Before I ever was handed the microphone on a regular basis for NRHEG’s home sporting events, and before my children were even a twinkling in my eye to compete in some of those, I enjoyed going to games. I’d come to football, volleyball, basketball, and wrestling events. It was enjoyable getting to see some of my students compete, and I started to get to know some of the community members who attended these contests.
I didn’t always make it to every event. I might have had a stack of papers that needed correcting or I was coaching a lower level team. Maybe I was headed to Mankato to visit my girlfriend (now wife). But when I did go, I started to recognize some people who were always there. They rarely, if ever, missed a game. And the more I got to know some of these people, the more I recognized they were at the games for the simplest of reasons.
These are people who don’t have a horse in the race. They really just enjoy cheering on our local athletes and supporting the kids in our communities. They love sports and hate to miss out on an opportunity where they might see something great. Or they might not. It doesn’t really matter to them. Sports are a great social occasion, and these folks make every effort to be part of the school spirit that pervades these games.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to take the chance to recognize some of the people I deem our NRHEG superfans! As we swing into our winter sports season, you will likely see these people at most of the competitions in the high school gym.
Many years ago, I was prepping for my pregame introductions before a basketball game. Suddenly, a strong hand came down on my shoulder. “Well, if it isn’t the Sheepherder’s son,” came a resonating voice.
I was startled, to say the least. I didn’t think anybody in this area knew that my dad is known as the Sheepherder back in New Ulm. (He’s even got a radio show once a week where he shares his wisdom with the masses.) I turned and met Lavoy and Mary Ebnet for the first time. It turned out that they knew my dad from some polka festivals and other occasions in New Ulm.
I can’t remember too many games in New Richland since that day that I haven’t seen that couple there. In fact, I’ve even seen them at road games. One of my favorite pictures is one we took last year of Lavoy, my dad, and me at a game in St. Peter. It was the first time the three of us had all been together.
And every time I see Lavoy and his bride at a game, I look forward to being called the Sheepherder’s son. If I have a chance to play some music during the game, I like to dial up a polka as well for two of the Panthers’ biggest fans.
I met Tom Hedmond my first year here. Tom comes to every game in New Richland and is usually one of the first people here. He cheers for the home team as loudly as anyone. I even got the chance to play town team baseball with him my first year here, and it was always a good time. I got to learn a lot about the history of our sports programs from Tom.
I was concerned one year when I didn’t see Tom at a couple games in a row. He assured me he had just been under the weather, but that tells you what a pillar Tom is at games so when he’s gone, rather like when people you always see in church are missing, you grow a bit worried. In recent years, too, Tom has started sitting right below the booth at football games, so now we get his insight into the game as an added bonus!
Hank Thompson is a sight often seen at ballgames in New Richland. He likes to sit in the front row and keep a good eye on the proceedings. I see Hank at plenty of baseball games in the summer as well, especially ones with his grandkids in them. He’s always looking for ways to bring more ballgames over to Geneva and get people over there to see the well-maintained softball diamonds in that town.
I often see Hank over at Al’s Body Shop in Ellendale, and we share our keen insight into the status of our local teams. But even if a team is struggling, Hank will find a way to look for a bright point and will continue to come to events and cheer on the home team, even if the chances of victory aren’t good.
And that’s the beauty of our superfans. Our Panthers don’t win every game. They don’t always make it to the state tournament. Some nights, the team might look downright miserable. But these folks, and many others, keep coming out to support the student-athletes. Because these kids give it their all for the love of the games, and they deserve that support.
I know there are plenty of other people who are superfans. Thank you to all of you who cheer on the Panthers. I hope that when my voice eventually gives out and I no longer have a horse in the race, that I’ll join you all, sitting back and showing my Panther Pride from that super perspective.
Word of the Week: This week’s word is flapdoodle, which means nonsense, as in, “The sports fan thought it was an example of flapdoodle when someone claimed his favorite team wouldn’t win.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!