AWSA Midwest

Greetings Midwest Water Skiers!

As we move into another exciting season of water skiing, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength, passion, and dedication of our Midwest Region. Whether you’re a tournament competitor, a weekend warrior, or a new skier just getting your feet wet, you are part of a thriving community that makes this sport truly special.

Our region continues to be a leader in the American Water Ski Association, boasting top-tier talent, dedicated officials, and some of the most well-run events in the country. This past season showcased remarkable performances, from record-breaking scores to outstanding grassroots participation. I want to extend a huge thank you to the event organizers, volunteers, and officials who make it all possible. Without your tireless efforts, we wouldn’t have the opportunities to compete, improve, and enjoy this sport we all love.

Looking ahead, we have an exciting calendar of events, including state championships, regional tournaments, and national competitions. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our schedule and make plans to participate—whether as a skier, official, or spectator. Your involvement strengthens our community and helps grow the sport for future generations. Additionally, I encourage everyone to get involved beyond just skiing. Consider becoming a certified judge, scorer, or driver. Volunteering in these roles not only supports the sport but also gives you a deeper appreciation for what goes into making our events a success.

Great things are starting to change when it comes to becoming and advancing as an official. Headquarters is currently working on digital forms to replace the old paper forms, making the process much easier. We are also putting together a virtual clinic that will be available to the entire region. Check out Maggie’s Official’s Corner below for proposed clinic dates and more details on the great work Maggie and the National Judges and Scorers Committee are working on.

We are also looking for volunteers for our Midwest committees, with an immediate request for our Nominations Committee and Rules Committee. If you have a passion for shaping the future of our region, please consider stepping up and getting involved.

Readership is important! Please check in with your fellow skiers to see if they have read this newsletter and encourage them to stay informed. The more we stay connected, the stronger our community becomes.

Finally, I’d like to hear from you! What can we do to make the Midwest Region even stronger? If you have ideas, feedback, or simply want to share your skiing experiences, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Let’s make this season one to remember. See you on the water!

Ski ya later,

Darren Janzig
Executive Vice President
Midwest Region – American Water Ski Association

SAVE THE DATE - July 25th - 27th

Hosted By: Mystic Lakes - Maize, Kansas

MORE INFO COMING SOON!

The judges and officials committee has been busy behind the scenes, revamping the clinic manual and taking a deep dive into the current officials’ advancement criteria!

Last year, a big question came up: should minors be eligible for regular and senior official ratings? After plenty of discussion, a final decision was made—no minimum age for most positions! The only exception? Appointed and chief officials, who will still need to be 18+.

There’s been a lot of buzz around possible changes to the officials’ requirements and advancement criteria. Over in the Midwest, they’re exploring the idea of a single clinic pathway for earning an assistant rating. Meanwhile, the national committee is carefully evaluating all aspects of the advancement process. The goal? To make the journey to advancement more accessible, while keeping the high standards and skill development at every level.

We want to hear from YOU! Got thoughts, ideas, or feedback on any of this? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Maggie Cramer at tierneym2@gmail.com.

Thursday April 24th, 2025

Friday May 16th, 2025

More info coming soon! Reach our to Maggie or Darren with questions!

New or Upgraded Officials

Molly Voska - assistant judge S/T/J

Lawrence Zywicki - regular judge slalom

Sean Freitag - regular judge slalom

Paul Vaitkevicius - senior judge S/T/J

Seth Anderson - regular judge S/T/J

John Anderson - regular judge S/J & senior TC S/T/J

Allie Rouse - regular judge T

Marie Thomas - regular judge S/T/J

To view a summary of the rule changes for 2025 please click HERE.

• Loren Adamczyk - Lake Lotawana, Missouri
• Dylan Anderson - Maize, Kansas
• Giovanni Bloyer - Lake Elmo, Minnesota
• Bode Bulfer - Northfield, Minnesota
• George Bulfer - Northfield, Minnesota
• Eva Henderson - Gardner, Illinois

The team will be selected at the Midwest Regionals and announced at the banquet. Applications (available on site) must be submitted to the Junior Development Tent at Regionals by noon on Saturday to be eligible. The elite team of twenty skiers is selected from the division of Girls/Boys 3 through Girls/Boys 5. It is based on a performance ratio from a yearly ranking and Midwest Regional performance. Future team members will complete an application form at the regional tournament. Selected team members must sell raffle tickets and provide a basket for the regional auction, which covers a portion of the cost camp. If you have any questions about the Elite Team, don't hesitate to contact Shane Bucher.

Two talented young water skiers from the Midwest Region, Ries Bloyer and Giovanni Bloyer of Lake Elmo, Minn., proudly represented The U.S. Under 14 and Under 17 Water Ski Team at the 2024 Pan Am Championships in Bogotá, Colombia, last October. Competing against top athletes from across the Americas, they showcased their skills and resilience despite the challenging conditions, with early morning temperatures in the 40s.

Ries Bloyer delivered an outstanding performance, earning a bronze medal in both the girls’ jump event with a leap of 46 feet and in the overall category, accumulating 2,013.06 points. She also placed 6th in slalom, 4th in tricks, and secured an impressive 3rd place finish in jump.

Giovanni Bloyer also put forth a strong effort, placing 13th in slalom, 5th in tricks, and 7th in jump, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to the sport.

Their achievements at the Pan Am Championships highlight the strength of the Midwest Region’s water ski talent and their potential for future success on the international stage. Congratulations to Ries and Giovanni for their hard work and accomplishments!

For more information and how to sign up please see the below link!

https://www.usawaterski.org/news/2025/february/17/u21-worlds-2025-team-selection-skier-qualifications

Team Coach & Team Manager will be Midwest's own Erin Kalkbrenner and Christy Kingsmill!!

David Huisman has been elected as the new vice-chair of the National Collegiate Water Ski Association and following in his footsteps to lead the Midwest Collegiate Region into some big changes (including splitting the region into two separate regions) will be Missouri's own AMANDA ROSE!!

We are excited to see the upcoming changes - please reach out to Amanda with any questions!

amandalrose.10@gmail.com

At WC in Ohio in February there were two new inductees into the "Pink Coat Club" also known as the MCWSA Hall of Fame!

Congrats to Jim McClure and Cale Burdick!

For more information about the MCWSA HOF please click HERE

2025 IWWF World University Waterski Championships were from Feb. 26-March 2, at Orakei Basin in Auckland, New Zealand.

We had two Midwest skiers that represented in New Zealand!

TEAM USA brought home the Silver Medal!

Click here to view all results

Amy Weber and Christy Kingsmill are helping to bridge the gap for a place to ski when collegiate skiers are not on campus or when they graduate!

Looking for a place to ski?

Reach out to Amy (amyweber75@gmail.com) or Christy (christy.kingsmill@gmail.com for more information!

Please email Christy Kingsmill to become a part of the newsletter or if you are interested in writing for the newsletter! It is a great thing to put on a resume or an easy way to help out without a huge time commitment!