Meeting Andrew Yoder
by Heidi
Seiberlich

Starstruck
by Maureen Harnishfeger

 

 

Meeting Andrew Yoder
by Heidi Seiberlich

     I was at Columbia Tri this past weekend. Andrew Yoder who is 18 years old and is from PA was there. I don't know if you know who he is. He is Phenomenol. He went Pro this year. As a 16 and 17 year old he was winning most of the local races. Well while waiting for the Awards ceremony I see him standing among the past two Ironman winners looking star struck. I point Andrew out to my 11 and 8 year old sons who think the Tri Pros are Gods. I explain to them how he is only 18 and went pro this year and is from PA. They ask if they can get a picture with him. Now everyone is of course going up to Chris Lieto and Chris "Macca" Mc Cormick. I take my sons over to Andrew and tell him that my sons would like a picture with him and that I know one day he will be a Kona winner and how I have seen him win local races in Jersey etc. and that we are fans. He was so surprised I guess that with these seasoned pros around that someone would ask him for a picture. He talked to my boys and was nothing but gracious. We got a picture. Come to find out he was second that day to Chris Lieto but beating Macca. I have now been ordered by my sons to get the picture developed ,( am I showing my age  ), and have him sign the picture. They have not stopped talking about him. There are not many sports that you can easily mix and mingle with the pros and have them be so kind. Desiree Ficker was there also and she was nothing but kind to me when I saw her at the packet pick-up. Hope this helps. I have another story of a pro homestay at our house for the Philly tri in 2006. David Thompson. He won that year. Another class act. Again my sons were star struck. My one son was 6 at the time and followed him around like a puppy and asked him a million questions about his bike while he was trying to put it together. If you want to hear this story let me know.
Heidi Seiberlich