Legion names Utesch Athlete of the Year
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
When recent Big Foot High School graduate Will Utesch sat in the crowd for awards night, he had an unexpected surprise.
And that’s when he heard his own name called as the recipient of a prestigious year-end honor.
But he certainly worked for it.
Utesch was named this year’s American Legion Male Athlete of the Year and joined fellow graduates Kathryn Colby (American Legion female athlete of the year) and Nico Tovar (Koeppen award) as this year’s senior recipients.
Articles featuring both Colby and Tovar will run in future editions.
“I was surprised,” Utesch said. “I knew there were many other great athletes in my class that I was competing with for the award, so when I heard my name announced I was surprised.”
Utesch, a standout in football and wrestling for the Chiefs, said he was pleased that his efforts the past four years were rewarded.
“The honor I very pleasing and humbling,” he said. “Throughout my four years at Big Foot, I put in a tremendous amount of hard work to have a great senior sports season, and receiving this award shows me that my hard work paid off.”
When an athlete competes for all four years and in multiple sports, there are sure to be a number of different memories they take with them at the end.
But for Utesch, there’s one that stands out above all the others.
And that’s a trip all the way to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 4 state championship football game in 2012. Big Foot fell 35-33 in an overtime classic to Somerset, but having the chance to start as just a sophomore is something Utesch won’t soon forget.
“Not only did I get to start on a great team as a sophomore, but we made it to the state championship, which only a slim amount of high school football players can say they have done,” he said.
That state title contest was just one of many special moments Utesch spent on the gridiron.
He said his teammates, the coaching staff and both head coaches – former leader Rodney Wedig and current head coach Greg Enz – certainly played big roles in his life.
“Football was amazing at Big Foot,” he said. “The years I spent playing football beat everything else at Big Foot. Playing in a powerhouse program where I only lost five games in three varsity seasons is something special that also brings along many memories.
“I am also glad I got to have not one, but two (head) coaches to help me guide my way and become the player I am.”
Finishing a close second on that list is a trip to the state wrestling tournament, Utesch said.
“(That) is an amazing experience that I wish I could relive over and over again,” he said.
And it was through wrestling where Utesch had another rare experience – being coached by his father, Craig.
As usually is the case with a father-son coaching situation, life wasn’t always easy for either of them.
But the positives clearly outweighed the positives.
“Having a parent as a coach is something I wish every kid could have the opportunity to have,” Utesch said. “For me, not only was it in wrestling, but also in youth football and baseball.
“Although lots of times we may butt heads in practice, cutting weight doesn’t help that situation, it is still something special that I share with him and memories we have together.”
Utesch admitted that, while he may not have enjoyed it at the time, any “tough” coaching he received from his dad had a purpose behind it.
And now that he’s done with high school athletics and ready for a new chapter, he more fully understands what his dad was trying to do.
“(The biggest) challenge it presented was basically us not seeing eye to eye,” Utesch said. “Obviously, when I’m not going 100 percent, he can tell, and since 100 percent effort is expected, that is where we would get at each other sometimes.
“I knew he just wanted to see me succeed, so that ended (the arguments) most times.”
College football next
On deck for Utesch is a move to St. Norbert College, DePere, where he will major in finance and compete on the football team as a defensive lineman.
He’s ready for that next step, but also thinks back to those Friday nights in Walworth and around the Rock Valley Conference as a time in his life he will cherish forever.
“Not much can honestly beat the feeling of Friday night lights,” Utesch said. “It’s something special that should not be taken for granted.
“Running out under the lights with your brothers by your side creates so many memories that I will cherish forever.”
