Local Sports Notebook
Gene Campbell, a former amateur hockey standout and member of the Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame, died in the Twin Cities on Monday. He was 80.
Campbell was born in Minneapolis, but spent much of his adult life in Rochester. He was a standout for the University of Minnesota men's hockey team in the 1950s. He was a captain for the Gophers during the 193-54 season.
He made the United States national team in 1955 and went on to play in the 1956 Winter Olympics, helping the U.S. win a sliver medal. Campbell had two goals and two assists during the Olympics in Italy.
Following a stint in the Army, he played for the Twin City Fords and the Rochester Mustangs during his club career. After retiring from hockey, Campbell turned to coaching. He was the boys hockey coach at Lourdes for 14 years. He later was the founding coach for the Rochester Raiders adapted floor hockey.
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"The thing about him is I always recall how engaged he was and how he had a great rapport with the adapted floor hockey team," said Ed Rauen, a member of the Rochester Quarterbacks Club. "They were like his own kids."
Campbell is the fourth member of the Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame who has passed away in the last 13 months, joining Evar Silvernagle, Kak Johnsonand Arley Carlson.
Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes , Rochester, is handling funeral arrangements.
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The Fourth Street Gym in Rochester had a stellar performance at the Region 2 Golden Gloves boxing tournament over the weekend in St. Paul. The Rochester gym had four boxers advance to the Upper Midwest Tournament and won the region team trophy in the process.
"To win the the region trophy was just outing," Four Street Gym trainer Shaun O'Connorsaid. "We had a very good outing,"
Region champs from the Fourth Street Gym were Alfredo Gonzalez(123 pounds), Winona's Justice Pomroy(141), Nate Burkhalter(165) and Jeremiah Soft(178). All four now qualify for the Upper Midwest Tournament on April 26-27 in Cass Lake, Minn.
Luis Molina(152) just missed qualifying for the Upper Midwest event. He was the region runner-up. And despite placing second, he was named Best Boxer of the whole tournament.
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"He looked really good," O'Connor said.
Tomas Dargas(90) and Eduardo Sosa(135) both won a club fight during the region event, but did not have a chance to advance.
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Bemidji State University senior left-hander Phil Brayof Chatfield was named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week. The conference honor was the first of the Bray's career.
Bray didn't allow a run in eight innings. He was credited with a no decision in the 2-0, 10-inning victory against Concordia University, St. Paul. The lefty allowed just three hits and matched a career high with 13 strikeouts.
Bray has appeared in seven games and made six starts for the 12-14 Beavers. He is 1-3 with a 3.58 ERA and has a team-high 44 strikeouts in 37 innings.
Senior third baseman Matt Ellinghuysenof St. Charles and sophomore outfielder Tyler Nelsonof Hayfield also play at Bemidji State.
Ellinghuysen has started all 26 games. He is batting .266 with seven doubles, eight RBIs and 16 runs scored. Nelson has not appeared in a game so far this season.
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Freshman Bethany Schultz, a 2012 Century grad, is a member of the University of North Dakota women's track and field team.
Schultz is off to a strong start for UND. She made a Big Sky Conference qualifying discus throw of 143 feet, 2 inches at the Dakota Duals meet on April 6. Schultz also throws hammer and javelin for UND.
The Big Sky conference meet will be held in Portland, Ore., in May.
