歪歪漫画

Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 soccer keeps Paul Kivi on his toes.

With five minutes left on the clock for warmups on Sept. 7 at Chet Anderson Stadium, the press box was void of an announcer and a clock operator. Britt Lauritsen, Bemidji State鈥檚 director of athletics, was prepared to run the scoreboard for the Lumberjacks鈥� first game at the Chet this fall.

That was until she saw a man sprinting from the parking lot on his way to the press box. Kivi snagged the starting rosters from each head coach and hustled up to his post. He took a few moments to catch his breath, read each player鈥檚 name and sang the national anthem.

Kivi is a punctual public address announcer for the BHS soccer teams, but that unique Thursday presented him with a logistical challenge. As the girls team wrapped up a 5 p.m. game against Cloquet/Carlton at Bemidji Middle 歪歪漫画, Kivi pulled off a cross-town doubleheader.

鈥淗e shows the fans how important we are to him,鈥� senior forward Lily Paquette said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a boost when you score and you hear him say your name. It makes you feel a lot better. He鈥檚 an amazing announcer, and we love him. I feel like if he was just an everyday announcer, it wouldn鈥檛 feel the same.鈥�

Kivi has announced the Jacks鈥� soccer games since 2015 and hadn鈥檛 missed a girls game until this year. He doubles as a national anthem singer, adding a unique flair to an otherwise routine gig.

Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer

He started when his daughter, Katya, went through high school. When the girls soccer team needed a guy on the mic, Kivi, an economics professor at Bemidji State, was comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.

鈥淭here was a study that surveyed what people are most afraid of,鈥� Kivi said. 鈥淭he second thing was death. And public speaking was No. 1, which is, of course, ridiculous. But once you鈥檙e comfortable talking in front of the classes, (announcing) isn鈥檛 all that different.鈥�

BHS allows student volunteers to sing the national anthem, but the list is typically short every fall. Often left with no other option except a recorded rendition, Kivi exercises his vocals to amuse soccer patrons.

He doesn鈥檛 sing professionally or play an instrument. Outside of his time in church, Kivi鈥檚 singing opportunities are scarce. But that hasn鈥檛 stopped him from being a staple in the Lumberjacks鈥� pregame process.

鈥淧aul makes the experience special because he adds the personal touch,鈥� said KBUN鈥檚 Joel Hoover, who shares the press box with Kivi. 鈥淗e adds it just in every aspect. Whether it鈥檚 singing the national anthem, introducing the reserves and the starters for every team or just the enthusiasm he gives (in his) calls 鈥� especially if there鈥檚 a Bemidji goal or a notable moment for the Jacks 鈥� he just adds that personal touch.鈥�

Kivi is an Appleton, Wis., native who attended Bemidji State before completing a graduate program at the University of Wyoming from 1998-2002. He moved back to northern Minnesota after getting his doctorate to become a professor.

Raising his family in Bemidji opened him up to the local soccer scene.

鈥淲hen Katya was on the team, I knew the kids who played youth soccer with her from the time they were 11 until they were 18,鈥� Kivi said. 鈥淵ou just ask how they鈥檙e doing, how their families are doing. I like to keep up with them. Now that Katya (graduated), I don鈥檛 know these kids as well, but it鈥檚 still fun to get to know them.鈥�

High school soccer supporters are familiar with the added zest Kivi brings to the game. He uses his relationships with the players to give each match a hometown feeling, often referring to kids by nicknames and making sure every player is accounted for over the speaker system before kickoff.

鈥淧aul has given so much more than he鈥檚 asked for, even after his daughter (graduated),鈥� BHS girls head coach Logan Larsen said. 鈥淥f course, he sings beautifully. I haven鈥檛 experienced that at any other game site. So often (the national anthem) is recorded, and I just think that (Kivi) adds so much when we host. The fact that he gives up so many evenings is really a gift. I鈥檓 grateful for him, and I know the girls are all grateful for him, too.鈥�

Courtesy / Bemidji State

Kivi thought his final year of calling games would be last fall. His son, Nik, graduated in 2020, which made the 2022 BHS boys team the last with any personal connections to his family.

But Kivi keeps coming back, and it鈥檚 his sustained relationships with the kids that's made him so cherished.

鈥淵ou just have to say stuff to them,鈥� Kivi said. 鈥淲hen I watch (sophomore) Alivia Thompson play, I鈥檝e never seen a girl who鈥檚 better at winning 50/50 balls. She wins them all the time, and it鈥檚 insane to see her win 20, 30 balls a game. So that鈥檚 how you make a connection 鈥� you see something like that, and you say it to them. That鈥檚 where this is fun for me.鈥�

Each BHS soccer team has won three Section 8A championships since Kivi started calling games. But since the Jacks were bumped up to 8-3A, their postseason fortune hasn鈥檛 been as favorable.

While Kivi enjoyed seeing his kids and their friends rack up a multitude of wins, witnessing them develop as players and people tugs at his heartstrings.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always interesting and that鈥檚 the joy,鈥� Kivi said. 鈥淓ven the losses, you see the growth. Logan and Rick (Toward) do a great job of (coaching) teams that grow from the beginning of the year to the end.

鈥淵ou see a kid like Holly Snobl. Oh, my goodness. She鈥檚 a player that wasn鈥檛 on my radar before this. But little by little, she鈥檚 become a piranha out there. It鈥檚 always fun to watch those kids improve and gain confidence.鈥�

Rarely does a student-athlete remember plays, scores and moments from their high school playing careers. And as the results fade, the memories of what made those experiences memorable strengthen. It comes from figures like Kivi, who wouldn鈥檛 let a trip across town and a run through the Bemidji State campus stop him from being there for the kids who appreciate him the most.

鈥淗e continues to be somebody who appreciates the program,鈥� Hoover said. 鈥淗e appreciates the role he has in making these game-day experiences take place, and he enjoys being able to give his talents, whether it鈥檚 the PA work or flexing the golden pipes.鈥�

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer