----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Mon, Apr 25, 2005

Loyal athletes head down under for some gridiron

By Jeni Lewis - - Marshfield News-Herald

It's a toss up for Loyal High School seniors Eric Kaiser and Curtiss Lindner if they are looking forward more to graduation or playing football in Australia this summer.

Football, as in gridiron to the Aussies, not rugby.

The two are representing Wisconsin in the Down Under Bowl in Australia and will play teams from other states and countries.

"It's kind of a topping graduation for me, I get to play football again," Kaiser said. "I'm looking forward to playing one last time. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." The Down Under Bowl is organized by International Sports Specialists Inc., and Lindner and Kaiser were selected after being named to the Small Cloverbelt All Conference team this last year. They are busy fund-raising, and will take off June 26, less than a month after graduation.

Besides playing football, they will do some sightseeing at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, adventure sporting in Surfer's Paradise and touring in Honolulu on the trip home.

Lindner was a running back and Kaiser a linebacker for Loyal High School, and they think they'll be playing the same positions on the team for Wisconsin. They'll have a two-day training camp before leaving the country and practices once they arrive at Surfer's Paradise.

Lindner can't wait to see the scenery.

"I heard the waves are pretty awesome," he said. But he thinks he'll avoid surfing because he can't swim very well.

"I want to look," he said. "It's something I've never seen before, is somebody surfing." Both of their moms, Susan Lindner and Annette Kaiser, are taking the trip as well.

Lindner said she is excited to see them play football again.

"If they win the first game, then they play for the championship, which Wisconsin has won five years in a row," she said. "They treat it like Olympics." And Loyal football coach Chris Lindner, no relation to Susan and Curtiss, said the trip is a great opportunity.

"I think it's great for our program, great for our school and our community," Lindner said. "It's great for these kids. Very great opportunity to see the world and be with other kids." Coach Lindner said Curtiss and Eric also would do a good job representing Wisconsin.

"They're good athletes, they were our leaders for this last year," he said. "I think they're ones that are looked up to. They're kind of go-getters and very polite young men and just great kids overall."

Jeni Lewis can be reached at 384-3131 or 800-967-2087, ext. 329 or at jenlewis@marshfieldnewsherald.com. For more information go to marshfieldnewsherald.com and click on today's Web links.