10 – Edgerton Reporter Wednesday, April 29, 2020 of a game of telephone going Now what? any distance to simply reach IDITAROD out on the trail—what condi- Per usual, Ryan and Emily out to those who are already Continued from page 9 tions were like, what people had a busy summer of races competing. encountered, and who was scheduled, but many of them “Ninety-nine percent of the close. I remember thinking I still going. have already been canceled people are not superhuman might never get to fall asleep “The physical part wasn’t and all are in a state of athletes,” Ryan said. “They’re listening to wolves howl again bad because I was in good flux due to the coronavirus just everyday people that the rest of my life.” shape. Mentally, it was just pandemic. have found something they One of the competitors’ exhausting the whole time. Ryan said he will find a way like, have a drive and are just biggest dangers in the race is Check your GPS. What’s the to ultrarun in competitive out there doing it.” getting into a confrontation weather going to be like? fashion, likely running long While many might think with a moose. Wanless said he “I never felt like I had any stretches of trail to attempt to running 350 miles on the saw 30 or so along his trek. cushion, because in theory I beat FKTs—Fastest Known Iditarod Trail is the greatest “A couple bikers encoun- could’ve gotten 20 miles from Times. accomplishment yet for tered some and the moose the finish line and if a storm “We have the whole length Wanless, he remains proudest smashed their bicycles up. came in, you could be laying of the Centennial Trail out of his overall resume. And a cross country skier had in your sleeping bag for two here that’s about 114 miles,” “A lot of people do one and one come over the bank and days.” said Wanless, who is a general they’re done,” he said. “I really attack him and stomp on him,” He heard of more and more contractor by trade. “I’ll love not only the racing part Wanless said. “Luckily enough competitors dropping out probably try and take a stab but the training and prepa- for him, it was deep snow off along the way. at trying to break the record ration and the friendships. the trail, and when the moose “There was a very high for the fastest known time on “Under normal circum- kept stomping on him, it just drop rate this year,” Wanless that in the next month or so, stances, if we’re not running stomped him further into the said. “Normally they don’t once all the snow’s gone.” or biking or camping with deep snow. have that high of a drop rate, While races are mostly at friends, we’re probably at a “The bikers had to drop because you have to do so a standstill at this point, he happy hour talking about because their bikes were much to get in that everyone encourages anyone with any running or biking or camping wrecked, but the skier kept is pretty well qualified to be in sort of inkling about running with friends.” going and finished I think on the race. You’re not looking at Day 9.” any amateurs.” It did not take long, Wanless To Wanless, giving up never said, to put the thought of felt like an option. Finding a simply finishing the race to flight out of a remote town in the back of his mind. Alaska near one of the check- “Day 2 or Day 3, when it’s approached the third of At some checkpoints, points would have cost him blowing 60 miles an hour and six checkpoints along his Ryan was able to connect more than $1,000. you’re coming up to 3-4 foot route did not bring with it to wireless internet to get a And so he kept moving drifts of snow, the finish is the any news of the race being message out to Emily. along. last thing on your mind,” he suspended. “You’d come up to some of And on March 9, after said. “You just go day-by-day. And so Wanless continued the checkpoints and there’d seven days, 23 hours and 45 You say, if the weather trudging along. be an old trappers’ cabin or a minutes, Wanless reached the continues and this is the end And Emily—who was tent or one of the places was finish in McGrath, Alaska, of my journey, I’m OK with it in Alaska waiting for her a rec center in a town,” Ryan 350 miles from the start in because I had a great time.” husband back near the start said. “Maybe get something to Anchorage. line—and a host of other eat and catch a nap, and then “I accomplished all my Mission accomplished friends and family monitored as you were leaving, people goals and more,” he said. “It’s But that snowmobile Ryan’s progress via GPS on five hours behind you might as much about the journey as that passed him as he an ITI tracking site. be coming in. So it was kind it is the finish line.” FOOTBALL After 2020 NFL Draft, questions about the future By Jack McLaughlin play at the NFL level. Love Rounding out the Packers threatened by it. Whether it to win that doesn’t involve Even though the argument Special to the Reporter plays with below average 2020 draft haul was Minnesota comes down to a difference in Number 12. And while their can be made that the draft accuracy, questionable linebacker Kamal Martin in offensive philosophy or a lack model may be successful, is it board simply fell the wrong While commending decision making, a clunky the fifth round, TCU safety of belief in Rodgers from the wise to turn your back on one way for the Packers to justify his moves in free agency, throwing motion and has Vernon Scott in the seventh Packers front office, he could of the greatest quarterbacks taking a receiver on day one questions about the drafting displayed an inability to read round, and Miami pass rusher be about to take a major step to play the game of football, or two (rounds one through ability of Packers’ third year zone coverages. And even Jonathan Garvin, also in the back in their scheme, because regardless of his age? three), players like KJ Hill General Manager Brian though he posted a touch- seventh round. why would a team commit And to compound the (Ohio State’s all-time recep- Gutenkust came up. With this down-to-interception ratio While Gutenkust did put nearly all of their premium questions about Rodger’s tions leader) were still on year’s NFL Draft now in the of 32:6 as a sophomore, he together a slew of good draft capital to a running future with the team that are the board while the Packers books, Packers fans and NFL regressed in 2019, with a far players with promise, the game and not use it? now understandably swirling chose to select three consec- experts alike agree that those less impressive line of 20:17. value of his top several picks Likewise, why trade up around the Packers, the utive offensive linemen in questions largely remain. With Rodgers manning the is questionable, notably in the first round for a team’s front office did little rounds six and seven. While And although the Packers’ helm of the Packers for the Dillon in the second round quarterback if you don’t to address what many felt was Hill is not a dynamic athlete front office displayed next few years at least, this and Deguara in the third, plan on starting him in the the team’s largest roster hole, or a splash playmaker at the conviction with their selec- does give Love ample time two players who would very near future? While there’s wide receiver. next level, he would likely tions, clearly demonstrating to learn the position at the possibly been available a full no question Love will sit for While Davatne Adams is be a day one starter for the their commitment to devel- highest level. round after their selections. In several seasons behind the still an elite NFL playmaker, Packers as a dependable slot oping the running game, in Gutenkust has openly fact, NFL.com listed Deguara future hall of famer, it’s highly the receiving talent around receiver. doing so they’ve opened stated his desire to run the as a likely sixth round pick unlikely he won’t be given him is paper thin. Devin So while the selection the door for a slew of new football, and he made this before the draft. the reigns within two to three Funchess was a solid, of Jordan Love was no questions about the direction sentiment clear with the A more important question years. Having Love serve inexpensive off-season acqui- doubt exciting for Packers of the team moving forward. majority of his selections later raised with the team’s draft as backup for longer would sition, but the Packers inexpli- fans, and the team seems In the first round, Guten- in this draft class. Supporting class is whether or not the eliminate perhaps the largest cably chose not to draft a ready to trot out a fierce kunst traded up four spots this was the selection of Packers are committed to benefit Love would offer, a single wide receiver in the rushing attack this year, to number 26, swapping the former Boston College Aaron Rodgers, both as a rookie contract a fraction the entire 2020 NFL Draft. an abundance of questions Packers pick at 30 in addition running back AJ Dillon in the centerpiece of their offense size of Rodgers’. Why wait for Not only was this a glaring surrounding Aaron Rodgers to a fourth round selection to second round (who compares and as their starter over the this to expire? position of need for the team, already seems too loud to grab Utah State quarterback in many ways to the Titans next two to three years. While Rodgers is set to turn this year’s group of wide quiet. The team has chosen Jordan Love. While other bruising back Derrick Henry), It’s clear both LaFluer and 36 this season, the league has receivers was what many its direction for the near issues surround this pick, tight end Josiah Deguara in Gutenkust want a strong seen a slew of quarterbacks believe to be the deepest in future, but is it the right Love’s talent is absolutely the third round (who will running game to be the engine play at all-pro levels well into years or even decades. one? undeniable. With the proto- play an h-back role in the of the Packers offense. But their 40s, including but not typical size, athleticism, and Packers offense, meaning while a strong rushing attack limited to Tom Brady, Drew arm talent teams covet in he’ll assist in blocking heavily is usually a quarterback’s Brees and Payton Manning. quarterback prospects, the and contribute as a receiver, best friend, the status of Despite this, it’s clear the former Aggie could very end much like a modern fullback), Aaron Rodgers as the team’s Packers’ front office believes as the best pro at his position and three straight offensive superstar playmaker feels they can build a new way in this entire class (quarter- lineman in rounds six and backs selected before include seven. These picks have the Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, making of an offense that will and Justin Herbert). Love feature the running game. could end up as one of the Green Bay’s backfield now Commercial Agricultural best few signal callers in the uncoincidentally mirrors that Equestrian Garages entire NFL, should he fully of the Tennessee Titans, where Hobby Shops And More! develop. Packers Head Coach Matt But for Love, development LaFleur served as offensive is the major question mark. coordinator, relying on a burly, Eastern CO NE and Western IA Wisconsin While he boasts poten- powerful runner (Dillon) 970-230-2052 402-426-5022 608-632-1389 tially generational talent, the and a quick, explosive big www.GingerichStructures.com Packer’s top draft choice is play threat (Aaron Jones) in S TRUCTURES raw, and far from ready for tandem.

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