f rkJay. opril 25, 1 080 fathom page 3
Suffering athletic agony
reaps golden rewards
By Shelley Smith
Anyone can be in athletics, but not just
anyone can be an athlete. The endless
hours, the sweat, the aches-not only of
burning muscles, but of defeat and frustra
tion, are integral parts of being an athlete,
yet, they are only dents into what it takes
to be good.
Steve Elliott, a sophomore from
Amarillo, Texas, is a world class tumbler
and a Big Eight diving champion.
He's an athlete and he's good.
But, he didn't get to where he is today
without suffering, without paying for every
time he stepped into the guy or onto the
board. Elliott said despite all he's been
through, with what he has achieved, it's
been more than worth it.
Elliott won the national championship
title in the floor exercise two weeks ago,
placed sixth in the vault, and helped lead
Nebraska to its second consecutive NCAA
team title. Earlier this season he won the
He didn 't get to where he is
today without suffering,
without paying for every
time he stepped into the gym
or onto the board
Big Eight title in the three-meter dive for
the second straight year, and placed second
in the one-meter dive .
"Sure there were times when there was
a lot of pain and soreness through all that,
but I wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Especially after the season's over-it was all
worthwhile standing up on that first-place
block," he said." You feel every day of it,
but being best in the nation is quite an
accomplishment. But you can't be at the
top without paying for it in someway."
He said he never really thought of being
anything but an athlete.
Elliott began tumbling when he was six
just because "it was something to do.
"The Boys Club was just a place to play
around after school. Tumbling was just
something to keep the kids active," he said.
It wasn't until Elliott was in junior high
school and had won the national tumbling
championship in the 13-14 age group that
he said . he realized he was an athlete.
"I knew then that I had good ability In
tumbling. Being national champion for that
age group shows a lot of potential," he
said.
With that championship as a base,
Elliott said he decided to devote the time
necessary to try and ready his full poten
tial. "Athletics can teach so many things
about life and yourself. They teach you
organization, how to work with other
people, self discipline. It's important to go
out and apply yourself and do what you
can do and be satisfied , he said.
There was another reason why he decid
ed to pursue an athletic career, too, he
said.
Elliott's father won the trampoline nat
ional championship in 1955. He competed
throughout the United States and Canada
and won many awards, Elliott said,
Steve set his house on fire when he was
four years old, destroying his father's
closet and all of his father's newspaper
clippings, medals and trophies.
"He had nothing to show for what he
had done. As I grew older I realized this
more and more. One of my goals was to go
out and do my best to give my parents
something to show. I wanted to be some
thing to show for his accomplishments," he.
said.
Elliott's parents were in Lincoln for
the NCAA championships two weeks ago,
and Steve said they were more excited
about the standing ovation he received
after winning the floor exercise, than his
routine. '
"I was really hoping the crowd would
be that way because I knew my parents
would be proud. My mom was overwhelm
ed, she couldn't believe I had gotten so
much recognition at the college level," he
said.
"I gave my dad the team championship
plaque to take home," he said.
Elliott said he realized how much
athletics have given him in return. So much
of what he has done outside the athletic
arena has been because of his athletic
ability, he said.
"I've traveled all over, met so many peo
ple and learned so much about life. I work
in the summer because of my athletic
ability, most everything I can do is because
1 3 r ; y . - ; ,.;
1 . . . . f'kT . r r-v z. ,
of athletics," he said.
Spending 3-5 hours a day in a gym or
pool is not unusual for Elliott during both
seasons. Off-season, however, he doesn't
even know where to begin spending all of
his free time. '
"I can't imagine other students what
they do when they come home from
One of my goals was to go out
and do my best to give my
parents something to show
school. If I had this much free time I know
I would get close to a 4.0 in school," he
said.
"I guess you just have to sacrifice some
things for others," he added.
Elliott said he has always been known as
an athlete; always associated with athletics.
"God has given me some abilities and I
want to fulfill those abilities as best I can.
I'm honored to have the media exposure
that I've had-it's nice to be known as an
athlete, but I'd rather be known as a per
son," he said.
Photo by Mark Billingsley
When he's not training, competing or
studying, Elliott said he spends most of his
time alone, thinking.
"You get so wrapped up in everything.
When you come down you've got to think
where am I going. You need time to sit
and relax-to step back and look at every
thing as a whole-from the outside in," he
said.
"It's nice to be out there for a while,"
he said.
Living with another gymnast (Kevin
Dunkley) has been beneficial, Elliott said,
in that both of them share similar interests.
However, he said living with a non
athlete might keep him a. little more
"sane."
'Kevin's gone as much or more than I
am. It would be nice to have someone here
when I get home to talk to-to hold the
fort down. Talking to another athlete,
sometimes, is like talking to yourself,"
If Elliott should ever quit being an
athlete, he said it will be because of physi
cal limitations.
"I'll never stop being active. But when
ever my body can't handle it, I guess I'd
have to retire," he said.
By Mary Jo Pitzl
There's only one Heart's Content and only one Kuril's
Restaurant and their owners take pride in that uniqueness.
Kurd's has weathered yean of downtown renovation
and construction, holding fast to its location at 1038 O
St. for 13 years.
Owners at both these commercial
en terprises hold no grand illusions of
franchises, conglomerates or
world-wide recognition
On the other side of town, the needlework specialty
shop, A Heart's Content, while not as long-established, has.
nbnetheless woven its way into the local business scene.
Owners at both of these commercial enterprises hold
no grand illusions of franchises, conglomerates or world
wide recognition. Running a restaurant on 0 Street and
selling needlework supplies in the Piedmont Shopping
Center are their main aspirations. And Kurt and Pearl
Kuhl and Milliscent Scott are as pleased as punch with
their grass-roots businesses.
"We've tried to make a kind of homey.family atmo
sphere," Pearl Kuhl said of her 120-seat restaurant. And if
their success is gauged by the variety of clientele, Kuril's
has reached its goal.
"We get to see a lot of different walks of life, Mrs.
Kufcl said. She explained that the downtown location
brings in students as well as business people, and the rest
aurant's proximity to the hotels attracts travelers.
Also, Kurd's becomes the cafeteria for UNL athletic
teams when the university is closed during, Thanks
giving, semester and spring breaks, Mrs. Kuhl said.
Hie Kurd's business experience extends further than
the 13 years their restaurant has been open downtown.
Mrs. Kuhl started working in restaurants while in high
school and hasn't stopped yet. About 15 years ago, the
restaurant she was working for went up for sale and she
and her husband bought the business. After a few years'
work at their 17th and Van Dorn streets location, the
Kurds moved downtown.
Kurt Kuhl said their restaurant is unique in that it
serves three meals a day. The combination of moderate
prices and friendly atmostphere keeps clients coming
back, he said.
He also credited ''tight control" for what he described
as the restaurant's constant growth.
He and his wife are a vital part of that tight rein, work
ing full-time with their 25 employees.
As for competition, the Kurd's arent ruffled, ..
"I don't think of any restaurant near here as competi
tion," Mrs. Kuhl said. "More as friends and neighbors."
Friends and neighbors were the foundation of A
Heart's Content, a needlework shop started by five
women in the Piedmont Shopping Center in August,
1977,
Mfllicent Scott said a common interest in needlework
and church affiliations brought her together with co
owners Sally Campbell, Betty Henkle, Diane Oldfather
and Carolyn Neill. The five formed a partnership and
bought up a home-based needlework shop that was going
out of business.
UAD of us have learned how it is when you run your
own business," Scott said. At first there was fear of the
unknown die said, since none of the partners had business
experience. But "one thing at a time seemed to work it
self out."
She said the shop has never run into financial diffi
culty. "We couldn't make a living doing this," Scott said,
but the shop has always registered in the black.
A Heart's Content carries the top line in needlework
equipment, does custom designing and needlework, and
offers various classes.
"We have just expanded our horizons a lot," Scott said,
referring to a Scandinavian needlework technique the
shop is now marketing. There also is some talk among the
partners of wholesaling their creations.
Scott said the shop was furnished and decorated by the
partners themselves on a low-cost budget. "We found the
fixtures and hung the wallpaper," she said. "We also made
smocks to match the wallpaper," she added, indicating her
heart-motif smock.
The store's name evolved from a mutual love of hearts
and their use in needlework designs. Originally called
"Stitch to Your Heart's Content," the shop's full title
couldn't fit on the sign, so all but the last two words were
cut.
All of us have learned how it is when
you run your own business. At first
there was fear of the unknown
When the store first opened, Scott said there were a lot
of mistaken identity problems. They would get phone
calls from people curious about what the shop is, she said.
Scott said she is happy with the steady business the
career women and housewives have generated at their
jointly-owned store.
"Men have only been involved when we ask them to
be, she said. "They havent interfered."