DARLINGTON - On the shores of the Hudson River just an hour north of New York City sits the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point.
Connor Roche of Darlington had no idea he'd be interested in attending the academy but when Chad Plenge, a West Point graduate from Monroe who Roche met at Badger Boys State, and another friend told him about it, Roche was convinced West Point was a good fit for him.
"I went into the military blind," he said.
Roche said at that time no one in his family was a member of the military. His parents, Martin and Leanor, didn't know anything about West Point, and they were a little nervous about him going to a military school.
"I knew they'd support me," Roche said.
He turned to his cross country coach Arnie Miehe and his former Tiger and Boy Scout leader David Merriam, both of whom he has known since elementary school, for advice. Miehe and Merriam not only supported Roche's decision, they packed up and drove almost 2,000 miles round trip to see Roche graduate from West Point last month.
"I basically watched him grow up," Merriam said. He recalled Roche was very quiet "to the point of being shy." As the years passed by, Roche matured very quickly, he said.
By middle school, Roche was elected by his peers as a Senior Scout Leader for Boy Scouts, the start of Roche's ambition to lead.
"He knew (being a leader) wasn't just about giving orders," Merriam said. "He was giving direction to guys four or five years older than him."
Merriam said he believes Roche will be very successful in the future.
"Connor is one of those guys who could be the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff one day," he said.
The leadership that Roche learned would become a central theme during his four years at West Point.
Entering the Academy
Roche said the application process to get in to the famed academy was long. It required a special nomination from a congressman or U.S. senator, a face-to-face interview with a selection committee, numerous medical screenings and a long wait to hear back.
Roche received the official nomination from Rep. Ron Kind but he still had to wait to be accepted officially into West Point.
"Even though you have the nomination," he said, "that's not enough."
On May 3, 2011, Roche received the letter officially accepting him into the academy. He immediately visited both Miehe and Merriam to tell them the good news.
"He came into my house with a great big smile on his face," Merriam said.
Roche graduated from high school a few weeks after his acceptance and had a month before he had to report for duty in New York.
"It was a pretty hard transition," he said of entering the academy. He was only given 90 seconds to say goodbye to his family.
He said he constantly felt homesick during his first six weeks of basic training. After that, he was able to see his family again.
"It was good to see familiar faces and not be yelled at," Roche said.
His first year at West Point would not get any easier. First-year cadets, called "plebes," are not allowed to talk outside their room or classroom, must walk around campus with their hands in a fist at all times and are required to perform extra duties including setting up for dinner or trash pick-up. They also must answer trivial questions presented to them by upperclassmen.
Attendees of West Point are taught time management and how to deal with stress, Roche said.
"The amount of stress they put on you is good because it teaches you," he said.
Students were required to prep at least two hours before every class and participate in a sport of their choice.
"There was an importance with keeping up with your academics," Roche said.
While his plebe year proved stressful and sometimes unpleasant, it got better as the years progressed.
The Marathon Team
Despite running cross country in high school, Roche fell short when he tried out for the sport at West Point.
"I wasn't even close to getting in," he said.
Instead, Roche found his passion on the marathon team, which he said was the highlight of his time there. He participated in various marathons around North America, including Philadelphia and Boston and one in Canada.
By his final year, he was captain of the marathon team and led it to its best showing in its 42-year history at the Boston Marathon.
At the annual Army vs. Navy football game, he and his team relayed the football from West Point to the Ravens' Stadium in downtown Baltimore.
He said he was greeted by the announcers and a crowd of more than 80,000.
"That was probably the largest group of people who have ever heard of Darlington, Wisconsin," Roche said.
Beyond West Point
Roche studied kinesiology at West Point, making the Dean's List all eight semesters. As a result, Roche said, he got to pick which branch of the Army he will serve in. He choose Armor and wants to be a tank commander.
He has one more major task to complete: Ranger training.
Ranger training focuses on leadership strength, he said. He'll be tested with sleep deprivation, lack of food, and leadership skills under stress, he said. Roche will report to Fort Benning in Georgia next month.
Next summer, he'll report to Fort Collins, Colo.
"I'm prepared to lead," he said, "and lead honorably the sons and daughters of this nation."
Connor Roche of Darlington had no idea he'd be interested in attending the academy but when Chad Plenge, a West Point graduate from Monroe who Roche met at Badger Boys State, and another friend told him about it, Roche was convinced West Point was a good fit for him.
"I went into the military blind," he said.
Roche said at that time no one in his family was a member of the military. His parents, Martin and Leanor, didn't know anything about West Point, and they were a little nervous about him going to a military school.
"I knew they'd support me," Roche said.
He turned to his cross country coach Arnie Miehe and his former Tiger and Boy Scout leader David Merriam, both of whom he has known since elementary school, for advice. Miehe and Merriam not only supported Roche's decision, they packed up and drove almost 2,000 miles round trip to see Roche graduate from West Point last month.
"I basically watched him grow up," Merriam said. He recalled Roche was very quiet "to the point of being shy." As the years passed by, Roche matured very quickly, he said.
By middle school, Roche was elected by his peers as a Senior Scout Leader for Boy Scouts, the start of Roche's ambition to lead.
"He knew (being a leader) wasn't just about giving orders," Merriam said. "He was giving direction to guys four or five years older than him."
Merriam said he believes Roche will be very successful in the future.
"Connor is one of those guys who could be the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff one day," he said.
The leadership that Roche learned would become a central theme during his four years at West Point.
Entering the Academy
Roche said the application process to get in to the famed academy was long. It required a special nomination from a congressman or U.S. senator, a face-to-face interview with a selection committee, numerous medical screenings and a long wait to hear back.
Roche received the official nomination from Rep. Ron Kind but he still had to wait to be accepted officially into West Point.
"Even though you have the nomination," he said, "that's not enough."
On May 3, 2011, Roche received the letter officially accepting him into the academy. He immediately visited both Miehe and Merriam to tell them the good news.
"He came into my house with a great big smile on his face," Merriam said.
Roche graduated from high school a few weeks after his acceptance and had a month before he had to report for duty in New York.
"It was a pretty hard transition," he said of entering the academy. He was only given 90 seconds to say goodbye to his family.
He said he constantly felt homesick during his first six weeks of basic training. After that, he was able to see his family again.
"It was good to see familiar faces and not be yelled at," Roche said.
His first year at West Point would not get any easier. First-year cadets, called "plebes," are not allowed to talk outside their room or classroom, must walk around campus with their hands in a fist at all times and are required to perform extra duties including setting up for dinner or trash pick-up. They also must answer trivial questions presented to them by upperclassmen.
Attendees of West Point are taught time management and how to deal with stress, Roche said.
"The amount of stress they put on you is good because it teaches you," he said.
Students were required to prep at least two hours before every class and participate in a sport of their choice.
"There was an importance with keeping up with your academics," Roche said.
While his plebe year proved stressful and sometimes unpleasant, it got better as the years progressed.
The Marathon Team
Despite running cross country in high school, Roche fell short when he tried out for the sport at West Point.
"I wasn't even close to getting in," he said.
Instead, Roche found his passion on the marathon team, which he said was the highlight of his time there. He participated in various marathons around North America, including Philadelphia and Boston and one in Canada.
By his final year, he was captain of the marathon team and led it to its best showing in its 42-year history at the Boston Marathon.
At the annual Army vs. Navy football game, he and his team relayed the football from West Point to the Ravens' Stadium in downtown Baltimore.
He said he was greeted by the announcers and a crowd of more than 80,000.
"That was probably the largest group of people who have ever heard of Darlington, Wisconsin," Roche said.
Beyond West Point
Roche studied kinesiology at West Point, making the Dean's List all eight semesters. As a result, Roche said, he got to pick which branch of the Army he will serve in. He choose Armor and wants to be a tank commander.
He has one more major task to complete: Ranger training.
Ranger training focuses on leadership strength, he said. He'll be tested with sleep deprivation, lack of food, and leadership skills under stress, he said. Roche will report to Fort Benning in Georgia next month.
Next summer, he'll report to Fort Collins, Colo.
"I'm prepared to lead," he said, "and lead honorably the sons and daughters of this nation."