Trio of teachers returns to the top of the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A trio of teachers who go by the name Cave People from Space beamed up another first place trophy Saturday in the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition.

Kyle Wolfe, Kelly Madison and Brian Hierstein have now won the top prize each year they were eligible for four years straight. They last won in 2022, and then in 2023 they weren’t eligible because the previous year’s winner represents the state in the national competition.

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Hierstein said the competition was so strong this year that they had no idea whether they’d place.

“It was an amazing showing of art. I don’t think any of us knew any of the winners,” he said. “Anyone could have won any award. They were all so good.”

“That’s what you hope for,” Hierstein said. “You want everyone to do their best to make it fun to drive through and see.”

The team’s winning sculpture, called Karmadillo, depicted an armadillo driving a car over a banana peel. It’s spelled karma because the armadillo is throwing out one banana peel while about to slip on another.

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They were chosen from 11 three-person teams competing to create the best sculpture from 10-foot tall by 6-foot wide blocks of packed snow.

This year brought extra challenges for teams as they dealt with rain every day since sculpting began Wednesday, scrambling to use tarps to protect their work from the elements while they chipped and sawed away at their blocks.

The unseasonable warmth and rain did its toll on the sculptures, and a couple had already collapsed shortly after the awards were announced around 1 p.m.

Still, a steady stream of vehicles and foot traffic moved through Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St., to view the 11 open competition creations and a dozen others made by high school teams. The contest, which began in 1986, draws thousands of people to view sculptures.

Wolf and Heirstein are both teachers at Roosevelt Community Education Center, and helped guide their students Dysen White, captain Bazil Abbott, Marie Hanson and Kelsee Harris on their project as well. The Roosevelt group earned the Linda K. White Spirit Award for its creation, Foxes in Sockzes.

“We were running back and forth between the high school,” Heirstein said. “I think it helped keep our attitudes up seeing the high school kids and all they were doing. When you needed a break, you had a break with purpose.”

Lutheran takes top high school award

The highest honor in the high school division went to Lutheran High School for its work, Snow Clownin’ Around. The team consists of Chloe Clark, Emma Buczkiewicz, Melanie Schwalen and Grayden Schoeneweiss. Their advisor was Greg Haut. They also earned the People’s Choice award in the high school division.

“I just wanted something fun. A lot of kids walk around here or drive by with their parents, so I wanted something fun that everyone likes,” Buczkiewicz said. “I know some people are afraid of clowns, so we tried to make it as fun looking as possible.”

The high school blocks are 6-foot tall by 4-foot wide. Buczkiewicz and Clark said there was no rivalry between any of the teams, and they all hoped to see each other succeed.

“One thing I like about this competition is although you’re competing with everyone else, you can still talk to other people and make new friends here,” Buczkiewicz said. “We’re not really fighting for first. … We’re not going out to get any other teams; we’re just trying to make ours as best as possible.”

Other awards

High school division

Linda K. White Spirit Award: Roosevelt Community Education Center for Foxes in Sockzes (Bazil Abbott, Dysen White, Marie Hanson and Kelsee Harris with advisor Brian Hierstein)

Fred Gardner Award: Christian Life High School for Frozen Freddy (Ariana Testolin, Lheong Konyak, Addison Renfro and Abigail Turnrose with advisor Talyn Peavy)

Artists’ Choice: Pecatonica High School for Cold Hearted (Marcos Perez, Lilly Jensen, Lee Shrader and Tyler Weber with advisor Jennifer Krantz)

People’s Choice: Lutheran High School for Snow Clownin’ Around (Chloe Clark, Emma Buczkiewicz, Melanie Schwalen and Grayden Schoeneweiss with advisor Greg Haut)

3rd Place: Rockford Christian High School for Soap Opera (Warren Glass, David Chen, Brianna Haas and Taylor Powell with advisor Creig Day)

2nd Place: Byron High School for Reginald’s Day Out (Maverick Galster, Evelyn Hill, Katanyah Khouangsavanh and Gwen Roberts with advisor Kathy Driscoll)

1st Place: Lutheran High School for Snow Clownin’ Around (Chloe Clark, Emma Buczkiewicz, Melanie Schwalen and Grayden Schoeneweiss with advisor Greg Haut)

Open division

Committee Choice: Apple Pi by Bi-Polar Bears (Amy Sticha, Dan Keidl and Kay Stevens)

People’s Choice: Raise the Woof by Moxie’s Maxim (Jodie Jones, Katie Dorland and Shellie Lowery)

3rd Place (tie): Quis Ut Deus by Gruezi (Peter Hermann, Todd Knight and Grant Rundblade)

3rd Place (tie): Doyouthinkhesaurus Rex by Two Blondes and a Burnette (Danica Rogers, George Burnette and Mark Rogers)

2nd Place: Hippobottomless by The Band of Misfit Boys (Keith Plimi, Dan “Man-Bear” Berry and Drake Perez)

1st Place: Karmadillo by Cave People from Space (Kyle Wolfe, Kelly Madison and Brian Hierstein)

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas