BELLEVILLE - Tragedy shook the Belleville-Albany football team before practice even kicked off.
Belleville senior offensive lineman Tyler Monicken died in his sleep Aug. 8, one day before the hand out of football equipment.
"I was just shocked," said Gayle Monicken, Tyler's grandfather.
Tyler's grandparents - Gayle and Sharon Monicken - adopted him. Gayle said Tyler had a physical in anticipation of football and he was cleared to practice.
"He was in good physical shape," Gayle said. "I know he put everything he had into football. He loved it."
Monicken worked hard in weight training in the offseason in anticipation of the football season. Gayle said he took pride in reaching a platinum level of training.
"I got permission from the AD and principal to give the Monickens his jersey," Belleville-Albany football coach Barry Lengfeld said.
The Belleville-Albany football team packed into a bus and made the trek to Bangor for Tyler's visitation.
The Monickens had Tyler's football jersey, weight lifting shirt, letter jacket and a football displayed at the Bells Coulee Lutheran Church. Gayle and Sharon were overwhelmed with the support of the football team.
"It was unreal," Gayle said. "They just marched right into the church single file and presented us with his No. 73 football jersey."
The Monickens live in Paoli, but have a Verona address and are incorporated into the Belleville School District.
Tyler enjoyed taking his Border Collie, Oreo, on walks on the family's 210 acre farm in Mindoro, which is just north of La Crosse, on weekends. He worked on teaching Oreo how to swim.
Tyler and his sister Brianna, a sophomore at Belleville High School, would gather morel mushrooms to sell and would split the money. He would work on the farm and help Gayle haul the hay. Tyler looked forward to taking the four-wheeler out and searching for berries.
He was an avid History Channel fan, was fascinated by World War II and enjoyed playing Star Wars games on Playstation 2.
"He was a history buff," Gayle said.
Tyler would always look forward to assisting Gayle water down the track, infield and campground at the Tomah Tractor pull and he was a fan of the Monster Truck Jam in Madison every year.
Coping with the loss has been a challenge.
"Day by day," Gayle said is how the family is dealing with the loss. "It's not easy."
The Wildcats are honoring Tyler at their first home game on Friday, Sept. 4 against Orfordville Parkview. The Wildcats will wear No. 73 stickers on their helmets all season and the home sidelines will be painted with Tyler's No. 73.
Lengfeld knows Monicken's tragic death could have an affect on his football team.
"It's something they will never forget," Lengfeld said. "I will use it as a life lesson. You never know when your number is up. Under the circumstances, I'm hoping it makes everyone a little tighter."
Belleville senior offensive lineman Tyler Monicken died in his sleep Aug. 8, one day before the hand out of football equipment.
"I was just shocked," said Gayle Monicken, Tyler's grandfather.
Tyler's grandparents - Gayle and Sharon Monicken - adopted him. Gayle said Tyler had a physical in anticipation of football and he was cleared to practice.
"He was in good physical shape," Gayle said. "I know he put everything he had into football. He loved it."
Monicken worked hard in weight training in the offseason in anticipation of the football season. Gayle said he took pride in reaching a platinum level of training.
"I got permission from the AD and principal to give the Monickens his jersey," Belleville-Albany football coach Barry Lengfeld said.
The Belleville-Albany football team packed into a bus and made the trek to Bangor for Tyler's visitation.
The Monickens had Tyler's football jersey, weight lifting shirt, letter jacket and a football displayed at the Bells Coulee Lutheran Church. Gayle and Sharon were overwhelmed with the support of the football team.
"It was unreal," Gayle said. "They just marched right into the church single file and presented us with his No. 73 football jersey."
The Monickens live in Paoli, but have a Verona address and are incorporated into the Belleville School District.
Tyler enjoyed taking his Border Collie, Oreo, on walks on the family's 210 acre farm in Mindoro, which is just north of La Crosse, on weekends. He worked on teaching Oreo how to swim.
Tyler and his sister Brianna, a sophomore at Belleville High School, would gather morel mushrooms to sell and would split the money. He would work on the farm and help Gayle haul the hay. Tyler looked forward to taking the four-wheeler out and searching for berries.
He was an avid History Channel fan, was fascinated by World War II and enjoyed playing Star Wars games on Playstation 2.
"He was a history buff," Gayle said.
Tyler would always look forward to assisting Gayle water down the track, infield and campground at the Tomah Tractor pull and he was a fan of the Monster Truck Jam in Madison every year.
Coping with the loss has been a challenge.
"Day by day," Gayle said is how the family is dealing with the loss. "It's not easy."
The Wildcats are honoring Tyler at their first home game on Friday, Sept. 4 against Orfordville Parkview. The Wildcats will wear No. 73 stickers on their helmets all season and the home sidelines will be painted with Tyler's No. 73.
Lengfeld knows Monicken's tragic death could have an affect on his football team.
"It's something they will never forget," Lengfeld said. "I will use it as a life lesson. You never know when your number is up. Under the circumstances, I'm hoping it makes everyone a little tighter."
