Tim Tyler of Grants Pass prepares to throw a 42-pound kettlebell over a 12 foot beam during competition Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the annual Athena Caledonian Games in Athena.

ATHENA — The Athena Caledonian Games had something of a changing of the guard Saturday, July 8.

Sue Friese has served as president of the games for 30 years, but now Nick Seltmann is hefting the stone as organizer and new president of Athena’s annual event featuring live music, bagpipes and the Scottish Highland sports competition.

“This is tradition, its history, its family time, its wonderful for all of to be able to come here and enjoy this together, the tartans and the pipes, it puts it all together,” Friese said.

“We’re here to share the culture of Scotland, introduce people to things they might not have seen before,” Seltmann said. “Then the athletics which started all the way back in 1899 when we started. It hasn’t been continuous, it was picked back up. Now we’re getting more people coming than we’ve ever had. It’s amazing to see.”

Attendance stood out as particularly high, he said, even considering the day’s hot temperatures.

“It is fantastic this year,” he said. “Normally we get small groups of people throughout the day. Today it feels like we’re getting double the amount of people we usually do.”

Part of that success, he said, was the event had showers for campers for the first time, bringing more overnight campers and participants to the games.

Leaving the seat of Caledonian Games president was bittersweet, Friese said, but would allow her to continue to focus on specific projects, such as putting together a historical home tour rather than on the broad strokes of the event.

Still, she said, the games are in her blood, and she always be willing to help keep the games going.

“It’s a part of me, I’ve always loved the games,” Friese said. “I’ve been proud to represent the games, but I’m not going anywhere, I’ll still be here to help with special projects at 80 years old.”

For Seltmann, stepping into the president’s chair is another step in continuing his family’s devotion to the Caledonian Games, Scottish culture and giving back to the community, he said.

“I’ve heard Sue’s name my whole life since my dad was on the Caledonian Games board, it feels crazy to be stepping into her role, and it’s big shoes to fill,” Seltmann said. “But we have an obligation to keep this tradition going, it’s been going on since 1899.”

As Seltmann takes over, he plans to try to recruit more volunteers and engage a younger generation of participants to come out to the games to grow the event.

“Hopefully we can bring in some more volunteers, some younger folks next year and maybe some Highland cows next year,” Seltmann said. “We want to keep the tradition, but keep growing and sharing our history and traditions.”

The clock struck noon amid the sounds of bagpipes and other entertainment, and the Scottish Highland competition began, putting feats of raw strength and endurance on display.

“You don’t even have to be Scottish, we all have our own tartans that represent different things, whether that’s military service, police, or other forms of heritage,” said Aixa Owens, a participant in the sheaf toss competition to throw a bundle of hay into the air from a pitchfork. “I’m actually wearing someone else’s kilt today, but mine are decorated in patches that represent my history as a former military.”

More than 50 athletes, men and women, participated in a series of athletic challenges, including for women the sheaf toss, where participants throw a bundle of hay into the air using a pitchfork, or for men, tossing a heavy kettlebell over a beam high in the air.

“Some of us have been doing this forever, some of us picked it up along the way, some of us have an attachment to Scotland, like me,” Owens said. “It’s an amazing community, and it’s always fun to be in Athena.”