Minnesota: Land of ten thousand lakes and ten thousand Olympians Meg Anderson Contributing Writer Rooting for the home team has always been a part of the American tradition. Whether fans are screaming in the crowded bleachers at a high school football game or huddled around the television set watching the Stanley Cup finals, having a home team to cheer for and identify with makes the game that much better.

The Olympics allows us to do this on a larger scale: our country becomes the home team. This year, though, residents of "the Land of 10,000 Lakes" have an added bonus - 16 athletes with Minnesota ties are competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Here's an overview of some of them:

Kris Kuehl

Track and field; Discus thrower

A former Concordia-Moorhead college student, Kris Kuehl stood out amongst other discus throwers in the sometimes-forgotten world of Division III athletics. This Minneapolis resident won a bronze medal in the 1995 Pan American Games and went to the Olympic trials for the Atlanta games. Many were surprised, however, when she fouled on all three of her preliminary throws.

Kuehl decided to fight back. She moved from Moorhead to train with the track coach at Hamline University and entered July's Olympic trials, made a throw over 200 feet, and made the team.

Garrett Lowney

Greco-Roman wrestling

A freshman at the University of Minnesota, Garrett Lowney took his first year off of college wrestling in order to hopefully make and train for the 2000 Greco-Roman wrestling Olympic team. He made the team as the youngest member and on Sunday, September 24 won his opening match. He then moved on to what turned out to be one of the most surprising Olympic developments this year. Lowney's second opponent was Russian Gogui Koguouachvila, the defending four-time world champion in the 213-pound wrestling class. Lowney threw him with .15 seconds left in overtime and eliminated Koguouachvila from the competition.

Tom Malchow

Men's swimming

One of the more recognized Minnesota athletes in the Olympics this year, Tom Malchow had already won a silver medal in Atlanta when he continued on this year to win the gold. This year's accomplishment makes him the first Minnesotan to win an individual gold in a summer Olympics. Malchow, a Mendota Heights native and College of St. Thomas grad, was favored to win his race. While fulfilling this prediction, he also set a world record.

Sara Reiling

Diving

At first glance, people say that the fact that Roseville native Sara Reiling made it to the Olympics was completely unexpected. She's never placed any higher than third in a major 10-meter (her Olympic event) national competition, and the last time she placed that high was in 1997. She didn't start diving until she was fourteen years old. Her drive to make it to the Olympics, however, surpassed her late start. She won the 3-meter national championships, was named Big Ten Diver of the Year last season at Indiana, and finished 13th in the 10-meter platform semifinals on September 24. Although she failed to qualify for the 12-woman finals, Reiling went much farther than many thought she could.

John Roethlisberger

Men's gymnastics

A four-time U.S. national champion, a three-time NCAA champion, and a three-time Olympian, Falcon Heights resident John Roethlisberger knows his stuff. He's been described as the "emotional center" of the U.S. men's gymnastics team, and was named captain three days before the first team competition.

Despite Roethlisberger's leadership, however, the United States' men's gymnastics team did not come away from this year's Olympics with a medal. The team did not begin the competition well and many of Roethlisberger's teammates became frustrated. Roethlisberger came to the competition plagued with injuries and dislocated his right index finger before the beginning of the competition. The team finished fifth overall, ending Roethlisberger's career on a slightly bad note. He recovered quickly, however, and waved and blew kisses to the crowd as he left the podium. Although he has retired from his career as a gymnast, he may return next year as head coach of the U.S. team.

Mike Schmidt

Shooting; Skeet

Mike Schmidt, an autoworker at the St. Paul Ford Plant, has won almost every domestic American-style skeet-shooting event. This Lakeville resident's father was the manager of the Prior Lake shooting facility, a Marine captain and shooting coach. Despite his extensive firearm experience, however, Schmidt does not have a lot of international experience and finished 35th in the September 23 competition. He broke 117 of 125 targets.

Briana Scurry

Women's soccer

One of the primary factors in the Women's World Cup U.S. championship of last year was Briana Scurry. Although it was a team effort, Scurry's four shutouts and her electrifying saves in the final shootout against China saved the U.S. team. She also played every minute of every game in the Atlanta games, where the U.S. won the gold.

This year, however, Scurry has been plagued with severe shin splints and has not played in any games. Upcoming Siri Mullinix has taken the starting goalie position, and although Scurry seems to have recovered, she is sitting the bench while the U.S. wins their games.

Other Minnesotans who have competed or will compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics are: Quincy Clark (Greco-Roman wrestling), Keita Cline (Track and Field 200-meter, running for the British Virgin Islands), Robert Fox (Table Tennis),Kevin Garnett (Men's Basketball),Marcus Jensen (Baseball),Alex Massura (Men's Swimming 100-meter backstroke, swimming for Brazil),Doug Mientkiewicz (Baseball), Katie Smith (Women's Basketball), andMike Wherley (Rowing Men's four without coxswain).

With so many competitors who have ties to Minnesota, interest is intense throughout the state. The achievements of these atheletes instills a heightened sense of love for and pride in the place we call home.