Park High football holds signing ceremony for departing seniors

By Dan Solovitz
Posted 5/11/23

On Sunday, May 7, Park High School Football held a signing ceremony at 5 p.m. for its seniors who are heading off to college team rosters next year. Under the sun on the gridiron, Coach Rick Fryklund …

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Park High football holds signing ceremony for departing seniors

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On Sunday, May 7, Park High School Football held a signing ceremony at 5 p.m. for its seniors who are heading off to college team rosters next year. Under the sun on the gridiron, Coach Rick Fryklund led the event, flanked by fans, family members, younger teammates, and future prospects. The departing seniors being honored were DJ Brown, Alex Carr, Eddie Hallowanger, Braden Karnitz, Chris Kujawa, Brandan Lee, Owen Rose, Jalataa Shenkor, and Jesse Truax.

“Our motto is building champions and pursuing championships, and we will use the vehicle of football to engage in the infinitely important purpose of building young people into uncommon adults that achieve their highest potential,” said Fryklund. “We believe that teaching and coaching our student athletes in the football program is synonymous with a relationship that inspires learning and growth. Some of these boys grew a whole lot since their freshman year.”

 He continued, “We’re not measuring the public’s opinion, we’re measuring something much higher. While the goal is to compete and win on the scoreboard and on the field at the highest level, our purpose is far more significant. The purpose will always be to build young people of character who know how to love and achieve their highest potential.”

Fryklund stressed that the results of the team-building process at Park High will change their lives in ways they may not yet grasp. He noted that the goal of the program is to create young adults who will be humble, selfless, and honorable, becoming great parents and valuable community members into the future.

Quoting poet Edgar Albert Guest, Fryklund said, “You may fail, but fall still fighting. Don’t give up, whate’er you do. Eyes front, head high to the finish. See it through.”

The nine seniors were individually called up to the table to ceremonially sign for their new university teams, where Coach Fryklund met them with a brief statement prepared for each of them and what they have meant to the team, as well as a word or quote describing them.

He gave DE/TE Jesse Truax (UW-River Falls) the word “selfless,” saying “Because it was never about you. It was about our team.”

LB Alex Carr (UW-River Falls), who broke the single-season tackling record at Park and was the top tackler in the state of Minnesota in all classifications after nine games, was given the quote, “Do the best you can with what you can while you can, and success is inevitable. Because when you love your work, you will be exceptionally diligent in what you do, and you will excel in delivering both quality and quantity.”

LB Owen Rose (UW-River Falls) received the word “love” from the coach, who said, “They say if you want to know if someone really loves you or something, don’t listen to what they say, look at what they actually do. It’s clear to anyone remotely paying attention to this team how much you impacted us every single day, and that you selflessly gave for others for the good of this team.”

WR Jalataa Shenkor (UW-River Falls) was given the word “effort.” Fryklund said that he has “a competitive fire that anyone who knows him can see, but he never lets that internal fire diminish anyone else on this team.”

Coach gave DB Chris Kujawa (Hamline) the word “grit.” He said, “You had the courage and the toughness to take your situation this fall, and not ask why me, but try me.”

OL Braden Karnitz (UW-Stout), a rare three-year starter, was given the word “trust,” with Fryklund saying that he was “always, unapologetically, authentically” himself. “In today’s world, I hope you appreciate just how rare that is to occur.”

RB DJ Brown (UW-La Crosse) was described by the coach as “humble.” “Some people think that being humble is a weakness, but I disagree,” said Fryklund. “I believe humility is a demonstration of strength under control and a foundation for other virtues, because humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

DB Brandan Lee (UW-River Falls) was given the word “passion.” “The thing about Brandan is that he doesn’t need to manufacture it; it’s just authentically a part of who he is, and that energy and light draws others to want to be around you,” said the coach.

DB Eddie Hallowanger (Crown College) received the word “shine,” with Fryklund adding, “He brings with him a positive and authentic energy that effects and elevates everyone. His love of life, his love of football, and his love to compete and work hard is obvious to anyone around him.”

After the ceremony each senior took a moment to speak to the crowd, giving thanks to their fans, their coaches, their families and their friends for making their Park High Football experience the best it could be, and an unforgettable experience.