Battleship was the 2014 Wawasee Flotilla Commodore winner. (Photo by Deb Patterson)
The weather couldn’t have been better and the entries were just as great as the weather on Lake Wawasee Saturday afternoon for the 2014 Wawasee Flotilla.
It wasn’t easy being one of the judges who had to choose winners from the 18 decorated boats and seven antique and wooden boats who entered this year.
There were even four entries for the on-shore decoration competition.
Ian Rolland had the honors of choosing this year’s Commodore winner which went to the Jim Kroemer family, Harborside, Syracuse, entry with an active “Battleship” game, complete with music and shooting cannons.
Kroemer’s wife, Cheryl, passed away May 10. She loved the lake which brought family and friends together. The entry was dedicated to her memory and winning the Commodore’s Trophy was “very meaningful,” stated Kroemer.
“We had access to a really good sound system,” explained Kroemer. The thought then went to what would lend itself to really good music. Numerous ideas came to mind: Clue, Pacman, but they felt there would be other entries of that type. Battleship came to mind along with various songs fitting the entry, including the Navy’s anthem, “Anchor’s Away.” “We settled on Battleship and we’re glad.”
“We were thrilled,” he stated about winning the top honor. “We have been doing the Flotilla for 12 years, including the first night Flotilla. We’ve some plaques, WPOA award two times, but this is the first time winning the Commodore’s Trophy.”
Additional top winners included:
“Frogger,” an entry by the Jack and Patsy Kennedy family, Bayshore Drive, Syracuse, won the Department of Natural Resources Award.
Bob McNary family, North East Wawasee Circle, Syracuse, won the Wawasee Property Owners Association Award with their entry of “Nautiopoly.”
Winning the Wawasee History Award was Oakwood with their resort tour boat complete with kids and games.
Most Patriotic was a wooden entry by Fritz Kreutzinger, North Ogden Point Road, Syracuse, with the boat decorated in patriotic colors and the boat driver and passenger wearing patriotic hats.
Wining the new award, the List Family Most Original, was past commodore winners Women of Today. Their entry featured the games of Operation, Lakeopoly, a hand of poker with the various members on the boat ready to roll the dice, with the lakeside view featuring Scrabble.
Winning the WACF Award was the Todd and Deb Hartman entry of “Get Your Wave On.” The Hartmans reside on Cherokee Road, Syracuse.
Winning first in the youth division was the Ben and Maggie Brunner Family, North East Wawasee Drive, Syracuse, with Candy Land Kids, followed by Emma Johnson from the Spink with her “I Spy” entry. Third place went to the Beemsterboer Family’s entry of Pacman from East Hatchery Road, Syracuse.
Remax’s entry, by Ken Leathermen, took first place in the business/commercial division followed by the Man Cave Brewing Company, entered by Robert Vandal, Syracuse,
Marsh for Sheriff, entered by Cathy Lemberg, Carolyn Baker and Travis Marsh, won first in non-profit with their patriotic entry and Curt Nisly taking second place. This is the first time in a number of years the Flotilla had political entries.
The Patrick and Kathleen Jones family, East Constitution Drive, Syracuse’s entry of Minecraft won first in the neighborhood entry. An an entry featuring various games, the entrant unknown, taking second and the Kim Grieshop entry, from East Sunset Lane, Syracuse, of Scrabble taking third. The Louis Hojnacki family entry from East North Road, Syracuse, took fourth.
On shore decorations were just as interesting as the decorated boats. The Mark and Louanne Zipfel Family, North Grand Boulevard, Syracuse, at Pier 319 had the whole family involved, from infant through adult with their Zipfel Family Game, taking first place with the Barb Couch on-shore Scrabble entry at North East Wawasee Drive, on their stone wall taking second place.
The Wooden Boat entry winner was a 1950 CrisCraft Viking, with the entrant unknown, and the antique boat winner was Jim Klotz’s Cornado.
Entries who did not receive their awards are asked to contact Holly Tuttle at 574- 457-3775.
Those entries which won and their names are not listed are asked to contact Deb Patterson at dpatterson@the-papers.com, or contact Tuttle.
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