Being on a team was an important part of my growing up. For me, it was always all about the team. That could include Family, friends, team mates, classmates or whom ever happened to be on your team. I was preoccupied with the team rather than being a teammate. Then there’s Brock.
Brock is my grandson and influencer to the Grampion! While he is just getting ready to graduate from high school, I learned some very valuable lessons from him over the course of the last couple years. Brock is concerned about the team but really focused in on doing something about it. Brock wants to help the team by being a good teammate.
I learned from him by watching as others approached him to celebrate his on the field and on the mat exploits of excellence throughout his senior year. People on his teams, on other teams and even opponents came forward on a regular basis (weekly) to congratulate him and wish him well. Other teams coaches came forward to encourage him and let him know they would have loved to coach him. People he had just beaten, ending their dream season (or even career) came out to thank him for being a good sport, great opponent and wonderful example.
Brock never scored a touchdown, never went undefeated, always fought hard and was a physically imposing force. He lettered in four sports while excelling in football and wrestling even winning the state Championship in the former. We all watched as he experienced the highs of incredible success and the agony of defeat in failure and handled both as a gentleman. He is down to earth and larger than life. This big man, commonly called “Big Brock” will have been known for being a good teammate. His high school Legacy will be etched for being a nice person.
Brock, living proof that nice guys sometimes finish first!
May 21, 2025