The weather forecast for the 2025 Midwest Regional Barefoot Tournament warned of impending doom and worse, chippy water conditions… but Tournament Director Sean Qualey forged boldly forward and created a tournament to remember at the Blue Moo in Alma Center, Wisconsin this past weekend.
“We always want to create an event where everyone is welcome, has fun and does their very best, ” says Sean.
It was two days of fun, sun and virtually no rain in the rolling hills of central Wisconsin. The site of the 2016 World Barefoot Championships and numerous Barefoot National Tournaments did not disappoint. Massive thanks to the Heller Family for always allowing the Midwest to continue to use the Blue Moo. They are the best!!!
As always, the Midwest Barefooters created a family atmosphere with a competitive edge. Everyone cheered for personal best performances and the race was tight in several divisions. A PB board was stationed down by Chief Scorer Sandy Boerman’s deluxe tent at the starting dock.
For all the scores go HERE.
Sean always tries to provide regional participants with the best barefoot swag in the nation. He worked with the legendary “Merch Man” and Barefooter Ken Reynolds to provide everyone with a Midwest Barefooters microfiber towel and everyone bought t-shirts with the sweet Midwest Barefooters logo.
JUNIOR DIVISIONS
In Boys B Joe Koehn came in on a mission. Joe has already qualified for the 2026 Junior World Barefoot Championships in tricks and slalom but it didn’t stop him from scoring 1240 in tricks and a Personal Best 8.0 in wake slalom. Joe also tamed the jump on Friday afternoon, landing all six jumps with 8.4 meters being the best!
In Girls A, Mackenzy Koehn scored a personal best of 450 in tricks and then doubled down to score another personal best of 3.6 in wake slalom to qualify for the 2026 Junior World Barefoot Championships. Both Mackenzy and her brother are focused on qualifying in all three events.
In Boys A, newcomer Finn Hartwig of the Wisconsin Water Ski Show Team “Chain Skiers” scored 70 points in tricks and is looking forward to coming to another barefoot tournament sometime soon.
OPEN DIVISIONS
Faith Dix led the charge for the Open Women winning tricks with 2000 points, 13.7 in wake slalom and 9.7 in jump… to win the overall regional title
Matthew Martin cleaned up for the Open Men scoring 2700 in tricks, 9.1 in slalom and 6.8 in jump to grab the men’s overall regional title.
Carter Boerman dominated Open Pro Men scoring 3850 in tricks, 15.4 in slalom and 19.2 in jump to capture the overall regional title. Paul Stokes placed second in Open Pro men Wake Slalom but Carter hung on to win overall regional title.
ALPHABET SOUP DIVISIONS
The women came out strong in Womens A, Elizabeth Davision placed second in slalom and tricks followed closely by Heather Stokes in third place in her tune up for the Masters World Tournament in September.
Only 50 points separated the top three finishers in Womens A tricks! Heather and Elizabeth are amazing supporters and fellow competitors… the best in the Midwest!
Birthday Boy Trey Morse won the Mens A regional overall title, winning the top spot in jump by boosting a 14.2 meter jump, placing second in tricks and third in slalom. Sean Qualey won tricks with a personal best score of 2470 points and Mike Schoenke won slalom with an 8.5.
The largest division of the tournament was Mens B where the competition was fierce. Ken Reynolds won tricks, slalom and the overall. Close behind Ken was Ryan Hayes in second in tricks and slalom and Scooter Stouffer edged out Ken Rauscher to finish third in tricks and slalom.
MATURE DIVISIONS
In Masters Mens, Clif Martin won Slalom and the Overall title and Mike Molepske won tricks with 1240 points. In Senior Men, Joe Knapp won tricks and slalom. And finally, the ageless wonder, Ben Hough won tricks in the Super Veteran Mens Division.
For all the scores go HERE.
The region is grateful for Chief Scorer Sandy Boerman leading the calculation crew along with her cohorts Clif Martin, Agnes Koehn, Carter Boerman and Mackenzy Koehn for the accurate and efficient scoring. Sandy Rocks!
The incredible Sanger Boats were provided by Ken Reynolds and the Boerman Family. Drivers Scott “Scooter” Stouffer, Mike “Shankster” Schoenke, Paul “Stokeman” Stokes and Dale “Hemmi” Hendrickson kept everything running smoothly on the water. Sean Qualey even jumped in the driver’s seat during the bonus round to work on his driver’s rating! There was also some old lady they let drive a bit too. Thanks drivers and boat owners!
In the boat was an impressive judging crew of Hall of Famer Joe Knapp, Mike Molepske, Carter Boerman, Heather Stokes, Sean Qualey, Thor Thordarson, Ryan Hayes, and Matthew Martin.
Agnes Koehn led the “Let’s keep these people fed” Committee with Breakfast, Lunch AND supper! This woman is the motor behind the “Raising Koehn” Krew and the entire region. She even packed up the Koehn Krew after the tournament to drive to Ohio to test a boat!
What an amazing couple of days in rural Wisconsin… proving the saying is true: Midwest is BEST! See you all at Nationals!
American Barefoot Club 