Night lights
By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN
It isn't often that Santa has to play second fiddle to anyone.
Especially with young children, and especially this time of year.
But there was 3-year-old Clare Tholstrup on Tuesday evening, paying more attention to a tiger than the white-bearded guy sitting just a few feet away.
"She loves the tiger," Clare's mother, Carrie Tholstrup, said of Fort Hays State University's mascot.
Santa did indeed have to share the spotlight with Victor E. Tiger.
It was a festive atmosphere with people crowding into the lobby of Sheridan Hall to get in out of the cold after the university's annual lighting of the trees in front of the building.
"This is our way of saying best wishes for a wonderful holiday, a safe holiday, to all the students," Ed Hammond, president of Fort Hays, told the large crowd that braved the cold temperatures to take part in a little holiday cheer.
Those in attendance received early Christmas gifts: free tickets to watch the undefeated FHSU women's team play host to Newman University across campus at Gross Memorial Coliseum shortly after the tree lighting.
Some of those tickets went to the Tholstrups. Joining Clare at the game were her mom and dad, Jon Tholstrup, an instructor in FHSU's Department of Informatics.
"This will be her first basketball game," Carrie Tholstrup said. "We took her to a (Fort Hays) football game this fall, and she just loved it."
That football game is where Clare first met Victor E. Tiger, and it was instant attraction.
Carrie Tholstrup is a graduate student at FHSU and works in the university's Writing Center in Forsyth Library.
The Tholstrups drive to Hays for work each day from their home about 30 miles away in Bison.
So while Mom and Dad work, Clare attends the Tiger Tots Nurtury Center on campus.
"She calls (the Tiger Tots daycare) her tiger school, and (Forsyth) tiger library," Carrie Tholstrup said. "She's really into the tiger."
There were several regulars at the tree lighting, some who probably had been attending since Hammond started the tradition back in 1987 when he first came to Fort Hays.
Each year, there are some newcomers at the event as well.
One of those this year was 8-year-old Rachael Roy, who came with her dad, Tom Roy, by special invitation.
Rachael, a second-grader at Wilson Elementary School, was one of the 12 grade school children who placed in the top three of their grade level in the annual coloring contest.
Rachael and other winners were recognized during the ceremony and each given a stuffed animal complete with a Wendy's insignia, representing the longtime sponsor of the event.
In addition to the prizes for the coloring contest, Wendy's provided cookies for refreshments.
Holding tightly onto her stuffed reindeer, Rachael was front and center as Santa read to the children from a large story book.
"She was excited to come," Tom Roy said of his daughter. "We've never been."
People -- most with young children in tow -- stuck around for a while afterward, waiting for a chance to talk to Santa.
Then it was off to the basketball game for some, including the Tholstrups.
Carrie Tholstrup earned her bachelor's degree in education from Kansas State University.
So she said she thoroughly enjoyed watching the Fort Hays men's basketball team play K-State on television the night before.
"I didn't know who to cheer for," she said, adding quickly that "I was definitely cheering for the Tigers."
On Wednesday, there was no question who the Tholstrups were cheering for, and they left in a good mood after watching the FHSU women's team earn a blowout victory.
It's a night Clare won't soon forget.
She ran into Victor E. Tiger at the game and could be seen dancing with her buddy on the upper level of seating.
Clare's mom had forgotten to bring along her camera, but she wasn't worried about capturing a photo sometime this year.
"Oh, we'll be back to another game," Carrie Tholstrup said. "She loves sports, really likes that tiger."