The Oshkosh West Index - Wildcats knee deep in volunteer opportunity

Volume 106, Issue 1

Online Features

Wildcats knee deep in volunteer opportunity

By Leah Dittberner
posted September 26, 2009

While summer academically draws to a close with the beginning of September, most athletes recognize the first day of their fall sport as an end to the carefree days of sleeping in and lounging around the house. This is especially true for the football players, whose practices commence early in the morning and stretch on for hours in the scorching heat. From August 12-14, the football team changed up their routine by heading to Honey Creek after practice to assist the community with a voluntary cleaning of the stagnant waters.

"Last year, we cleaned behind Oakwood School because of the flood damage," said head coach Ken Levine. "This year we cleaned the creek from east of Oakwood road to the lake."

This considerable task was conquered by dividing up the massive number of players in the football program.

"It was three days in a row, so the seniors got split into thirds. One group went with the juniors, another with the sophomores, and another with the freshmen," said Levine.

Upon the players' first time seeing the scum-filled creek strewn with branches and logs, a sense of reluctance pervaded the air.

"Each day when the kids first got there and saw what kind of work they had to do, there was a minute or two when they were like were like ‘I'm not doing that,' but as soon as one kid would jump into the muck, the rest would follow," said Levine.

The teamwork behind the execution of plays on the football field was carried over to this charity project to ensure its success.

"We had about 20-30 kids on the side of the bank hauling debris about 50 yards out to dumpsters while the other 30 kids were in the creek," said Levine.

Junior Connor Schroeder agreed that the work was difficult, but a joint effort made it manageable.

"We had to lift giant swamp logs out of the water and out of the woods, and then throw them on a pile of other logs. It was hard, but we could handle it," he said.

Whether submerged in water with the consistency of nacho cheese or trudging along the banks of the creek carrying heavy logs, the conditions the team worked under were moderately repulsive.

"A lot of times they were chest deep in mucky water and sinking in up to their calves in mud," said Levine.

Senior Dan Nelson agreed that the conditions were far from ideal for maneuvering heavy logs.

"It was difficult getting in and out of the creek because the bank was steep and slippery with mud," he said.

Although strenuous, the work environment provided opportunities for entertainment.

"Getting in the waist high water was fun, and watching some fellow teammates fall in was amusing," said Schroeder.

Nelson agreed that the uncertainties of working in murky, unknown waters created comical moments.

"A highlight of the day was when we were walking back upstream and I felt something under my foot. As I reached down to grab whatever it was, the object started to move. I jumped up startled and then realized it was only a stick that Zach Schmidt was picking up out of the water a few feet in front of me," he said.

Uniting under a charitable cause helped the players to develop their relationship as a team.

"I think it was a good bonding experience because they had to work together to get the trees out. It was in some pretty nasty conditions, but they had fun with it," said Levine.

The intentions of involvement in this event go beyond creating team camaraderie.

"I feel it is important to do community service so that they realize that playing football or any sport is a privilege and they should earn it," said Levine.

Player involvement in the community is a significant factor in their growth not only as players and teammates, but as human beings, according to Levine.

"They get to do a lot of neat things as a team that a lot of people don't get to do, so I think they should understand that giving back in some way is very important," he said.

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photo courtesy of John Burke

Football players perfect teamwork skills as they transport debris down Honey Creek. The team worked for three days removing sticks and logs from the polluted water.

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