Conversations with Northland Athletes
Competing on the World Stage
– by Patrick “Packy” Mader with Joel Rippel (2015 & 2019)
REVIEWED BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher
As the old saying goes “there’s gold in them thar hills” … in this case, there’s a mountain of gold between the front and back covers of “Minnesota Gold” and “More Minnesota Gold.”
Gold. … Gold rush. … Good as gold. … Golden opportunity. … The very word “gold” conjures up images of excellence – the best of the best. Mankind’s pursuit of gold goes back thousands of years. More recently, Olympic athletes’ pursuit of gold in the modern Games goes back well over a century.
The two volumes by author Patrick “Packy” Mader include detailed profiles of over 100 athletes from across Minnesota representing three dozen different sports over seven decades (1948-2019). From ice hockey and curling to swimming and water polo. From alpine skiing and bobsledding to distance running and wrestling.
Mader’s interest in the Olympic Games and world competitions began in mid-1964. The Olympics were being held in Tokyo that summer. Native American long-distance runner Billy Mills was competing in the 10,000-meter run for the USA.
With one lap to go, Mills was unexpectantly among the top three. Then he was pushed twice, stumbled and was apparently too far behind the others to have a chance. But Mills threw it into super high gear, passed them both and took the Gold Medal.
2012 Panini Americana Heroes & Legends
According to Wikipedia: “His 1964 victory is considered one of the greatest Olympic upsets because he was a virtual unknown going into the event. He was the first non-European to win the Olympic event and remains the only winner from the Americas.”
With that gritty, stunning performance by Mills, Mader was hooked on the Olympic Games – following its athletes as well as those competing in other events on the international level. In an interview, Mader related: “Making a World Championship team in non-Olympic years is just as challenging and those athletes don’t receive near as much attention. I wanted to give them some credit too.”
Physical skills are one thing, mental toughness is a whole other ballgame when on the world stage. Think “perseverance.” You just keeping plugging away. You don’t throw in the towel when the odds are stacked against you. It can be a huge struggle, but you keep picking yourself up and rebounding after adversity. You may or may not reach the mountaintop, but no one will be able to say you didn’t give it your all.
Many athletes in the two books made it to the very top, some didn’t, but showed perseverance of a champion nonetheless. The highest level of competition means that even if you don’t medal in the Olympics, you’ve accomplished more they most can imagine. It’s never as easy as it might sometimes seem, as you can’t just “show up” for international competition. Behind each success, there are thousands of hours of hard work and many sacrifices, with countless numbers of supporters including family, friends and coaches.
A brief glimpse of some of the athletes featured:
JOHN MAYASICH – The son of Croatian immigrants, he’s the most acclaimed high school (Eveleth, MN) hockey player in Minnesota history. As a member of the U.S. Hockey team for the 1956 Olympics, the squad earned a Silver Medal. Four years later, in an upset, they bested Canada and took home gold. Some describe the team’s 1960 run as the first “Miracle on Ice.”
WENDELL “WENDY” ANDERSON – The former Minnesota governor (1971-76) and U.S. Senator (1976-78) was a member of the aforementioned 1956 Olympic U.S. Hockey team as a defenseman. Even though they lost to the Soviet Union, Anderson always considered it “a tremendous experience.”
LINDSAY WHALEN – In addition to being a University of Minnesota and WNBA hoops star, the Hutchinson, Minnesota native took home two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Basketball team.
HENRY BOUCHA – As a member of the American National Hockey team, he took home a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics. A Native American, he was on the ice for six years in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA).
2018 Topps Olympics
JESSIE DIGGINS – The cross-country skier has medaled three times at the Olympics – earning a gold, silver and bronze. She graduated from Stillwater (MN) Area High School.
AMY PETERSON – She is the only Minnesotan to be a five-time Olympian. From 1988-2002, the speed skater won a silver and two bronze medals. She was also the flagbearer at the ’02 Olympics. Peterson followed in the footsteps of her uncle who was an Olympic speed skater … plus, her mother also participated in the sport.
REGAN SMITH – When “More Minnesota Gold” was published in 2019, the swimmer was still in high school and not yet an Olympian. However, Mader saw her potential and included Smith in the book. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, she lived up to expectations and took home three medals: two silvers and a bronze. Three years later at the Paris Olympics she topped that by winning two golds and three silvers.
1995 Signature Rookies “Miracle on Ice“
JOHN “BAH” HARRINGTON & BUZZ SCHNEIDER – Both members of the “Miracle on Ice” gold medal-winning team that stunned the world at Lake Placid, New York in 1980. Coached by the legendary Herb Brooks, the 20-man team included a dozen Minnesotans. (Brooks was also from Minnesota.)
The vast majority of Olympic athletes don’t become famous or receive huge endorsement deals – even if they medal. As Mader stated during a WCCO Radio interview in July 2021: “Most of them go on to very successful and productive careers in medicine or sales or business … they are good people who became good citizens as well.” He went on: “You may have a neighbor or someone living within a mile of you who’s an Olympian and you’d never know it – partly because they’re very modest.”
Mader has done meticulous research, including hundreds of hours of interviews with the athletes. Each story is a mini-biography (not just a few paragraphs) complete with photographs. The books are well-written and include historical information.
Each volume is large-size (9 by 12 inches) and runs about 380 pages. The nice thing is, you can read it, set it down and pick it up again without missing a beat – as each profile is about 6-8 pages.
Those who may not have an abundant interest in athletics – or sports that aren’t necessarily part of the mainstream – will still find these stories compelling. And even though the athletes are from one state, their stories are inspiring and universal.
“Minnesota Gold” and “More Minnesota Gold” deservedly belong on the top level of the Olympic podium.
Recent Topps Olympic pack and cards
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For more information, check out Patrick “Packy” Mader’s website: MNAthletes.com. It includes hundreds of articles on Minnesota athletes. You can click on the link below:
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Topps included Team USA Olympic cards in some of its baseball issues and also produced exclusive Olympic sets. These players and athletes are not included in the two volumes of “Minnesota Gold,” but are examples of Topps’ efforts:
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