Cornhusker
State _
Games
I Games bring Olympic feeling to Lincoln}
By Jill O’Brien
Staff reporter
After a week of rain, the opening
ceremonies for the 1992
Cornhuskcr Stale Games took place
July 17 under a cloudless blue canopy at
Scacrcsl Field.
As the “Star Wars” themesong played
through loud speakers, athletes paraded
around the Held.
Nearly 3,500 soccer players in a
rainbow of colorful shins lined up in an
adjoining field, waiting their turn to
panicipalc in the procession.
Bathing beauties waved from a sailboat
and muzzle loaders dressed in fringed
leather and moccasins followed partici
pants carrying banners.
The Lincoln Community Gospel Choir,
the Celebration Singers and the O’Neill
Irish Dancers provided entertainment.
In addition, much to the delight of the
crowd, four parachutists from the Lincoln
Sport Parachute Club fell from a plane
and drifted to earth as one of them held up
the American flag.
Former University of Nebraska
Lincoln football coach and current
Athletic Director Bob Dcvancy received a
standing ovation from the crowd when he
was introduced. After Devaney’s recogni
tion, 14-year-old Sarah Jane Moheng from
Si. Paul sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Other highlights of the ceremony
opening the 8th annual games in Nebraska
included brief speeches by Mayor Mike
Johannes and Gov. Ben Nelson.
Nelson said that he was “proud that the
Comhusker State Games is the largest
event of its kind in the United States.”
“The games arc truly Nebraska’s
family picnic,” Nelson said.
The mystery torch lighter, Kim Oden, a
Grand Island native and senior at Ne
braska Wesleyan University, capped off
the opening of the Slate Games.
Canying a torch borne 900 Nebraska
miles by 800 runners, Oden lit the
Olympic-si/cd torch stationed in the
center of the field, signaling the beginning
of the games.
Although the games actually started
July 10, throughout the weekend of July
17-19 swimmers competed at Woods
Pool, gymnasts competed at Capital City
Gymnastics and equestrian competition
was held at the State Fair grounds.
Seventeen thousand athletes from 86
counties competed in events ranging from
archery and aquatics to volkswalking and
wrestling. More than 100 basketball and
softball teams and more than 200 soccer
and volleyball teams ended up participat
ing in the games.
Photos by Stacie McKee
Bottom Left to Right: A spectator hands out water to passing bicyclists
during the 77-mile road race Saturday at Branched Oak Lake in Lincoln.
Rachel Anschutz, 12, of Grand Island, take careful aim during archery
competition Saturday afternoon at the Prairie Bowmen Archery Range. It
Two participants clash as they try to regain control of the ball during the
senior men s soccer game Sunday at Seacrest Field.
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