Wes’ Words – Superior Football Team Displays Superior Sportsmanship

Sept 28

Wes Vork-NSO

Anyone who has followed our website knows our main goal is to give credit to student athletes and shine a positive light on their accomplishments. While Superior, WI is just a bit out of our coverage area, I really feel the need to share the following story of sportsmanship displayed by the Superior Spartan football team.

In a game against Menomonie Friday night, the Superior Senior High football team lost to Menomonie on the road by a score of 52-14. What happened next made them big winners, even
though they lost the game by 38 points.

Below is an email from Dr. Steven E. Kolden, Superintendant of Colby, WI schools. NSO would like to compliment Superior Head Football Coach Bob DeMeyer and the entire Spartan football program for taking sportsmanship to the ultimate level

Good Afternoon! I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Superior HS Football team and coaches for their display of incredible sportsmanship and compassion last Friday night in Menomonie. In this day of highly competitive HS athletics, it is SO refreshing to see coaches teaching the values of sportsmanship, dignity and compassion. It would have been so easy for these Coaches and Student Athletes to become frustrated with the score and the competitive factors associated with the game, but they instead rose above “the game” to give a gift to a young man who will carry a memory for the rest of his life.

A portion of the article that appeared in the Sunday edition of the Dunn County News with the headline “Class Acts… Menomonie, Superior spread good will in homecoming rout” read as follows; (With less than a minute remaining in the contest, Menomonie senior receiver Sam Kolden, who has been a long time member of the team despite having a developmental disability was put in the game and thrown a screen pass by senior quarterback James Nelson. Kolden caught the ball and took off down the field at a relatively conservative pace while Spartan defenders dove at his feet. Kolden raced 66 yards for the game’s final touchdown. “Superior’s guys are a class act,” said [Menomonie head football coach Joe] LaBuda. “It was a great thing they did at the end.”)

I feel as though I can speak of this outstanding display of sportsmanship and class as truly unique in today’s competitive world. I have 20+ years as an educator, including experience as a high school principal & high school athletic director. I can honestly say, I have never witnessed such grace and class at the varsity level as I did last Friday.

The fact that this Menomonie senior was my son only makes this display so much more noteworthy. I want to extend my personal thanks and gratitude to the entire coaching staff and all the athletes of the Superior Football team. I view your performance in Menomonie last Friday as a “win” in my book! I also believe it’s important for members of the greater Superior community to recognize the quality and values the Football coaches are teaching your student athletes. When the season is over, it’s not the W’s or L’s these young men will carry into their lives, it’s the personal relationships they’ve built with their teammates and the lessons they’ve learned about overcoming adversity (as demonstrated Friday evening) that will remain with them a lifetime.

You should be EXTREMELY proud of these young men and their coaches! You may share my comments as broadly as you wish! VERY Respectfully, Steve Kolden

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com