The 1000 Yard Guy

The last time I predicted such raving success for a high school athlete the young man’s name was Rustin Dring. Now the Kearney High grad is one of the best running backs in the country for Nebraska/Kearney. Yes, Sealey and Dring and entirely different athletes in stature, but not in heart. The St. Cecilia standout will be a dominant force for the Hastings College the next four seasons. He has paid his dues in the weight room, and on the practice surfaces. It is nearly impossible to inflict injury on this specimen of an athlete merely because of the time he has put in molding his body into a well oiled machine. Let me tell you something though. Beneath that game face and the power and strength that could crush anything less than 175 pounds, there is a young man that knows and respects the sports in which he competes and is the perfect example of a teammate and leader. To see this kid NOT get nominated for Athlete-of-the Year honors in a major metro newspaper was a complete shock…..and you know something? I’m betting that Dalton Sealy isn’t even bothered by that omission. He has more important things in life ahead of him. I can assure that you this will not be the last time you will see someone write positive things about Dalton Sealey. Athletes like him don’t come around that often.

And you know the beauty of all this writing and all these opinions about Dalton Sealey? It didn’t even take a conversation with him to form these thoughts. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. I now know what’s behind your game face,Dalton Sealey…and I like it.

Coach Bob Ley

Every morning I walk the exact same route and right at the center of that stroll is Central Catholic High School. Always a thrill to go through that property, walking right along the practice field, past the sloping walkway that leads to the locker room. Brings back sweet memories of a perfect time long ago, but today as I approached this daily haven of mine, the lump in my throat seemed impossible to swallow. A piece of that school, that sports tradition and my life was gone. My former football coach, teacher and life hero, Robert E “ Bob” Ley had passed just the day before on Wednesday, May, 26, 2010. Things seemed to be suspended in time as I walked past the football field. Time swept me back 47 years to the very moment I realized a hero in my life was born……

Coach Bob Ley was “in my life” for 5 of the best years I ever had. He was a coach and a life skills teacher during those magic seasons and every word he uttered I banked in my memory. Yes, even the colorful ones. I had eaten, lived, and slept football from the time I was able to hold a pigskin. My one vision in life was to be a great high school football player, and when a guy named Bob Ley came to town, my Dad just knew he was the ticket Grand Island Central Catholic need for success. The Hastings St. Cecilia grad had coached a State 6-Man Championship in Lawrence, Nebraska with one of the roughest, toughest, most fearsome teams in 6-Man history. Although he never claimed to be a genius, he was a master of schemes and could put together battle plans that simply were above the opposition. He WAS a football genius. I mapped out my plan to be one of the best Coach Ley had ever had on the field……it never materialized.

My career was marred with injuries. Shoulder separations, cracked collarbones, sprained ankles. On crutches on Thursday and on the field by game time on Saturday. My dream of being an All-State football player never panned out and for years and years, I lived with the fear I had disappointed whom I had idolized since the 8^th grade. The human being that who taught me so much about life and guided me through good times and bad…what did he think of my failure?

Robert E. Ley was respected by the multitudes he and his lovely wife Peg had touched during their years of teaching. How many “idolized” this man I cannot tell you, but I have a feeling there are countess others than just myself. This morning as I took the lonely, silent walk through GICC’s parking lot, I thought about the void “Coach” would leave in so many people’s lives. My sunglasses hid my tears, however it didn’t take long for me to realize that there will be no void, so to speak, in my own life. Why? Because the man I refer to simply as “Coach” left such positive, powerful imprints that will be engraved in the depths of my mind forever. That’s how strong this man was…no words worthy to describe it. One of a kind.

In 1999, years after he had retired from coaching football at Central Catholic, he came out of retirement to coach GICC’s Girl’s Golf team to back to back State Championships. FORTY EIGHT years after coaching Lawrence to that 6-Man football crown, “Coach” guided a group of female athletes to the promised land. Remember, back in his day (and mine) there was no girl’s athletics except for a smattering of small school volleyball. 48 years between State Championships, two genders/two different sports is unheard of….except if you’re Bob Ley. That’s the kind of man he was. This is the magic he could bestow on any athlete, in any sport, in any year. The man was in his 70’s at the time.

Not many folks knew about that gap between titles, but it was that fact that led me to seek him out after years of fear that I had let him down during my injury-riddled high school stint in football. It just tore me apart to think of facing this hero of mine after the bomb I laid in my high school days. It was only after the constant urging from my wife, I went to see the hero I had missed for so many seasons. An entire adult life of being ashamed about my high school days came to an end when I talked in great length to “Coach” and was touched by his magic one more time. I’ll never reveal what he told me then, and later in a letter, but I can assure you, I will live in peace forever knowing I had those conversations with him. That’s just the kind of human being he was.

I’m not sure they make ‘em like Coach Bob Ley anymore, but considering how many people he touched throughout his life, and how many people those lives will touch, the world will be a better place. So, Saturday when Coach Bob Ley is laid to rest all the Grennens, Nabitys, Tesmers, Sorahans, Jankys, McNelius, Wagners, and of course, Bill Dunn will be there to pay their respects. There isn’t a church big enough to accommodate all the beings whose lives were richer because of “Coach”. Yes, there will be widespread weeping and much sorrow, but if those whom he touched will take the time in a few days to reflect, they will realize that there will not be the “void” as we know it left by the passing of Coach Robert E. “Bob Ley. Yes, he is physically absent, but he things he taught us will be deeply entrenched in our lives forever, so the thought of this fine human being will live with us for all time. We love you, Coach.

This is a story of how a high school, it’s basketball program, and it’s ideals were formed……..from Day One.
Phillippians 4:13

It was around 18 years ago that small group of people gathered to discuss the feasibility of secondary Lutheran education in Central Nebraska. Pretty heavy duty conversation going there, I‘m guessing. We’re not talking about starting up a grade school or middle school here, this is big time stuff. Granted, there was already a very successful Lutheran K through 8 institution in existence in Grand Island, Trinity Lutheran, but this was a rap session concerning a new high school ladies and gentleman. It takes major financial backing and a strong commitment from some key individuals to make a go of this brainchild. This was not going to be an Omaha Skutt Catholic or Omaha Concordia deal where somebody basically turns over a blank check and gives you a green light to spend whatever you need to get it going. Far more complicated that that. Give this bunch credit though, instead of letting this meeting turn into a one-time deal, this very same group of dedicated, strong willed achievers put in long hours, days and months of hard work (along with just a “little” prayer), and made this idea a reality.

Heartland Lutheran HIGH SCHOOL opened it’s modest doors at the beginning of the 2000/2001 school year. That year the first classes were held at Peace Lutheran Church. That very first class consisted of five boys and two teachers, Curt Fischer, and Mrs. Jackie Zehendner…….not exactly a place most folks would consider a high school. I remember reading about this venture and thinking “good luck”. If it did have the good fortune of staying open for a while, it certainly wouldn’t blossom into a school large enough to field any kind of an athletic team, I thought. Yes, I was aware some nice Lutheran institutions had sprung up around the state, but these folks were dreamers by any stretch of the imagination, I kept thinking. Yet these two teachers and 5 young lads had the faith and were be bold enough to envision dreams of greatness long enough to even choose a nickname and colors for this fledgling high school. It was decided Heartland Lutheran High School….all seven of them…from that point on were to be the Red Hornets and proudly bear the colors of red, navy blue and white even though they only participed in ONE team sport, Boys Golf. There were 6 boys at the semester and all but ONE was on the Golf squad. They actually had to shut school down when they had a golf meet because all but one student went to those meets. Those athletic pioneers at HLHS were: Luke Brehmer, Aaron Leiss, Paul Fischer, Zach Meyer, and Brad Uden. So, a new high school was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, 8 strong……and little did I know at the time, was here to stay.

HLHS’s 1st Building
The first building at the present site of Heartland Lutheran HS was completed in March of 2001. When this building was ready the students and staff immediately made the move. The new facility consisted of 4 classrooms, 2 offices, a media center, 2 rest rooms and a faculty lounge. The Media center doubled as a meeting place for chapel and assemblies. Modest beginnings, but as the old saying goes “you have start somewhere”. In 2001/2002, the second year, Tom Schwehn joined the staff and by that time the school actually had enough boys to start a basketball program, but nowhere to play home games. So the Red Hornets, brand spanking new on the Nebraska High school sports scene, played a JV schedule of 13 games, all on the road and all resulting in losses. The next season, the third in HLHS history, a board member approached a personable young man by the name of Lloyd Wagnitz about taking the reins as head hoops coach at the young school. Wagnitz was coaching junior high basketball at Trinity Lutheran in GI and didn’t wait two seconds to accept the offer and fulfill a longtime dream. Only one problem here. Wagnitz was not only coaching boys hoops at Trinity, but had promised a group of girls he would coach them through the 8th grade. So now Lloyd Wagnitz had to don the blue cape, play Superman and coach boys AND girls basketball at Trinity Lutheran, plus take the head gig at Heartland Lutheran……and they said it couldn’t be done.
Wagnitz was not the “new kid on the block” as an outsider may have perceived. His Junior high teams generally had winning records and one his last girls teams averaged SIXTY points a game and sported a 12-1 record. I remember personally thinking that the chore that lay ahead for this new guy on the high school coaching block would be on the tall order, but you just have to know Lloyd Wagnitz to realize that this man knows the game of basketball and how to handle kids. Nobody said the road was going to be a smooth one at Heartland Lutheran. Not even Bobby Knight could have pulled a rabbit out of a hat and created a winner out of a brand, spanking new school, but it didn’t take all that long before the puzzle pieces began to move together.

As far into the future as Lloyd Wagnitz and his Red Hornet boys basketball could see, there was no immediate hope of a home game. You see, there was not a “Warren Buffett” type of gentleman strolling around Grand Island that would have been willing to shell out the bucks to build a gymnasium for these kids to play, or even practice in for that matter. It was load the bus and head out. The team split sites to hold their practices, and although they were grateful, the places did not exactly resemble the Devaney Sports Center. They practiced at Shoemaker grade school and Third City Christian Church, who had a gym. HLHS played a predominately JV schedule that season, and compiled 3 wins and 15 losses.
The 2003/2004 season was a rough one for Wagnitz and his crew. They failed to hit the winners’ circle in 14 tries, 6 of which were varsity games. They actually played in their first sub-district game in history and were humbled by Giltner 85-39. Lloyd Wagnitz never knew it, but I was there that evening and witnessed some laughs and giggles as the Red Hornets walked off the court that night. As I drove back to GI, I felt pain in my own heart and could almost comprehend how that team must have felt when they saw these people reacting that way………but, having been around and witnessed countless games, I knew it was part of the growing pains. Right or wrong, it IS a piece of history every new school experiences…..gotta live with it.
Phillippians 4:13

Brett Thomas and Luke Watt-Only Two That Were Part of 1st 4 Years of HLHS Boys BB

Well now you wouldn’t think a 4 and 16 record would be anything to jump up and down about, but the 2004/2005 all-Varsity schedule season marked some true milestones for Heartland Lutheran High School Basketball. As fate would have it, the team won it’s first Varsity game in the school’s short history on December 9th by defeating the same Giltner team that dealt them the resounding sub-district loss the year before. The Red Hornets had the last laugh, not literally, by pasting the Hornets 47-28 at Giltner. The red, white and blue guys also notched their initial Holiday tournament win at McCool Junction by handing Elba a 48-41 loss for 3rd Place and the school first ever athletic trophy. HLHS also recorded (pardon the pun) a first when a January 11th game at Hampton was broadcast on a local radio station. The sweetest game of the season was no doubt in the post season when the Heartland Lutheran recorded their first District win ever and….you guessed it, over Giltner, 46-33. For a school playing in only their SECOND post season game ever, it was pretty impressive.
Another highlight of that season had to be a Freshman class that made the future look a bit brighter, especially because of a young lad named Matthew Wagnitz that just knew how to play the game of basketball a bit. The 9th grade Wagnitz played well enough that season to be a starter and be named 3rd Team All Goldenrod Conference, the only Freshman to do so. I have a feeling this youngster had an excellent tutor which enabled him score 268 points (13.8/game) and pull down 108 boards.

Holy Home Game, 2005/2006 marked the first time Heartland Lutheran could put an “H” on their basketball schedule. Check this out though. Zion Lutheran Church/ School in Worms, Nebraska……yes, Worms, had a gymnasium and agreed to let Lloyd Wagnitz and his troops practice AND play their “Home” games at the facility.
Now, Worms is about 23 miles northeast of GI and consists of Zion Lutheran Church, school and…….a tavern, on the opposite side of the road, of course. So now, every day, HLHS would make the trek 23 miles northeast to practice, but at least they had a place they could call “home”. They won their first ever “home” contest, against Glitter 57-41. I wonder if they (HLHS) ever forgot that first ever sub-district lopsided loss to Giltner? Sometimes payback isn’t a lot of fun. The Red Hornets recorded their first ever winning season by finishing 11-10. They also played their first full season junior varsity schedule while actually HAVING a varsity. Matthew Wagnitz finished his Sophomore season by scoring 359 points (17/game) and raising his Goldenrod stock to First team All-Conference. His 17/game was good enough to place him 5th in the GI Independent area individualscoring race. By now you have probably realized Matthew is the son of head man, Lloyd Wagnitz. This kid was as tough a competitor as they get. In the sub-district loss to end the season, the younger Wagnitz took an ferocious elbow to the chops early in the game and after a brief trip to the locker room, competed the rest of the way with his lip caught in his braces and never winced…..tough kid.

Heartland Lutheran’s then “Brand New” Facility

Looking back in the rear view mirror for a moment, we can relay the fact that Heartland Lutheran had finally decided to make the move and build a new gymnasium. It took exactly one year and one week to get this historic project completed. Philippians 4:13.(no verse yet)….On September 21st, 2006, this dream was a reality.
The Red Hornets could now have an actual facility they could call their own. Lloyd Wagnitz had a record 19 players out for hoops, all exited about the new “Home”, no doubt. The new building staged it’s first game in history on that memorable night, November 30, 2006. The Knights of Spalding/Spalding Academy spoiled the party, 66-53, but spirits could not be dampened. HLHS finished 2006/2007 at 6-13, but Matthew Wagnitz earned his third letter and made the Goldenrod All-Conference 1st team for the second consecutive season. That mythical team looked like a “Who’s Who” of Class D basketball. Check out this crew:
Jeremy Cruise-St. Edward-Sr.
Neil Kilchriste-Palmer-Jr.
Matt Wagnitz-Heartland Lutheran-Jr.
Shavontae Samuels-St. Edward-Soph.
Derek Snyder-Burwell-Soph.
Wagnitz also became the first HLHS hoops player to be named Honorable Mention All-State.

Matthew Wagnitz-1000 Point Scorer and Holder of NINE HLHS Season and Career records

‘07/’08 looked promising with the return of Seniors Matthew Wagnitz, Jessie Bartels and Junior, Jacob Salter. These three warriors were a part of HLHS’s first 4-year class of Seniors. Wagnitz closed out a sparkling career by leading the team to an 10-10 record. The Red Hornet sharp shooter recorded his 1000th career point early in the season on December 17th and closed out his 4 year stint with NINE season and career records for Heartland Lutheran and a career scoring total of 1,205 points. Wagnitz became only the 13th schoolboy in Grand Island basketball history to score a thousand points. You think he didn’t place himself in good company? Check out this group of 1000 point scorers:
Senior High: Kurt Sandstrom (’85/’88), Mike Hinman (’83/’85), Cody Levinson (’96/’98). GINW: Chad Sheffield (’98/2000) GICC: Jeremy Wissing (’97/2000), Todd Peterson (’01/04), C.J. Cowgill (’93/’96), Jake Johnson (’04/’07), Jeff riley (’94/’97), Scott Wissing (’01/’04), Eric Strand (’92/’95), and Kenny Howard (’02/’05).
Jacob Salter was named 3rd team all-conference and Jesse Bartels, honorable mention.
Things were starting to progress at Heartland Lutheran High school in the basketball world, but Lloyd Wagnitz and his team would have to brace themselves for the loss of some key people going into 2008/2009.….or would they?

It appeared to me last year that this small school West of town was starting to get the hang of playing the game of basketball. Despite the loss of their leading scorer in school history, the Red Hornets fashioned a 13-8 record and in a run at the end of the season put together a 5 game win streak. A great nucleus for 2009/2010 was formed and players like Cole Kowalski, Jacob Salter, Dylan Dreher, Logan Splattstoesser, Josh Messersmith, and Sam Simonson gained valuable experience and it was about to pay off…..Big Time.

A fork in the road and an imposing obstacle planted itself right smack dab in the front of Heartland Lutheran High school on their way to Basketball prominence in 2010.
The powers-to-be of HLHS were called together and informed they needed to make a bond payment. There was a crisis that had to be faced head on and conquered and in a hurry…of sorts. Coach Lloyd informed a group of people that he had come up with a plan to face this situation and get past it. The ever resourceful head basketball man formulated an idea that had to seem impossible to some at the time, but this is what transpired out of that brainstorm.
Phillippians 4:13
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“On July 4, 2008 at 2 p.m. twenty-four past, present, and future students of Heartland Lutheran High School in Grand Island, Nebraska began their attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest basketball game which was currently 72 hours. The students started play at 2 p.m. on the 4th of July 2008 and continued to play basketball in their high school gym until
7:07 p.m. on 7/7/08. Total playing time was: 77 hours 7 minutes 7 seconds!

The twenty-four students played the game to raise money for bond payments to pay for their school building that houses the gym and classrooms. We have just completed our second year in our new building. Two of the students that are participating in this event graduated before the building existed and never got to play a home basketball game. All of our participants are committed to raise money to help keep their school in operation so that they and many more in the future will continue to get their education at Heartland Lutheran High School. The game was open to the public.”

……and the result!
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THE EVENT

This page was used to give you updates on our planning and progress during the basketball game. Our goal is $27,000. We started the fund raising portion of this event on May 16, 2008.

Game was open to the public!
We have passed our goal and MORE. We have a “dream” goal of $1000 per hour totaling $77,000. WE HAVE PASSED IT as of December 18, 2008!!!!!! ….. And NOW on December 28 we have reached $77,777.77!!! (7 sevens!)
Rules of the game:
1. 5 minute rest after 60 minutes of continuous play (may be carried over)
2. Players cannot leave the building after play has started.
3. Players are allowed six fouls per two hour period
4. Players cannot change teams
5. Must have 5 players per team playing at all times
Gunniess Requirements:
1. Someone from the medical profession must be present at all times watching the game.
2. Gym has to be open to public at all times
3. Two independent witnesses must be present at all times.

May 31, 2008 — The teams have been decided. It will be The PAST vs The PRESENT!
The red team will be the past students of HLHS and the two HLHS wrestlers vs the white team which will be the some of the current members of the HLHS basketball team.
RED Team: Brett T., Tyler N., Kevin L., Jesse B., Allen B., AJ M., Ricky R., Jeff S., Matthew W., Derek S., Brad E., Jacob Sch.
WHITE Team: Matt K., Jacob K., Nick L., Ben R., Cole K., Josh M., Jacob S., Dylan P., Michael H., Sam S., Logan S., Garrett S.
TEAM Donation Score

Red Team $21,586.26
White Team $27,787.92
Coach $28,403.59
Donations have been received from: Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas

TEAM Basketball Score
Red Team 7641
White Team 7212 FINAL SCORE 7/7/2008
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Going into the full details are a pleasure I’m going to leave to Coach Lloyd Wagnitz, who plans to write a detailed account of the magic event. I await the day this is published.

This is the portion of the story for which I intended this entire article. In only SIX short seasons of Varsity basketball Grand Island Heartland Lutheran High School is a State rated team. Unreal success for a school this young that has paid their hoops dues in a heck of a hurry. The Red Hornets first hit the Class D-2 ratings at 9th in the Omaha World-Herald January 4th of this season. They have hit number 8 before suffering loss to Class C-2 eighth rated Burwell in the Goldenrod Tournament Final. They remain at the number 9 slot this week, and are currently rated 8th in the Lincoln Journal-Star. Although they have “much work to do” according to Wagnitz, this group of Red Hornet BB players have accomplished something no team that ever came before them has ever achieved……..the idea they can compete with anybody on their schedule on any given night. It is an intangible that only be attained through experience, trust, excellent coaching, and a simple solution to go with all of this…WINNING.
This team has learned to play an aggressive man-to-man defense this season and I personally have seen the results. To date, they have compiled a 13-3 record, best in school history and have recently developed an inside game with 6-7 Cole Kowalski that has to give the Red Hornets another huge weapon heading toward the critical stretch run.
HLHS has Elba, Palmer, Burwell, and Nebraska Lutheran (Waco) remaining on their schedule. The rematch with Burwell on Friday, February 12th will be at the “Hornet’s Nest” and Wagnitz crew will be ready. Sub-Districts will commence on February 22 at Boone Central and the Red Hornets and tough Cedar Rapids are together there. On the other side Lindsay Holy Family lurks, but the I really like the chances for this team to get to State. The well balanced starting five of Seniors, Cole Kowalski, Jacob Salter, and Dylan Dreher and experienced Sophomores, Logan Splattstoesser and Sam Simonson are getting better as each game hit’s the books. Throw in hustling Senior, Josh Messersmith and you have a nice unit. To Coach Lloyd Wagnitz, it must seem like a lifetime of work, but in 8 short season of coaching, this man has molded a pretty salty high school basketball together and looks to reap some great benefits when March rolls around.

HLHS Head Coach Lloyd Wagnitz-The Man That Makes It Go
Lloyd Wagnitz is a proud man. He is currently the Development Director at Heartland Lutheran. It is apparent he also coaches a “little” boys basketball with his current team rated 9th in the State and sitting at 13-3. The gig as Development Director seems like a tough assignment, but the unflappable Wagnitz thinks otherwise. In this writer’s eyes, it seems like an extremely tough time to be responsible for raising money to keep a relatively new private school afloat. It doesn’t seem to bother Wagnitz, so let’s proceeed to a conversation I had with him recently about the world of HLHS Basketball.
You know, this guy named Wagnitz had never coached girls or boys basketball past the 8th grade and never been tutored by a high school coach before accepting the job at Heartland Lutheran. Somehow, through the early years, despite the lack of numbers (an understatement!) he managed to get these boys to buy into his program there.
There were times early on where I’m sure he questioned whether he was the man for the job…..Phillippians 4:13.………but he persevered, let the players know there were life lessons to be learned from these blowout, heartbreaking losses, and made it through it all.
After a conversation with Coach Wagnitz, there is no question that this guy is a competitor himself. He firmly believes that only hard work and determination will reap success and relayed to me that this year’s team has finally realized that value and also that basketball is a TEAM sport and not an individual showplace. Wagnitz also noted that many of his past squads grasped the team concept, but were not as deep in ability as his current group. The head man also installed a new system this summer and that included the man-to-man defense and a quick transition game that has been effective and the team has “bought into” this system. But it still takes talent, and this team has it, trust me.

I have seen this team play more than once this season. Believe me, they can play with anybody in D-2. They know it, I know it. The carrot dangled in front of them leads to Lincoln in March. The icing on the HLHS basketball cake would be a first ever trip to the 2010 State Boys Basketball Tournament. If this would come to pass, as it very well could, don’t think for a minute Lloyd Wagnitz and his Red Hornets would be satisfied with just being there, no sir.

Phillippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength”

…………Amen, Coach Wagnitz!