendance at any community fundraiser or function. They love the Iowa Great Lakes and the people that make up this special place."

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Cathy Thee

"Cathy Thee is one of those people that everyone knows and loves. She can walk into a room and know almost everyone. When she opened her Med spa Be Radiant in 2015, her goal was to make people feel confident about themselves. She has definitely been successful at that. She plays a huge part in the community by owning a local business and supporting other businesses in the area. Cathy Thee is the definition of a cheerleader!"

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Brad & Susan Travis

"These two are great leaders in our community. Susan has developed the Lake Life magazine, while also making fundraising for schools/organizations easier with her likeitwearitrockit.com website. Brad is a dedicated teacher at Spirit Lake who won the 2A Track Meet this spring and was selected as the 2A Overall Track and Field Coach of the Year."

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Alyssa Umscheid

"Alyssa is the most kind, compassionate, loving cheerleader you will ever meet! She has a heart of gold both at work and home. Alyssa is a integration special education teacher at Okoboji Middle School. She also has a self proclaimed "funny farm" where she loves all her fur babies and raises antibiotic free, nurtured and non-confinded pork. She is forever putting herself last and will jump through fire for her family, friends and students. "

Cheerleader Nominations Open

The University of Okoboji Winter Games committee is seeking nominations for the 2023 University of Okoboji Cheerleaders. 

In the true spirit of community fun and recognition, the University of Okoboji Winter Games Committee gives the public the opportunity to nominate individuals to serve as the Winter Games cheerleaders each year. The eight chosen cheerleaders will cheer, cheer, cheer for O-K-O-B-O-J-I at the various events throughout the 43rd Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games on January 26-29, 2023.

Individuals must be nominated in order to be considered as a potential cheerleader. Nominees must be a Dickinson County resident or employed in Dickinson County and at least 18 years of age. Nominations will be open the entire month of December, and a public voting will be held January 4th and 5th. 

The nominee should exhibit: a ready smile, generous heart, and good nature, an enthusiasm for all that our U of O campus has to offer, and a sincere desire to give their time and talent to enhance the quality of life in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. The nomination form is now open online at uofowintergames.com under the Cheerleader Tab of the website. A full list of past nominees and details on cheerleader requirements can be found online.

For more information on this celebration, please visit www.uofowintergames.com or call the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-332-2107.

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2023 Winter Games apparel is NOW AVAILABLE!

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The official University of Okoboji Winter Games apparel is in and ready for you!

Purchase your gear today in store at the IGLA Chamber office (565 S Hwy 71, Ste 4 - Arnolds Park, IA 51331) or under the Shop tab! There are more options than ever before! Including: beanies, crewneck sweatshirts, long sleeve t-shirts, short sleeve t-shirts, koozies, ornaments, and more!

Save the date and get your gear!

WG43 Registration is NOW OPEN!

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It's the beginning of November and you know what that means... registration for certain Winter Games events are NOW OPEN! Don't miss out on the 5k Fun Run, Bean Bag Toss, Broomball, Softball, Keg Toss, Stump Tournament, Human Foosball and SO much more this year!

For the past 42 years, thousands of people have gathered to celebrate winter in Northwest Iowa. Join us January 26-29, 2022 for the 43rd Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games presented by GrapeTree Medical Staffing! Event registration is officially open with some new and many classic events. Challenge yourself individually or gather your friends and family for a team event. Registration is open online at uofowintergames.com. Sign up soon as spots fill up quickly!

From classic Winter Games events such as Broomball, Chili Cook-Off, Snow Softball, 5K Fun Run, Axe Throwing Tournament, Human Dog Sled Races and much more, you are sure to stay entertained all weekend long! Check out the full schedule of events on our website and start planning your festivities for this annual frozen tradition!

For more information and additional updates, visit uofowintergames.com or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/UofOWinterGames.

*Not all events are open for registration, but will continuously open up in the coming weeks.

2023 Presenting Sponsor

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We're happy to announce that this year's presenting sponsor for the University of Okoboji Winter Games is - GrapeTree Medical Staffing!
This is the 5th year in a row that we have had GrapeTree as a partner and we can't wait to see what another year of Winter Games brings!

Meet your WG43 Chairs!

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Get to Know your Chair & Co-Chair!

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the Chair & Co-Chair of the 42ndAnnual University of Okoboji Winter Games scheduled for January 27-30, 2022.

The Chair of the 42nd Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games is Michael Meyers. Michael is the City Administrator for the City of Okoboji. Michael, his wife Paige, and their two children moved to Spirit Lake in January 2018 from Omaha, Nebraska. Michael’s children, Landon, age 9, is in the 3rd grade and Saylor, age 5, is a kindergartener at Spirit Lake Elementary School. The Meyers family truly appreciates the people and places of the Iowa Great Lakes community and everything that the region offers.

Michael is a member of Spirit Lake Noon Kiwanis, volunteers with the Lakes Area Hockey Association, a member of the Iowa League of Cities, a member of the Iowa City/County Management Association and a member of Engaging Local Government Leaders. The Meyers family is also supportive and active in other local organizations such as Keep Okoboji Blue, the Okoboji Yacht Club Sailing Center, the Bedell Family YMCA, and the annual Cattleman’s Regatta.

In 2020 Michael was elected to be a cheerleader for Winter Games 41, in 2022 was selected as co-chair, and very much looks forward to once again being a part of this great event. He believes that Winter Games is a phenomenal event that gives opportunity for our communities and businesses to show off what winter is all about in Okoboji! Michael appreciates to opportunity to represent the Iowa Great Lakes community, the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the University of Okoboji.

Co-Chair this year is Rachel Fandel. Rachel works at Fillenwarth Beach Resort in Arnolds Park. She is a 2008 graduate from Estherville Lincoln Central and a graduate from the University of Iowa. Rachel, her husband Craig and their daughter reside in Spirit Lake. When it came time to choose an area to settle in, the lakes area was a simple choice. Her love of the lake, for the community and her roots in the area help drive her to give back whenever possible.

Fandel is a current IGLACC Board member and a member of the Okoboji Tourism Committee. She enjoys helping area businesses thrive and helping visitors from all over the world learn about what this area has to offer. She is also the Vice President of the Spirit Lake Elementary PIE and truly enjoys volunteering her time to benefit the kids in the area.

When Rachel isn’t busy working or volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, while taking full advantage of all that being an Iowa Great Lakes resident has to offer.

Over the years, Rachel has been involved in Winter Games as a spectator, participant and volunteer. She is thrilled to represent our community, the IGLACC and the University of Okoboji as this year’s Winter Games Co-Chair!

Michael and Rachel are looking forward to the preparation ahead for our awesome winter tradition, and they are ready to make this year the best yet!

To get involved in the University of Okoboji Winter Games, please contact the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber at 712-332-2107.

Winter Games 42 Results!

Chili Cook-Off sponsored by Ruthven Meat Locker

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Best Overall - Goliath Sporting Goods

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Best Non-Profit - Ingham Okoboji

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Best Decorated Booth - Walker Insurance Agency - Cash Cab

Chocolate Classic sponsored by Ingvall Real Estate Team

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1st: Mary Abbott

2nd: Creative Cakes by Mindy

3rd: Central Bank

Axe Throwing – 10 for 10 Tournament at The Throwing Post

 Men 1st: Nate Hunziker

Men 2nd: Jeff Rose

Men 3rd: Mike Slife

Women 1st: Molly McCoy

Women 2nd: Melissa Burns

Women 3rd: Amy Ring Rose

Bean Bag Toss Tournament sponsored by The Gardens

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1st: Dammit Dave

2nd: Corn Dad's

3rd: Stuns' Yelnats

4th: 4 Bags

Consolation Winner: Thin Blue Line

Consolation Runner-up: Zinnel

Broomball sponsored by MHR Insurance

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1st: New Ulm Broomball

2nd: West O/Kraninger Construction

3rd: Rabbits on Ice

Cribbage Classic

Results coming soon!

Flag Football sponsored by Parks Marina

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1st: Dry Dock Dragons

2nd: Revolution

3rd: 4th and Long

Stump Tournament sponsored by The Dry Dock

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1st: Tracy Henning

2nd: Tom J

3rd: Colin Kelley

4th: Chey Gust

Polar Plunge sponsored by Okoboji Motor Company

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A record year of 175 plungers dove into the icy waters of West Lake Okoboji raising funds that benefit the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue.

Snow Softball sponsored by The Ritz

1st: Let's Go Brandon

2nd: The Fighting Iowaish

3rd: The Hair Team

Thank You!

That's a Wrap!

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On behalf of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce we would like to thank so many for making our 42nd Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games another success for our members & the community.

Thank you to our sponsors for making so much of this possible. To our Presenting Sponsor GrapeTree Medical Staffing, thank you for 4 years of success and dedication to this outstanding event. We truly appreciate your year round dedication to our community and support of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. To our Gold level sponsors, West O Beer, creator of the official Winter Games Beer Cōzy, Pure Fishing, Rosenboom, Kozy Heat, Fireball, and Dr. McGillicuddy’s, we are grateful for your partnership and support to our community. To our Silver sponsors, Alliant Energy, and Hy-Vee of Spirit Lake, thank you for your contribution and continued dedication to Winter Games. Thank you to our individual event sponsors Ruthven Meat Locker for the Chili Cook-off, Ingvall Real Estate Team for the Chocolate Classic and Galleria, Okoboji Motor Company for the Polar Plunge, Bank Midwest for the Burning of the Greens, The Gardens for the Bean Bag Toss Tournament, The Ritz for Snowball Softball, Exit Realty for the 5K Fun Run, The Dry Dock for the Stump Tournament, MHR Insurance for the Broomball Tournament, and Parks Marina for Flag Football. We would also like to thank Black Hills Energy for sponsoring the Winter Games Schedules all weekend long.

We appreciate the leadership of this year’s Chair Dr. Mara Groom and co-chair Michael Meyers, and our 8 wonderful Winter Games Cheerleaders. Thank you to our hundreds of volunteers, event chairs, Arnolds Park Amusement Park’s hard-working staff, KUOO, KICD, the Dickinson County News, the Lakes News Shopper, MC22, and all other news outlets for their non-stop coverage. Thank you to County and City governments for working with us, the courageous Law enforcement of the Lakes Region, the Iowa DNR, Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire & Rescue for keeping us safe, and all of the Chamber businesses that hosted events that lead to a memorable weekend for all of our visitors. It takes a very special community to unite and support an event that brings not only joy to our locals and visitors alike but also provides a welcomed economic boost during the off season for our Chamber Members. Thank you to each and every one of you for making University of Okoboji Winter Games 2022 one to remember. For a full list of results and an album of images from this year’s festivities, visit uofowintergames.com or the University of Okoboji Winter Games Facebook page.

 

Blain Andera — CEO/President

Kiley Zankowski — Director of Membership and Events

Karli Anthofer – Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce