MONROE - When Monroe senior Jon Becker found out that he was selected to play in the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star game July 14, he set the bar high for fundraising for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
Players who play in the All-Star game are required to raise at least $500. Since Becker has a younger cousin who battled a heart valve problem, the children's hospital holds a special spot in his heart and he set a goal of raising $5,000.
"I set the goal kind of high because my younger cousin had to go to the children's hospital," Becker said. "If it wasn't for that children's hospital, he might not be here today. It hit close to home."
Becker was selected to play in the WFCA All-Star game as a defensive back as part of the South Division 1-3 team. Becker is one of three football players who will play in the All-Star game at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Titan Stadium. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme (linebacker) and senior Trent Jordan (defensive back) were also selected to play on the Division 4-7 South team that will be coached by Waterloo coach Doug Miller. Doug Miller is Monroe coach Curt Miller's father. Curt Miller will serve as an assistant coach to his father during the All-Star game.
Becker was named to the WFCA All-Region team as a defensive back and was a first team Badger South All-Conference at the same position. Becker, who will play football at UW-La Crosse next fall, was excited to be selected to play in one final prep game.
"It's a great honor," Becker said. "A Monroe player hasn't been there in a long time. It's great to represent Monroe and it's good charity."
Monroe finished (3-6, 3-3 Badger South) last season and Becker was a big part of a .500 conference record. Four of the Cheesemakers' six losses came to teams that played in the state quarterfinals including state champion Waunakee and state semifinalist Madison Edgewood.
Curt Miller said Becker has worked really hard in the offseason and in the weight room to improve as a player.
"It's nice to see a kid who put all the hard work in to get better get rewarded and play in this prestigious game," Miller said.
Curt Miller looks forward to coaching with his father, Doug who has compiled a 222-95 mark at Waterloo in 31 years.
"It's going to really be a special experience," Curt Miller said. "People always say the All-Star game is a reward. The real reward for me is coaching with my father. It's something we have never had the opportunity to do before."
DeLorme and Jordan were part of the winningest senior class in the history of the playoffs for Brodhead-Juda. DeLorme was selected as an all-region linebacker and was first team Rock Valley South All-Conference as a linebacker and running back. Jordan was named to the all-region team as a defensive back and was first team all-conference at the same position. Brodhead-Juda has had two players selected to play in the All-Star game the last three years.
"For me, it's a big honor to be there and carry on the tradition of Brodhead," DeLorme said.
DeLorme, who plans to walk-on to play football at Northern Iowa next season, looks forward to playing with some of the best players in the state.
"I'm taking it as another game," he said. "I'm a competitor and I want to go there to win the game. I want to go up there and prove that the South is better than the North. It's just the competitor coming out in me."
Jordan, who will play at UW-Whitewater, is also looking forward to the All-Star festivities.
"It's a huge honor obviously representing your school," Jordan said. "Playing with the best players in the state is a big honor.
Becker expects to have a lot of support even though the game is in the summer.
"It's one more chance to get all my friends up to watch me play," he said. "It will be fun to play with all the best football players in the state. It will help get me ready for college ball."
Players who play in the All-Star game are required to raise at least $500. Since Becker has a younger cousin who battled a heart valve problem, the children's hospital holds a special spot in his heart and he set a goal of raising $5,000.
"I set the goal kind of high because my younger cousin had to go to the children's hospital," Becker said. "If it wasn't for that children's hospital, he might not be here today. It hit close to home."
Becker was selected to play in the WFCA All-Star game as a defensive back as part of the South Division 1-3 team. Becker is one of three football players who will play in the All-Star game at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Titan Stadium. Brodhead-Juda senior Jesse DeLorme (linebacker) and senior Trent Jordan (defensive back) were also selected to play on the Division 4-7 South team that will be coached by Waterloo coach Doug Miller. Doug Miller is Monroe coach Curt Miller's father. Curt Miller will serve as an assistant coach to his father during the All-Star game.
Becker was named to the WFCA All-Region team as a defensive back and was a first team Badger South All-Conference at the same position. Becker, who will play football at UW-La Crosse next fall, was excited to be selected to play in one final prep game.
"It's a great honor," Becker said. "A Monroe player hasn't been there in a long time. It's great to represent Monroe and it's good charity."
Monroe finished (3-6, 3-3 Badger South) last season and Becker was a big part of a .500 conference record. Four of the Cheesemakers' six losses came to teams that played in the state quarterfinals including state champion Waunakee and state semifinalist Madison Edgewood.
Curt Miller said Becker has worked really hard in the offseason and in the weight room to improve as a player.
"It's nice to see a kid who put all the hard work in to get better get rewarded and play in this prestigious game," Miller said.
Curt Miller looks forward to coaching with his father, Doug who has compiled a 222-95 mark at Waterloo in 31 years.
"It's going to really be a special experience," Curt Miller said. "People always say the All-Star game is a reward. The real reward for me is coaching with my father. It's something we have never had the opportunity to do before."
DeLorme and Jordan were part of the winningest senior class in the history of the playoffs for Brodhead-Juda. DeLorme was selected as an all-region linebacker and was first team Rock Valley South All-Conference as a linebacker and running back. Jordan was named to the all-region team as a defensive back and was first team all-conference at the same position. Brodhead-Juda has had two players selected to play in the All-Star game the last three years.
"For me, it's a big honor to be there and carry on the tradition of Brodhead," DeLorme said.
DeLorme, who plans to walk-on to play football at Northern Iowa next season, looks forward to playing with some of the best players in the state.
"I'm taking it as another game," he said. "I'm a competitor and I want to go there to win the game. I want to go up there and prove that the South is better than the North. It's just the competitor coming out in me."
Jordan, who will play at UW-Whitewater, is also looking forward to the All-Star festivities.
"It's a huge honor obviously representing your school," Jordan said. "Playing with the best players in the state is a big honor.
Becker expects to have a lot of support even though the game is in the summer.
"It's one more chance to get all my friends up to watch me play," he said. "It will be fun to play with all the best football players in the state. It will help get me ready for college ball."
