NU woman

shared duplex

with fire victims

Schrimpf was racing

in Texas when

fire occurred

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS -- A New Ulm woman was racing her BMX bicycle near Dallas, Texas, when three University of Minnesota students died in their southeast Minneapolis duplex as it burned early last Saturday morning.

Afton Schrimpf, a nursing student and the daughter of Mary Doelger and David Schrimpf, both of New Ulm, rented a bedroom in the duplex at 827 15th Ave. S.E. The fire took the lives of Elizabeth Wencl, 20, of Owatonna; Amanda Speckien, 19, of Vadnais Heights and Brian Heiden, 19, of Racine, Wis.

Authorities ruled out arson as the cause of the fire, but they said the fire began on the building's front porch, its only entryway. Five bedrooms in the part of the home that burned rented for $400 per month each.

Schrimpf, a four-time state champion BMX racer who has competed across the country, was in DeSoto, Texas. racing in the Red Line Cup Finals. She won two races on Saturday. She learned about the fire Sunday. The news that her friends had perished in the blaze aversely affected her racing, she said.

On Sunday, she was battling another woman for first place in a race when they collided. Schrimpf wound up with a broken hand and swollen knees, finishing second and third in races.

"It was a rough weekend," she said. "I suppose I wasn't really emotionally in the race."

A Red Line Cup Finals winner last year, Schrimpf planned on attending the Nationals in California next month and the Grand Nationals in Tulsa around Thanksgiving. Now, that is in doubt.

Everything in her bedroom except three rings were lost in the fire. Her personal computer, school books and clothes are gone.

The BMX community around the country responded after learning of her misfortune. Schrimpf received e-mail offers of help and requests of where items could be sent from BMX racers and fans nearby and far away.

A check with the web site www.bmxdude.com showed fund-raising BMX races for Schrimpf on Sept. 27 at Elk River and Oct 24-26 at the Fall Nationals at the Del Mar, Calif. Fairgrounds Arena.

"The response from BMX racers has been overwhelming," Schrimpf said. "That's one of the things I like about it. BMX is a lot more than just racing. It has lots of good people."

Schrimpf needs a computer, dishes, clothing and basic items like toiletries. She and her surviving roommates want to continue to live together. They are exploring housing options with University of Minnesota representatives.

After the fire, Minneapolis city officials launched a fire and safety sweep of campus rental housing.

Donations can be sent to:

Mary Doelger

611 S. Broadway

New Ulm, MN 56073

and

Elk River BMX

c/o Afton Schrimpf

16821 Wolverine CT NW

Ramsey, MN 55303