Local briefs

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Brainerd Daily Dispatch and sports editor Mike Bialka were among the winners in the 2000 Minnesota Associated Press Sports Association Sports Writing Contest.

The Dispatch sports staff was awarded first place in the Division I contest (under 20,000 circulation) for its special section on "Celebrating the Sporting Spirit:" A Look at the Sports Greats of the Region." Among the section's highlights were selection of all-century teams in football, boys' and girls' basketball and baseball.

Bialka was awarded third place for his feature story on Brainerd Warriors adapted floor hockey player Chris Jordan, which was entitled, "Player profile in courage."

Awards will be distributed at MAPSA's annual meeting June 14 in Minneapolis.

Savor to play at St. Benedict

ST. JOSEPH -- Krista Savor of Brainerd has decided to attend and participate on the 2000 volleyball team at the College of Saint Benedict.

Savor plans to major in biology at St. Ben's, which finished the 1999 season 24-8 overall and 11-3 in the conference.

Area students in Tae Kwon Do club

Josh Gilbertson of Backus, Dena Doughty of Pine River, Rob Opheim of Motley and Justin Countryman of Brainerd were members of the Tae Kwon Do Club at Bemidji State University during the 1999-2000 school year.

Gilbertson, an undergraduate who is undecided about a major field of study, has earned an orange belt.

Doughty, a freshman majoring in elementary education, has earned a yellow belt.

Opheim, a sophomore majoring in industrial technology, has earned a yellow belt.

Countryman, a senior majoring in social studies education, has earned a green belt.

Freshmen VFW team to practice

The Brainerd ninth-grade VFW baseball team will have its first practice 10 a.m. Monday, June 5, at Mills Field.

Freshmen boys who will be 15 on Aug. 1 are eligible to

play. Any questions please call Joel Lofstrom at 825-9238.

Sophomore VFW team to practice

The Brainerd sophomore VFW baseball team will have its first practice 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Adamson Field at Brainerd High School.

Any questions call Joel Lofstrom at 825-9238.

Aitkin's Bjareborn eliminated

DULUTH -- Aitkin's Carl Bjareborn lost his only match in the Section 7A boys' tennis tournament Tuesday at the Longview Tennis Club.

Joe Prebich of Virginia defeated Bjareborn 6-1, 7-6 (7-2 tie breaker.)