"Saratoga basketball standout Kirsten Campbell tallied 44 points in three games ... on her way to being selected for the State All-Tournament team," began the Lady Panthers basketball story in the Saratoga Sun on April 4, 1985.
The home court that Kirsten played on has been replaced since her passing and the new court will be dedicated in her memory on Wednesday at the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC) gym.
Kirsten lost her battle with cancer on Sept. 13, 2014. That same day at the 7th Annual Party on the Platte $95,000 was raised; spurred on by a $20,000 match from the Donnan Charitable Foundation in honor of Kirsten Campbell and the Campbell family to fund a new gym floor. The $95,000 was more than enough for the main gym floor and the PVCC has been able to replace the floor of the multi-purpose room and carpeting around the gym as well.
Two dedications of the Kirsten Campbell Gym Floor will occur on Wednesday. One will take place in the afternoon specifically for school children and another in the evening as a Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce social according to Joe Elder, PVCC Executive Director.
The dedications will be bittersweet, said Judd Campbell, Kirsten's younger brother and saloon manager at the Hotel Wolf. Kirsten managed the kitchen at the historic hotel owned by the Campbell family.
"People that knew her, and us for that matter, knew that she cared about this community and it is very gratifying to see the support," Doug Campbell, Kirsten's father and Hotel Wolf owner, said. Doug said he found out about the donations and naming of the floor after the fact and was a little shocked by the generosity of the community.
Doug said he had many memories of Kirsten related to basketball on and off the court. "She was a really good athlete, but she had a good jump shot which was the key," Doug said about her on-court performance. Off the court he related on memory of Kirsten convincing a bus driver to pull the Saratoga school bus through a McDonald's drive through so she could get some food for the team.
"Kirsten was unique, she was one of a kind ... she was ornery," Kathy Campbell, Kirsten's mom said, adding as well the she had aptitude on the basketball court. Kathy related a story where Kirsten was on the court attempting last minute free-throws and could not be intimidated by the opposing team, shaking her head at them after making the first basket.
Judd, Doug and Kathy all told varying stories of Kirsten walking on to the University of Wyoming basketball team and then deciding she had more important things to focus on. Drinking beer was that focus, according to Doug.
Kathy pointed out that Kirsten was the informal ringleader for a booster club and cheerleading squad during her high school days. Kirsten excelled at other sports including volleyball and baseball. "She was as good as any boy at baseball," Kathy said.
Kirsten was known to be feisty, Judd said, "but she was awesome, she had a heart of gold ... she was a special person when she wanted to be."
"The way I think about [the PVCC] is it's not really a building, it's a monument to the community," Elder said. "Kirsten was connected to this Valley and its people ... Even in her death she continues to bring people together," Elder added.
The old floor had been in the gym since the mid-80s, used by middle school, sometimes high school and members of the public. The new poured urethane floor will continue to serve the community.
The first dedication of the Kirsten Campbell Gym Floor will be at Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. for children in school. The second dedication will start at 5:30 p.m. for the general public. Dedication speeches are expected to start at about 6:30 p.m.
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