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News & Features 'Strong mind, strong body' Pittsburgh-area
athletes placed a close second to Cleveland in the Slovak Catholic Sokol’s
42nd International Slet recently at Carnegie Mellon University in
Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
Since its beginning 100 years ago, the Sokol has placed great emphasis
on organizing slets, or athletic events, focusing on gymnastics and track
and field events.
Pittsburgh Sokols last week (July 19-24) hosted more than 350 athletes,
from ages 8 to mid-40s from throughout the Northeast for the slet.
Many see them as a kind of “mini-Olympics.”
The gymnastic and calisthenic exhibitions are held for five days every
two years and feature elaborate opening ceremonies, complete with athletes
marching into the stadium in formation carrying their team flags, plus a
torch-lighting ceremony, speeches and Mass.
“We try to stress the Catholicity of sport,” said Ed Moeller of
Whitehall, the Sokol’s supreme assistant director of sports and athletics.
“Strong mind, strong body” is the Sokol’s motto, as is “For God and
country,” said Moeller, a parishioner at St. Wendelin in Carrick.
In Slovakia, Sokols traditionally hosted athletic competitions, and
early immigrants continued this tradition.
“They wanted to combine their Catholic heritage and athleticism,”
Moeller said. “They wanted to show young children their athletic heritage
along with their Catholic faith.”
Slovak immigrants, forced to rely on each other as they adapted to life
in their new land, founded the Slovak Catholic Sokol in Passaic, N.J., in
1905. The families wanted to help each other through a group insurance
program while also keeping close ties to their church.
The fraternal benefit society was their way to “care for each other and
their families in this new country,” Moeller said.
And they succeeded in another way. Through these regular sports
competitions, many have built up life-long friendships that are similar to
that of families, he said.
The branches were organized as assemblies, or “wreaths,” within the
area’s numerous Slovak ethnic parishes. Together, those communities from
Pittsburgh’s South Side, McKees Rocks, Ambridge, Duquesne, West Mifflin
and Lyndora form Pittsburgh’s Group 14, which hosted last week’s slet.
Pittsburgh, which had taken the national championship title for four
years running, fielded a team of 93 athletes, the most of any team in the
competition.
Gymnastics is their strong point, Moeller said.
“We get them started young at our sokol on the South Side,” through
classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays, he said.
“We teach them from the time they’re able to stand,” he said. “We want
to get them involved in athletic activity, to see that it’s important for
a healthy life and to be a strong person. We try to remind them that
there’s more to life.”
The Slovak competitions have long been noted for their emphasis on
gymnastics and rhythmic calisthenic drills, or gymnastics performed to
modern and ethnic music, in individual and group competitions. Track and
field is also a major event.
Sports are a vital part of the Sokol philosophy, and the organization
schedules regular competitions for all ages in regions throughout the
country — tournaments in bowling, volleyball, softball and basketball.
Katie Jozwiak of Kennedy Township, with her older brother Ryan,
competed in slets throughout their lives and continue to help out with the
events.
Her sport was gymnastics and she now coaches for the Sokol. Katie has
also organized a walking program.
“I competed and made so many friends all over the country,” she said.
“It was a really good experience.”
Katie, now a member of the Sokol’s supreme physical fitness board,
belongs to St. Malachy and works as an interpreter for the deaf.
“Competing keeps young people involved and builds personality,” she
said.
The Sokol sees athletics and social activities as important, she said,
noting that the groups host regular activities for the young people.
“The club brings kids together,” Moeller said.
Organizers gave the young athletes a break on Thursday afternoon,
taking them to Slovak Day at Kennywood Park. The visitors attended Mass
and activities and performed their gymnastic drills, in addition to
enjoying rides.
The local Slovak Catholic Sokol group will celebrate its 100th jubilee
with ceremonies in November.
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