News Highlights

2009-11-25
By Brett Boese, Post-Bulletin Staff Writer [published in the Post-Bulletin, Rochester, MN, 11/25/2009]

Red Wing -- The decision to create an outdoor activities camp was borne out of bitter frustration for Red Wing's Bob Alleva. He's invested nearly a million dollars in a wilderness facility called Wolverine Village over the last three years as an expensive form of catharsis.

Alleva's son, Josie, was involved in a car accident as a high school freshman and was in a coma for nearly three months. Doctors weren't sure if he'd survive. Despite severe brain damage -- he had to relearn basic cognitive skills -- Josie beat the odds to graduate high school in 2008.

He's currently halfway to earning a college degree at Minnesota State, Mankato.

The Red Wing boys hockey program helped the former three-sport athlete regain his motor skills. After three years of participating in non-contact practices, the Allevas asked that Josie be allowed to take a face-off in a varsity game. For reasons that are still debated, that never happened. While devastating for the family, their patriarch took it particularly hard.

Alleva retreated to Ironwood, Mich., to collect his thoughts.

Three days later he purchased land to start a camp that he hoped would prevent another person from feeling the pain he experienced through his son. The camp focuses on personal growth and development among athletes, centering more on the learning process than the activity.

"People might say he's a dandy, he's a character, he's not playing with a full deck," said the 61-year-old man who made millions in real estate investments. "Riiiight. I'm wearing Wal-Mart jeans. I could have anything I want, but those are just things.

"If you really care about the kid, you care about the person, not the ball going through the hoop." Alleva, who's a former world class nordic skier, has brought in groups from around the country to use his facilities. The most prominent team was the U.S. nordic ski team that visited last year. Others have come from Marquette University, St. John's University and various 4-H clubs in the midwest, among others. The Minnesota State, Mankato football team will use the facilities for free after Alleva discovered one of its coaches helped his son navigate through his freshman year of college.

However, the camp brought in less than $4,000 in 2008. It's been deemed an acceptable loss by Alleva, who views the camp as his contribution to the athletic community. He's visited more than 70 high schools and colleges around the midwest to drum up interest. Ten weeks are currently spoken for in 2010.

Red Wing's girls hockey team was the first group to visit the camp in 2007. The girls were treated like the U.S. national team at the local ice rink, according to coach Scott Haley, and later enjoyed sledding in the rural setting. Lake Superior is 18 miles away and a waterfall adds to the scenery. Kayaking, hiking and other outdoors activities are also readily available.

The Wingers have typically used the time away to bond -- they saw "New Moon" together on Saturday -- and discuss team goals. Coach Haley says the team's drive to the program's first state tournament appearance in 2008-09 started at Ironwood. But the annual trip may no longer be possible.

A new Minnesota State High School League rule limits out-of-state travel during the school year. Ironwood, which is about five hours from Red Wing, is outside the 600-mile limit. The Wingers were one of 30-35 programs around the state to receive a one-year exemption for their recent trip, but that isn't expected to be possible in future years.

That news doesn't sit well with coach Haley.

"Honestly, I think some teams and programs have kind of ruined it for the rest of us who have been reasonable about it," he said. "This is a very beneficial thing. We're not a private school or a moneyed city by any means. I mean, the first time we went some of these kids had never even been out of the state. There's a little bit bigger piece to this than just hockey." MSHSL Executive Director David Stead says he's received a lot of feedback since the rule was adopted on June 8, 2009. It's been both positive and negative, but -- like every rule -- it will be reviewed at the end of the school year, he said. But change is far from imminent.

While Alleva's plans will clearly be effected by the new rule, he's particularly upset about the rationale behind the decision. It prevents the personal growth and development that he's trying to provide for young athletes, essentially tearing off the scab the camp represents to the Alleva family.

"How foolish for them to stop people from having an experience," he said.

"That's what learning is all about. It's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard in my life. It's laughable. Maybe (the trip) is something they'll talk about the rest of their life. It's so bizarre. You'd think they'd want to encourage that."

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