The United Heroes League, a regional and national charity to support military families, hosted an event on their property east of Hastings on Saturday, November Seventh. The event took place on the Strapped Lifestyle Apparel Confidence Course that was recently completed in July. Today, 26 military kids and their families would participate along with two prominent guests from the Minnesota Wild. Former Wild winger, Matt Hendricks and current Wild forward, Nick Bjugstad of Blaine, MN. Bjugstad and Hendricks were on site to chat with the families and cheer the kids on as they went through a portion of the 18-station course. As competitors, watching them cheer the kids on and not being out there was clearly tough for the two Wild stars. Both Bjugstad and Hendricks could be overheard talking about how they would love to run the course, but they chose not to.

The kids? They sure did, but not before warming up with the assistance of a former Drill Sergeant, Retired Master Sergeant, Guy Sing. No worries folks, he only sounded mean, but he was not. As a matter of fact, Sing was one of the kindest people on the course. The very first to give positive and uplifting messages and shouts of support to the kids. He even managed to get the parents to join in on the support. Really, every one of the staff and volunteers at the event were awesome.

The event officially started with the kids being introduced to UHL founder, Shane Hudella and the Wild personnel. Hudella, Bjugstad, and Hendricks all gave brief speeches and thanked all the families for everything they do. That was followed up with a 15-minute warmup with Sergeant Sing, then they proceeded to get their pictures individually taken with Hendricks and Bjugstad. Once their picture was taken, they climbed over the UHL wall, a wall that is just over six feet tall and proceeded to the course. There, they went over the second obstacle, a balance challenge. They moved on to the next few obstacles, a hurdle type challenge, another balance challenge, and a ladder climb challenge. The two the kids liked the most were an Indiana Jones type rope swing where you had to run and jump to grab a rope, then swing over a log called the Swing Stop Jump, and the Slide for Life. The Slide for Life is 36 feet tall, so the participants need to wear harnesses to make the climb to the platform. Once on the platform, they quickly realize how high 36 feet is.

“We have people get to the top all the time and turn white as a ghost from fear. There are times you can see the terror in their eyes when they unhook from the rope up there,” said UHL founder Shane Hudella. “But then you see the huge confidence boost when they overcome that fear and make it down the rope slide and get firmly back on the ground, it’s awesome to see.”

The rope slide is simply a thick rope that brings you back to planet earth from the platform. There is netting under it for when you fall, and yes, you will fall, either early or at the point you are supposed to let go. The caveat is, you go down the rope, upside down. Yes, headfirst and your feet are about 30-45 degrees above your head. It is quite exhilarating and amusing to watch.

A few participants were less than thrilled at the height because of previous experiences, but most loved it. AJ Jaeger had been here before with Hastings Wrestling, what did he think of it the second time around? “It was just as fun,” Jaeger said. “It’s a bit easier knowing the stuff.”

He said his biggest struggle on the course was the final challenge, the rope climb, “my arms were shot,” Jaeger said.

After they caught their breath from the Slide for Life, they did the barbed wire crawl. It is a much shorter version than is done in basic training and there are no 50 caliber rounds flying over your head, but its still difficult and the barbed wire is real. Then, a more difficult wall climb, a long balance challenge and finally, a rope climb.

We had a chance to talk with a few of the participants after the completed the course, Elric Breeding, a 16-year old whose father is in the Army National Guard was one of the attendees and he loved it. “It was amazing, I had lots of fun, I could do it again,” Breeding said.

Other members of the Wild media relations staff were there with Bjugstad and Hendricks cheering the kids on, taking pictures, recording video, and chatting. At the end of the event, Hudella, Bjugstad, and Henricks all spoke again, thanked the families for their sacrifices and presented two more surprises for the night. Each participant left with a small swag bag from the Minnesota Wild and dinner from Arby’s of Hastings.

To learn more about the United Heroes League, the things they do for military families and to donate if you would like, visit www.unitedheroesleague.org

AJ Jaeger of Hastings was one of the invitees to the United Heroes League event, but he was no stranger to the new course, he had gone through it prior with Hastings Wrestling. Here he is on the Slide for Life, a 36 foot, upside down climb. Photo by Bruce Karnick