Katiana Amafala-Marquard Visits Section 36!

Photo: Caylin Z

Section 36 had another visitor! Katiana Amafala-Marquard is passionate about mentorship, a talented singer, and the current Miss Aloha Hawai'i. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Katiana Amafala-Marquard visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Aloha Hawai’i crown?

By the time I finished with photos, and feedback from the judges it was around 10:30 PM! For anyone that knows Kailua Kona town there aren’t many restaurants open late. I spent my winning evening at Denny’s! They so graciously stayed open for us later than usual! I had country fried steak with zucchini, broccoli pancakes the side with a cup of tea and it was the PERFECT meal after competition!

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Aloha Hawai’i?

My deepest heart's desire is to honor the culture, this town and island! I grew up here and it’ll always have such a special place in my heart. I want to be sure I do right by the people and the community that has supported me throughout my life! 

What part of the upcoming Miss Hawaii competition are you most nervous about?

During the opening number we had about 16 counts of

Photo: Caylin Z

choreography that we had to do ourselves! It was our first debut on stage and an opportunity to show off our personality and catch the judges interest! I don’t have a lot of dance experience and it was very nerve-racking for me to do this part! At the moment we were on stage and everything was happening all I could feel was excitement!

How did you select your social impact initiative?

I decided to create my own program! The Everybody Foundation. A place where local professionals are able to be paired with youth of Hawai’i for internships. So they can discover their spark, interests with the guidance and leadership of these mentors. Focusing on a wholeness experience of mind, body and spirit. With the help of life coaches, counselors and mental health specialists. Although the program is in at sapling stages now I hope that it will takeoff throughout the year and years to come!

What do you enjoy most about performing your talent on stage?

Photo: Caylin Z

I sang the song ‘The Prayer’ in both Hawaiian and Italian. It was a thank you to both of my adopted cultures! And it was also a dedication to my family. Having the opportunity to honor the people and community I loved was so special for me. 

How would you complete the sentence, “I get great satisfaction when ___”?

I see people being uplifted and their destiny realized. I want to be the trampoline that people are able to bounce off of to greater heights!

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

Moana! I am a girl who loves my island and a girl who loves the sea! My people were originally Wayfinders, and I did outrigger canoeing for a while too! Being Moana would be such an amazing experience for the week!

How does a Miss Hawaii candidate turn out to be a Red Sox fan?

I lived in Pennsylvania for two years going to a ministry school studying worship music and leadership skills. On the weekend whenever I could I would sneak away up to Boston and catch a game! And of course I would stop at Tasty Burger! Growing up on an island you don’t have the opportunity to travel throughout the states and that’s something that I will always treasure! A dream of mine would be to sing on that field! And you can always catch me at the beach or on a hike wearing my Red Sox cap! 

Is there a feature or activity at a game at Fenway Park that you’d especially like to experience?

The moment when you walk up the stairs and see all of the

Photo: Caylin Z

people, and feel the buzz of excitement in the air. With lights blinding as your eyes adjust and the smell of popcorn and nachos, is one of my favorite moments! I feel in the smallest things and the biggest things I can always find wonder and awe for life! 

---

That is definitely amazing!

As always, I want to thank Katiana for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Katiana continues her time as Miss Aloha Hawaii, I encourage you to check out her title and organization Instagram accounts! They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also want to wish Katiana luck when she competes for Miss Hawaii! It would be fantastic to have the first Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Katiana, and good luck!

List of 36: Things I’m Thankful For in 2021

As I like to do every Thanksgiving, I wanted to run down a list of things I was thankful for during the last year.

1. Fans at Fenway

2. A pennant race
3. Vintage Red Sox cards
4. The farm system
5. JD Martinez not opting out

6. People wearing Section 36 gear

7. The left side of the infield

8. Enjoying my 1975 Topps Set

9. Cards back in Target

10. Comeback wins

11. A healthy Chris Sale 

12. Twitter followers

13. Pictures with Section 36

14. The Astros losing

15. Opening blasters

16. Instagram followers 

17. Beating the Yankees

18. People who’d rather be in Section 36

19. Beating the Rays

20. Garrett Whitlock

21. Facebook likes

22. Games on the radio

23. Alex Verdugo's potential

24. Reaching the ALCS

25. Visits from titleholders 

26. Beating the Yankees

27. Nathan Eovaldi

28. Fellow bloggers

29. Comments on posts

30. The continued success of Section 36 Forevers

31. Playoff baseball

32. SGA Bobbleheads

33. The incredible growth of Section 36 Music

34. Cora's option pick-up

35. The promise of 2022

36. Readers like you

What are you thankful for?

Katelyn Andrist Visits Section 36

Photo: Tobie Andrews

Section 36 had another visitor! Katelyn Andrist is passionate about self acceptance, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Walnut Valley. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Katelyn Andrist visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Walnut Valley crown?

After being Crowned Miss Walnut Valley I celebrated my win with my family, friends, candidates, and the little princesses who came to watch. It was very important to not make this about myself, but to make it something special for the little princesses because one day they will be in my shoes.

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Walnut Valley competition that will help you when you compete for Miss Kansas this summer?

At the Miss Walnut Valley competition I learned I have the voice and the power to command a room. While in the private interview and on stage I had all eyes on me to advocate for all ages about self-confidence. I saw my inner and outer self- confidence grow into something unstoppable. I learned with my skills and talent I need to have more self-compassion for myself. I need to break away from the mindset of being perfect in every single aspect of competition. I am human and make mistakes. Overall, I have learned to be more soft and create self-compassion for myself. When competing for Miss Kansas this June there is a lot of pressure put on myself that I create. Now, this year I can learn to be more soft, gentle, and kind to myself like I do for others. I advocate for self-love and self-confidence which is a journey that I need to understand as well.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Walnut Valley?

During my time as Miss Walnut Valley I want to double my community service projects from last year. I completed 14 different projects all over Kansas. This year I want to do at least 20 different community projects with different groups of local communities. As Miss Walnut Valley I want to make a difference in my community and change people’s lives the best way I can. I want people around me to feel seen, loved and important. I want people to remember me for my servant heart because people remember how you made them feel. Therefore, my goal is to create a legacy and become a role model for my community.

How did you select your social impact initiative?

My social impact initiative is “Inner Self-Love, Self-Beauty Creates Your Journey to Acceptance.” I wanted an initiative that was genuine and powerful. A lot of ages and genders do not like talking about their mental health, body image, and self-confidence. I wanted to be that person to speak out and educate others around me. My journey could be that example for a little girl or boy who is struggling about finding out who they are. I am still growing and changing day by day. Throughout anyone’s life we all have struggled with one or all three of these topics. It is important to connect and create a bond with people through my initiative. I want to change people’s lives and mindset. Creating healthier, positive and stronger communities with mental health, body image, and self confidence.

As a talented dancer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?

Performing on the stage allows me to show my heart and passion to the audience. They can see my softer side because I perform lyrical or contemporary. This allows the audience to see my struggle, pain, happiness, and growth throughout my dance. My dance showcases my journey of understanding myself of the aspects of body image, self-confidence, and mental health. Being a dancer of 20 years I have struggles with self-confidence and body image. Throughout my years of dancing I have built up my self-confidence and understanding of my body. Therefore, when performing I always want to showcase my skills of dancing, mindset, and physical aspects.

How would you complete the sentence “I get great satisfaction when ___”?

I get great satisfaction when I know I have made a difference in one person’s life because the smallest act of kindness has the biggest impact on one’s heart.

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would be Cinderella because she is kind, giving, genuine, and overall a selfless person. I think she is a good role model to show everyone kindness and respect even if they don’t deserve it. In my life I want to always show kindness and respect to each individual. Again, people remember how you made them feel and the kind / soft gestures you did.

If you had an extra ticket to a KC Royals game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my 97 year old great grandmother Mary. She has been my biggest support system in everything I do. I always want to strive to be the selfless, genuine, kind, outgoing, and powerful woman she is. Everything I do in life and pageants is for her. I love sharing moments and memories with her. She is something so special to me and this world. It is a blessing to be able to still have her in my life.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

At a baseball game I would like to experience meeting new people and talking to the crowd, staff, and baseball players. I love hearing everyone's experiences and stories of life. I am humble and grateful people intrust me to hear their moments of struggles and happiness. I have a few activities in mind which would include singing the National Anthem, pitching on the field, and having a table full of education flyers, gifts, and candy to advocate for my social initiative.

---

That all sounds like a lot of fun!

As always, I want to thank Katelyn for visiting with us, and for sending along the picture to go with the interview.

As Katelyn continues her time as Miss Walnut Valley, I encourage you to check out her title and personal Instagram accounts! They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also want to wish Katelyn luck when she competes for Miss Kansas! It would be fantastic to have the first Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Katelyn, and good luck!

2021 Topps Series 2 Blaster!

It's time for another blaster! I know the update set is already out, so series two might be old news. But, that doesn't mean I can't talk about it, right? Right?

Let's see how it went!

As always, here's the box.

And here are the packs. 

As much as these "patch" cards grow one me, I still can't quite like them. They don't give off the "fake memorabilia" vibe that they used to give. They're more of a "whatever" sort of thing. If the "patch" or the theme is a good one, I can tolerate them. Neither is true in this case.

Topps using its 70th anniversary to show off their old designs. Which is lucky, because they never do that anywhere else.

Again.

Here's the current design! On a rookie even.

Why on earth would you put a card of JBJ in a Sox uni in series two? 

This may be the best card picture of the year. If not ever.

Or, you know, this one is. Oh, and Topps, it's a laundry cart...not a shopping cart. How much shopping do they think players do in the dugout during a game? Do they really need a cart for it?

And those are the highlights! A few fun cards, but nothing close to a super hit. Still a fun collection of Sox cards, though.

How did your box go? 

Mikkayla DeBolt Visits Section 36!

 

Section 36 had another visitor! Mikkayla DeBolt is passionate about limiting technology, a talented speaker, and the current Miss Wyoming. I was excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Mikkayla DeBolt visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Wyoming crown?

I was extremely fortunate to have so many of my family and friends attend the Miss Wyoming Competition. They have been supportive and helped me since I decided that I would be competing so it meant the world those that were able to attend – and even those who couldn’t attend but were sending me well wishes. Due to all of the support, all I wanted to do was celebrate with them. It was a feeling of WOW, I just won Miss

Wyoming but now what am I going to do to impact the state and the kiddos. It was a small moment of celebration before I hit the ground running.

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Wyoming competition that will help you at Miss America?

The first time I competed for Miss Wyoming was back in 2019– I had never competed in something like this and had no idea what to expect. I believe that I grew and became a lot more confident in who I am. I may not have grown up in the pageant world but the most important thing is for me to be myself. I know who I am and beliefs and I am proud of who I am. I’m my best self when I’m being true to who I am, and I plan to continue to be me while competing for Miss America. True beauty is what’s on the inside and their confidence in who they are.

You were recently able to appear in the iconic Show Us Your Shoes parade. What was that experience like?

It was surreal feeling to be a part of the iconic Show Me Your Shoes parade. Although, I am not from Connecticut people were still cheering me on by my state as well as my name. It was really rewarding to see so many people come out and show their support for all of us titleholders.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Kids Unplugged: Encouraging Our Youth to Explore Their World Without Technology”?

Growing up, I spent a lot of time at the Sheridan County YMCA and I’ve always loved working with kids - many people were very surprised when I didn’t get an education degree for that reason. But I continue to be involved with youth organizations and stay connected with them which is where the youth part comes in. I also have a passion for traveling and exploring the world. I’ve had a dream to hit 25 states by the time I’m 25,

and due to the Miss America organization I have been able to reach that plus a few extras. My social impact initiative takes my love for kids and my love to explore/travel and puts them together. I also believe that our youth our the future, and their stories start now. We need to help them grow and become the best versions of themselves.

As a public speaker, what do you enjoy most about being on stage?

The part I love most about being a public speaker and being

on stage is what happens after. When I’m speaking, I hope to connect with each individual person on some level – I want something I say to stand out to them. That way when I get off stage, they will come talk to me about it. Connecting with people truly is a remarkable feeling and I enjoy the deeper connections, not just the surface level information.

How would you finish the sentence, “I get great satisfaction when ___”?

I get great satisfaction when taking a leap of faith. Life is an adventure and I never know what tomorrow will hold – which is why I try to make the most out of every day I am given. That includes taking chances, trying new things and stepping out of my comfort zone. I never saw myself as Miss Wyoming – I thought it would be a phenomenal opportunity but didn’t think I could do it. Now here I am, on one of the wildest rides I’ve ever been on just because I woke up one day and thought, “why not me?” I took a leap of faith when I decided to compete and I am beyond grateful that I did.

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would love to spend a week being Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Growing up, I loved watching all of the Disney princess movies… on repeat. Not only would I get to live out a life long dream of being a Disney princess but I would also get to be a mermaid. Dolphins are my favorite animal so being able to swim them and other animals in the sea without worrying about breathing would be a surreal feeling.

If you had an extra ticket to see a Casper Horse Heads baseball game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my friend Bridget to attend a Casper Horse Heads baseball game with me. No matter what we do, we always have a good time together. She also really enjoys

watching and playing sports so I know she would enjoy the game.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

My older brother played baseball and my dad was usually thecoach so I was able to spend a lot of time at a baseball diamond. There were a lot of parts I was able to play and things I was able to do, but I never quite was able to hit a home run. I think that would be an amazing feeling – even though some people do it all the time, it’s never anything that I have been able to experience.

---

I'd like to do that too! 

As always, I want to thank Mikkayla for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Mikkayla continues her time as Miss Wyoming, I encourage you to follow her title's Instagram and Facebook accounts. You should also check out the official Miss Wyoming website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown next month. It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Mikkayla, and good luck!