MONROE - As a recent graduate, Monroe's Tyler Moser can identify with Gavin Breadon.
Moser was one of 11 Monroe High School graduates who received $250 each from the Gavin Breadon Memorial fund at Saturday's Breadon Memorial swim meet at Rec Park. The intersquad and alumni meet honored the college scholarship winners and Breadon's life at the Monroe Municipal pool.
This year's college scholarship winners include Moser, Dylon Wilde, Nick Walker, Bryan Tordoff, Michael Turek, Leanna Schwartzlow, Nichole Lattin, Sarah Tomasiewicz, Kylee Ritschard, Tyler Witt and Tom Jenson.
"It's a really big honor," said Moser who will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison and will try out for the UW-Marching Band in the fall. "He was a swimmer and wrestler, just like me. From what I know and what my mom has told me, he was a great man who meant a lot to the community."
Breadon was a Monroe Area Swim Team, or MAST, coach for five years. He served as a lifeguard while in high school at Monroe and in college. As an athletic director at the YMCA, he helped start the Monroe Mat Rats, a youth wrestling program. He wrestled at Central College in Pella, Iowa and played football for two years. He went back to medical school in Ireland, but died of a heart attack in 2002 at age 29.
After his death, a memorial was set up in his name, giving away $250 to high school students who achieve a 3.0 grade point average, show good character and leadership and is going on to a technical or four-year college.
"Gavin left a legacy on the swimming team," said Lattin, who will attend Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and will major in math said. "I hope that each one of them (scholarship recipients) that got it can be a little like Gavin and in some way take our own legacies out into the world."
Wilde, who will attend UW-Madison to pursue a degree in an engineering field, said the Breadon scholarship is a great honor from a family that has supported the community.
"They (the Breadons) are well respected in the community and do a lot for us," Wilde said.
Wilde is serving his first year as a lifeguard to earn money for college.
MAST opens the summer swimming season hosting Jefferson on Saturday. Kendell Niffenegger, who is attending Marquette, returned to Monroe and will serve as the head coach.
"A lot of the coaches I had I looked up to," she said. "I hope I can be that for some kids."
Niffenegger said she just wants every swimmer to have fun and get better. She has envisioned a coaching position before.
"I always wanted to try to coach," Niffenegger said. "All of my coaches (assistants) have a lot of knowledge of swimming."
Moser was one of 11 Monroe High School graduates who received $250 each from the Gavin Breadon Memorial fund at Saturday's Breadon Memorial swim meet at Rec Park. The intersquad and alumni meet honored the college scholarship winners and Breadon's life at the Monroe Municipal pool.
This year's college scholarship winners include Moser, Dylon Wilde, Nick Walker, Bryan Tordoff, Michael Turek, Leanna Schwartzlow, Nichole Lattin, Sarah Tomasiewicz, Kylee Ritschard, Tyler Witt and Tom Jenson.
"It's a really big honor," said Moser who will attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison and will try out for the UW-Marching Band in the fall. "He was a swimmer and wrestler, just like me. From what I know and what my mom has told me, he was a great man who meant a lot to the community."
Breadon was a Monroe Area Swim Team, or MAST, coach for five years. He served as a lifeguard while in high school at Monroe and in college. As an athletic director at the YMCA, he helped start the Monroe Mat Rats, a youth wrestling program. He wrestled at Central College in Pella, Iowa and played football for two years. He went back to medical school in Ireland, but died of a heart attack in 2002 at age 29.
After his death, a memorial was set up in his name, giving away $250 to high school students who achieve a 3.0 grade point average, show good character and leadership and is going on to a technical or four-year college.
"Gavin left a legacy on the swimming team," said Lattin, who will attend Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and will major in math said. "I hope that each one of them (scholarship recipients) that got it can be a little like Gavin and in some way take our own legacies out into the world."
Wilde, who will attend UW-Madison to pursue a degree in an engineering field, said the Breadon scholarship is a great honor from a family that has supported the community.
"They (the Breadons) are well respected in the community and do a lot for us," Wilde said.
Wilde is serving his first year as a lifeguard to earn money for college.
MAST opens the summer swimming season hosting Jefferson on Saturday. Kendell Niffenegger, who is attending Marquette, returned to Monroe and will serve as the head coach.
"A lot of the coaches I had I looked up to," she said. "I hope I can be that for some kids."
Niffenegger said she just wants every swimmer to have fun and get better. She has envisioned a coaching position before.
"I always wanted to try to coach," Niffenegger said. "All of my coaches (assistants) have a lot of knowledge of swimming."
