What is it about this Class of 2016? I remember distinctly about four or five years ago talking to coaches about the future of their teams and several of them were telling me, “just wait for these eighth graders and freshmen coming up, they are a special group of student/athletes.”

 

And here we are all those years later and it appears the coaches’ prophesy was right on.

 

But you know what? It’s true this group of students this year have excelled mightily on the playing fields, rinks and courts, but what I am most impressed with is how well-mannered and likeable these kids are.

 

Take the members of the football team, for example. Here’s a group of guys who have just won back-to-back football championships and there is not one kid amongst them who has an ego larger than life or a “pat me on the back” mentality.

 

These kids are nice. These kids are humble. These kids are good.

 

Beau Pauly, Casey Vesledahl and Dillon Radunz were players getting notice nationally for their value of play on the field, yet they never came across to me as being overly proud or having a “look at me” attitude. I’m sure their new coaches at their new schools next year will see the kids they recruited as being more than just excellent athletes.

 

Recently, this area had the girls basketball team make it to state and finish fourth and yet I’ve rarely ever seen a team blend together as players and teammates as well as they did this year to try and bring home a championship under less-than-ideal situations.

 

The girls gymnastics team — year-after-year in the hunt for a state title — rallied around seniors Hannah Schmidt and Haley Olson who at times, wrestled with injuries and these girls gave their all in their quest to be the best at state.

 

The girls volleyball team, under the tutelage of a rookie coach in 2015, had a remarkable season, finishing with a 24-5 record and a #3 seed in the Section 8AAA playoffs. The team was led by four seniors who will be sorely missed.

 

Trish Reimer-Kealy continues to have successful seasons in track and cross country and a lot can be attributed to this year’s senior class. She has seven seniors on this year’s team that give their all, but also aid in bringing up the younger athletes and keeping them prepared.

 

The same can be said for Paul Schmidt’s boys track team, where Pauly and fellow football teammates Gabe Dertinger, Radunz and Alex Meidt have teamed up to become a formidable track team that Schmidt hasn’t seen in many years of coaching.

 

You can see improvements in the baseball squad where nine seniors are making a difference. The boys (two seniors) and girls (two seniors) golf teams look good and the boys (five seniors)  and girls (four seniors)  soccer teams as well, all being led by this year’s Class of 2016.

 

And yet, there’s not just one superstar “over-and-above” anybody else on and off any of the fields of play.

 

Hokan Bengtson annually puts out quality boys tennis teams and despite having just two seniors on his squad this year, has his team playing at a high level. 

 

Nate Bucher saw improvements as well with the girls tennis team where seven seniors took the program to another level. The boys basketball program under Josh Ihrke showed signs of an upswing with eight seniors in the lineup and the girls (eight seniors)  and boys  (10 seniors) lacrosse teams show they are teams to be reckoned with.

 

And, as of right now, it appears the Class of 2016 wants to close out their senior year with at least one more state title.

 

That could realistically happen with the girls softball team.

 

Jason Baune has continually coached quality teams to high levels in the playoffs, but it appears to me this year’s team has all the right ingredients. The pitching is solid, the offense potent and the defense looks major league. Five seniors (Payton Williams, Alexa Hanowski, Rachel Thiesse, Erika Schwartz and Hailey Fitzpatrick) appear to have the “eye of the tiger”. Through my eyes and my lens, this team has the quality one looks for in a championship team.

 

I could go on and on about this Class of 2016 — and I haven’t even touched on their incredible academic successes. I realize that coaching, teaching and parenting has a lot to do with how successful individuals become on the playing field but there just appears to be something special about this particular class.

 

Who knows? We may not see this caliber of student/athlete around here for — say another four or five years?

 

Let’s hope that’s not the case and the Class of 2017 and beyond impresses me just the same as this year’s class.

 

 Kids, follow the example of this year’s class and do the same. Stay humble, do your best and be nice.