APPLE VALLEY, MINN. – At Boden Senior Living, a Lifespark Senior Living Community, Tuesdays are starting to look—and sound—a lot different.
What began as a quiet experiment has transformed into a spirited weekly ritual. Under the leadership of Coach Jill Cartwright and with guidance from Spark Performance League (SPL) Commissioner Aden Nofsinger, the Boden Bears, one of the league’s newest Development Teams, are learning the ropes of Forklift Racing—and finding their competitive voice.
From “I Can’t” to “Let’s Go!”
“When we started, it was all ‘I can’t do it,’ or ‘I’m not touching that,’” said Cartwright. “Today, I had thirteen people on the course. Residents, staff, family members—even a tour group—stayed to watch because the energy was so electric.”
Each week, Commissioner Nofsinger pits himself against one Development Team for a “bye” match—observing, coaching, and helping them prepare for full league participation. In this week’s match, Nofsinger guided Cartwright through regulation setup to completion: two forklifts inside the 8-foot-square arena, two outside; the goal – stack boxes in the correct corner by color. The Bears nailed one full stack in round one—earning their first point—but it wasn’t the score that mattered.
“It’s never about the scoreboard,” said Cartwright. “It’s about strength, purpose, and belonging. That’s what we’re building here.”
Forklifts, Culture, and Community
Building a team, explained Cartwright, starts with creating culture. Each Monday night, she drives forklifts through the dining room to get people buzzing. On Tuesday mornings, the arena is prepped early and music is playing. Staff join in. Residents talk strategy over meals. “They’re laughing. They’re coaching each other. They’re recruiting each other,” she said. “It’s beautiful.”
Even those hesitant at first are showing up in unexpected ways. “We’ve got Lois and Joanne—kind of an oddball pair—now competing, laughing, and having dinner together. This program is creating relationships that didn’t exist before.”
During the match, a resident even wheeled her walker straight through the arena—twice. Not a single box fell. “She’s got better precision than some of our drivers,” Cartwright joked.
Practice, Progress, Purpose
The Bears are still mastering the mechanics of gameplay—like not repositioning forklifts between rounds—and Coach Cartwright admits she’s learning too. “See? I’m still figuring this out,” she laughed, as she maneuvered the controller during Round Two.
Their short-term goal is simple: stack four towers and advance out of Round One. “Last week we got one stack. This week we got two. That’s progress,” Cartwright said. “Also, someone laughed so hard they peed their pants. That’s a win in my book.”
Commissioner Nofsinger echoed the praise. “They’ve come so far since our first scrimmage. More drivers. More fans. More energy. It’s working.”
More than anything, Nofsinger said, the Development League is about helping teams discover what’s possible. “It’s about showing them they belong in this. And that they can build something great together.”
From Practice Arena to Spotlight
As the Bears grow, so does their visibility—and their confidence. Residents ask when Commissioner Nofsinger will be back. Staff talk about team shirts. Cartwright dreams of more stacks and more smiles. “It’s hard to explain,” she said, “but when (Commissioner) Aden walks in, everyone knows him. We feel like rock stars.”
For a team still learning the basics, the Boden Bears are already proving they have what it takes—not just to compete, but to create something meaningful. One game, one laugh, one perfectly stacked box at a time.
