Let me explain. Dave Hanson is a wonderful husband and father, a lifelong member of Norway Lutheran, Wind Lake, Wisconsin, and a lifelong resident of our Hanson Homestead farm, where he built a home for his family probably 19 years ago or so. He is an enterprising businessman, a creative artist, and the kind of guy who will dive right in to whatever needs to be done and get it done. He is also a fine athlete, having quarterbacked his high school football team, and having coached football and basketball throughout his two sons' youth. Now his youngest, Erik, is a high school senior starting defensive end and tight end for the Waterford Wolverines. Just when football workouts began this summer, Dave's advanced prostate cancer began progressing and he started another round of chemo.
The other piece of this story is that this spring a new football coach came to town. In his first meeting with players and parents, Adam Bakken made it clear that a repeat of last year's sorry season, when the team went 3-6 and lost its last 5 games in Southern Lakes Conference play, was not an option. He knew the team had lots of talent to build upon. He said he expects his team to work hard all summer in the weight room, go to as many football camps as possible, and expect to be challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally to the limit. Coach Bakken asked Dave to be an assistant coach and Dave readily agreed, saying of Bakken, "This guy is 'all in.' It's going to be a great season."
And it has been great. Their first game they blew out Brown Deer. Their second game, which I witnessed, they knocked out perennial powerhouse Mequon Homestead 17-15, winning on a field goal late in the 4th quarter. And it's gone on from there, they just kept getting better and better, more mentally tough, physically stronger, more cohesive as a team. Coach Bakken and his staff scouted the opposition's films until their eyes were bleary, but the game plans developed got the job done and instilled even more confidence in the team, knowing they had the tools they needed to be successful. In the end, they accomplished more than any other Waterford football team, finishing as co-champs of the Southern Lakes conference and winning 4 playoff games, elevating their record to 12-1, taking them to the Division II state championship game for the first time in the program's history.
Erik gets another tackle.
Dave has relished every moment of this football season, being at practice, scouting the opposition, working the sidelines during the game, sharing every moment up close and personal with Erik and his talented team. Dave's wife, Deanna, has been involved every step of the way, too, not only supporting Dave in the ups and downs of his healing journey, but supporting Erik and his teammates by feeding them pasta dinners every Thursday evening and hosting overnights for some of Erik's teammates after the games where they could re-live the game and recover in the hot tub!
Dave received more rounds of chemo earlier this Fall, and when it was found the cancer was still progressing, he enrolled in a clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic, testing a promising immunotherapy drug, hoping that it will boost his own immune system to knock down the cancer. Dave hasn't felt great many days, but he still has gone to work, he still has gone to almost every practice and all the games. He could forget about the illness, the knot in the pit of his stomach, the dread of this disease, and just enjoy the moment and enjoy sharing the experience with his son and his family and friends, all of whom have gone to every game we possibly could.
On Friday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m., Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, the Waterford Wolverines played for the Division II Championship against the Waunakee Warriors. Unfortunately, we were shut out and Waunakee 3-peated as Division II state champions. But Waterford brought home the silver ball. It was the farthest any football team in Waterford's history has gotten! We are all bursting with pride for the job these guys have done. No one was prouder than Dave.
Dave with trophy, Erik is on the far right.
The local Fox News affiliate in Milwaukee did a story on Dave and Erik's season and filmed them in action during the championship game on Friday. The piece aired on Friday night's 9:00 news. In the story, Erik said that he has loved having his dad help coach the team. He honors his dad every game by wearing his blue gloves (blue is the color for men's health). Dave said that it has been fantastic to be a part of this team and that he hopes to continue to coach next year. His attitude continues to inspire me: "A lot of people are living full lives with cancer, and that's what I'm planning to do, too."
To cap off the healing football weekend, Dave and Deanna were guests of a friend who took them to their suite at Lambeau Field on Sunday to see the Packers beat the Bucs. In a lottery, Dave and Deanna also won the opportunity to be on the field during the pre-game warmups. Dave was in football heaven! Today he receives infusion #2 at the Mayo. Love and prayers, Dave, and congrats to all the boys of November!
Dave, Erik, and Deanna Hanson
0 comments:
Post a Comment