SIDNEY — John Ratermann, a fifth-grader at Holy Angels School, was just awarded two first place medals and one silver medal in a very unusual competition.
John competed in the three-day National Championship Orienteering Contest held in southern Michigan. The competitors ranged in ages from 8 to 50 and were given the task of orienteering on three different courses of differing terrains and involving differing skill levels. Each individual was to find his/her way from a beginning point to a designated ending point, using only a map, a compass and their index fingers to “punch” a station on their way through the course.
Joe Ratermann, John’s father, learned this skill in the U.S. Army , and passed this love of orienteering on to his son and his daughter. John said not only is orienteering a fun sport, but it has been a great way to meet all kinds of people of all ages.