Home sweet (first) home - Community Shoppers, Inc.

JANESVILLE
10 MESSENGER ■ Sunday, July 27, 2008
communityshoppers.com
SPORTS
JIM IM CHEADLE HEADLE
SCALES AND TAILS ACTING THEIR AGE
New rules in place
for this year’s
wild-turkey hunt
As July draws to a close, it’s time to remind
everyone that applications for fall turkey,
Horicon or Collins Zone goose, Exterior Zone
goose and sharp-tailed grouse must be filed by
midnight Friday.
I also have some important news to pass on
about changes in the turkey-hunting zones.
There now are just seven zones that cover the
entire state. I hope this eventually will
increase the chances of procuring a permit.
Rock County now lies in Zone 2. This new
zone runs from the Stateline in the south to
just north of Green Bay. Looking east and
west, its southern portion extends from central
Dane County to Lake Michigan. The zone then
angles northeast, and includes most of Door
County.
Special zones include Governor Dodge,
Devils Lake, Wyalusing, Wildcat Mountain,
Mirror Lake, Buckhorn, Newport, Interstate
and Willow River state parks.
Special disabled-only zones include Natural
Bridge, Nelson Dewey, Belmont Mound, New
Glarus Woods and Rocky Arbor state parks, as
well as Loew Lake Unit and Kettle Moraine
State Forest.
There are several ways to apply for a permit.
You can go to a local license vendor, send it via
mail or apply online; however, the deadline for
each is midnight Friday.
You may apply for up to four wild-turkey
zones, but keep in mind that applying for a
specific zone multiple times will not increase
your chances. If your name is drawn, you will
receive a notice in about six weeks. For
Canada goose, you must apply for your preferred
zone and time period. If you receive an
Exterior Zone permit, you are ineligible to
apply for Collins or Horicon.
*****
Wisconsin has joined 28 other states in the
Wildlife Violator Compact. If an individual’s
hunting, fishing or trapping privileges are suspended
in one state, that person may not
obtain a license or permit in the other states.
If a nonresident hunter is cited in Wisconsin
and fails to pay or appear in court, state officials
will notify the person’s home state for revocation
action. Any conviction will be relayed to
all participating states.
*****
John Trossen at Pier Bait in Lake Geneva
said bluegill are biting at about 25 feet, and
walleye can be found over the weeds with
crawler harnesses, even during the day. Deep
weed edges are holding some northern pike, so
try Lindy rigs with suckers. Early in the day, I
like to throw No. 5 Mepps spinners along the
weeds for those “gators.”
*****
An upcoming event I’m happy to promote is
Operation Ooh-Rah, a benefit concert for the
U.S. Marine Corps 2nd LAAD Battalion and
their families. The event will be held from 2
p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Afton Pub and
Park.
Along with music from End Fight Scene,
Pistol Pete with Zach Johns and Dynamite
Society, there will be a biker rodeo, watermelon-eating
contest and clowns. There also will
be raffles and food catered by Friendly Village.
Pick up your tickets at Stateline Cycle,
Marine Corps League, Hammy’s Roadside Bar,
Skip’s Friendly Village or Afton Pub and Park.
The Wild Goose says: Once again, exercise
caution on any moving water system.
While shore fishing along the banks, I’ve
seen some huge floaters, including trees
more than 20-feet long.
Editor’s note: Write Jim Cheadle at 4108 W. Spring Creek, Beloit
WI 53511. Call him at (608) 365-5280. E-mail him at jcheadle@inwave.com.
Gladiators linemen
prove you’re only
as old as you feel
BY SAM KILLIAN
STAFF WRITER
JANESVILLE — For Todd
Livingston, joining the Rock
County Gladiators was a chance
to move up a rung on the football
ladder.
For A.J. Albrecht Sr., it was a second
chance to play the game he loves.
Janesville residents Albrecht, 46, an
offensive lineman, and Livingston, 41,
a defensive lineman, are the oldest
players on the Gladiators roster. The
semiprofessional team is finishing their
first season in the Ironman Football
League (see related story)
Albrecht joined the team for its inaugural
season in 2007; Livingston
hooked on this year as the Gladiators
moved to the IFL. Both relish the
opportunity to play with teammates
and opponents of any age.
“Every day was going to be a learning
experience, but this is exactly what
we expected,” Livingston said.
Albrecht, a correctional officer in
Walworth County, sustained a knee
injury during high school. Over time,
he underwent 22 surgeries, which regularly
kept him off the gridiron.
However, a high-tech knee brace has
allowed him to get back on the field
after nearly 25 years.
“It was something I never thought I’d
get a chance to do again,” Albrecht
said. “You always think about how nice
it would be to strap on the gear and
play again, (but) never actually thinking
it would happen.”
His wife, Lisa, was worried about the
prospect of her husband playing again,
but now is glad she didn’t discourage
him from joining the team.
“If I would have said ‘no,’ I think it
would have cost him,” she said. “He’ll
just have a huge smile from playing
football.”
Livingston, who works for DaCon
Concrete Construction in Edgerton,
played in flag-football leagues for a
number of years, but decided he wanted
to compete at the next level.
“It’s what I was hoping for, to get
some competition,” he said.
BY SAM KILLIAN
STAFF WRITER
JANESVILLE — The Rock County
Gladiators have had to make a number
of adjustments during their first
season in a new league, but players
and coaches say they are happy to face
improved competition.
The team spent its inaugural season
last year dominating the Northwest
Indiana Football League — the
Gladiators finished 13-0 and won the
league championship.
After making the jump to the
Ironman Football League, the
Gladiators have a 2-5 record, although
one victory came via forfeit. The team
has been involved in several close
games and tough losses, including
last-minute losses to the Roscoe Rush
in overtime June 7 and the McHenry
County Pirates July 5.
“It’s been a little bit of a heartbreaking
season, but I think we just need
one or two tweaks and we’ll be there,”
said team co-owner and head coach
Carter Linneman.
Despite his team’s losing record, coowner
Brian Worth remains positive.
Photos courtesy of Rock County Gladiators
Above, Rock County Gladiators defensive lineman Todd Livingston (67) makes a
tackle during a recent game. Below, offensive lineman A.J. Albrecht Sr., walks off
the field after a win July 19 over the Fond du Lac Crusaders. Livingston, 41, and
Albrecht, 46, are the oldest members on the Gladiators roster.
IFL owner and Commissioner Pete
Narrai said 30 to 40 of the league’s
1,100 players are between the ages of
35 and 45.
“These guys are strong,” Narrai said.
“There are still guys out there that are
willing to put it on the line just for the
sake of playing the game.”
Gladiators co-owner Carter
Linneman said his team’s older, more
experienced players mentor the
younger players.
“They are able to patrol things on the
field, while (the coaching staff) patrols
things on the sideline,” Linneman said.
Co-owner Brian Worth agreed.
“Todd and A.J. bring an experience
and maturity level to our team that is
second to none,” he said. “The veteran
“I’m very happy with the new
league,” he said. “It makes for a much
more exciting game for our fans.”
The IFL was founded in 1996, and
includes teams from southern
Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
League owner and Commissioner Pete
Narrai believes the Gladiators are a
leadership that we
have from them and
others really helps
on the field more
than us as coaches
can do from the sidelines.”
Quarterback Dan
Roberts said he has Livingston
learned a lot from
Albrecht and Livingston.
“At first, we were questioning their
skills a little, but once you see them on
the field they are all business,” Roberts
said. “If anyone needs to say anything
to calm us down or get us to focus,
they’re the ones to say it.”
Livingston said he just tries to teach
younger players consistency and how to
avoid penalties. Albrecht said he learns
just as much from the younger players
as they learn from him.
“Twenty-five years is a long time to
go between college to playing again,” he
said. “I pick up a ton of stuff.”
Playing with Livingston also has
helped Albrecht grow as a player.
“You want to think you’re 25, 26
(years old) on the field, but you’re not,”
Albrecht said. “Seeing Todd going
through the same things I do really
helps.”
Livingston agreed.
”When you’re over 40, it takes a lot
longer to heal,” he said. “It’s like
Saturday-to-Saturday aching.”
GROWING PAINS: TEAM ADJUSTING TO NEW LEAGUE
ADJUSTMENT PERIOD
Results so far from the Rock County
Gladiators’ inaugural IFL season:
■ June 7: Roscoe 30, Gladiators 24 (OT)
■ June 14: Muskego 22, Gladiators 14
■ Gladiators 7, Oak Creek 0 (forfeit)
■ June 28: Burlington 39, Gladiators 28
■ July 5: McHenry Co. 46, Gladiators 38
■ July 12: Madison 54, Gladiators 7
■ July 19: Gladiators 26, Fond du Lac 20
For further updates, visit
www.rcgladiators.com or
www.ironmanfootballleague.com.
good fit in the highly
competitive IFL.
“I predict that by
next year, the
Gladiators will be
right up there on
top,” Narrai said.
“They have one of
Worth
the better organizations.”
The Gladiators recently signed a
five-year deal to stay in the IFL.
“It was getting boring for some of
our fans (last year) when we’d blow
people out from week to week,” Worth
said.
Offensive lineman A.J. Albrecht Sr.
agreed.
“The level of competition is five
times greater than it was last year,”
he said. “You come off completely
drained, but it’s worth it.”
The Gladiators played Saturday
(July 26), and close out the season
Sunday (Aug. 3) on the road against
the St. Francis Monarchs.
Currently the Gladiators are in 10th
place in the 13-team league. Eight
teams make the playoffs, which begin
Aug. 16.