Teutopolis welcomes home Wooden Shoes after historic season | Local News

TEUTOPOLIS — To cap off an spectacular postseason run, Teutopolis people lined the streets in the heart of the village to officially welcome home the Teutopolis boys basketball team following their current third location gain in the Illinois Higher University Association (IHSA) point out event.

Subsequent a parade down Principal Road in Teutopolis, gamers, cheerleaders, enthusiasts and other nearby inhabitants loaded J.H. Griffin Health and fitness center at Teutopolis Large Faculty to rejoice the historic time.

To kick off the ceremony, Village President David Repking study a proclamation declaring Sunday, March 12, “Wooden Shoes Basketball Working day.”

Among the many others who spoke through the ceremony Sunday was Teutopolis Device 50 Superintendent Matthew Sturgeon, who was welcomed to the phase by Teutopolis Superior Faculty Principal Tanner Lawson.

Sturgeon congratulated the team on placing third in the 2023 IHSA state tournament and outlined what it indicates to be a Picket Shoe.

“Wooden Footwear are loved ones, they are custom, they are local community, and they are development,” Sturgeon mentioned.

Jason Roepke, the father of Teutopolis senior Logan Roepke, spoke on behalf of senior players’ mom and dad all through the ceremony. Roepke regarded community followers for packing the stands at the Point out Farm Centre for the match.

“That place is a huge location, and men, we did a wonderful position to fill it up,” Roepke explained.

Furthermore, Roepke took a minute to specific his and other parents’ appreciation for the significant school’s cheerleaders, who were with the staff every action of the way during their extensive journey to the point out championship.

“Girls, we played 37 game titles this yr, and there’s no question in my brain that you ended with 37 wins and zero losses,” Roepke mentioned.

Roepke also thanked coaches and reminded the crowd of the team’s motto: “Earned not provided.”

“You guys lived up to this motto so properly, and you gained each bit of it boys,” he mentioned. “Today is most unquestionably a good working day to be a Shoe.”

Also throughout the ceremony, an emotional Chet Reeder, the head mentor of the Teutopolis Large Faculty basketball workforce spoke to the crowd.

“The outpouring of support indicates so significantly,” Reeder mentioned. “I’ve bought the very best task in the environment,”

Reeder emphasized the impression the staff and its gamers have on the local community, specifically its youngsters.

“I know that when they are out on the playground they are not pretending to be Michael Jordan, Steph Curry or LeBron James. They are pretending to be one particular of these men, and that is what’s so particular about this group,” Reeder said.

Reeder fought back tears as he recognized his household and the team’s 5 senior players.

“Thank you for producing me a improved mentor,” Reeder reported. “It has been an honor to coach you 5.”

Reeder is the mentor of a single of only 4 Teutopolis basketball groups to ever make it to the point out event.

“It’s truly neat to even be pointed out in that same breath,” Reeder stated.

When questioned what he thinks he will don’t forget the most about this staff, it is how tricky they’ve labored to get as far as they did this season.

“They turned in championship practices every single day, and that is what I’ll keep in mind the most about this team,” Reeder said.

Right after the ceremony, Reeder reflected on the team’s planning before defeating Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) to acquire third spot in the point out tournament.

The crew experienced just professional a heartbreaking loss versus Chicago (DePaul College or university Prep) in the point out semifinal, but they remained decided.

“We just claimed, ’You’ve bought one particular match still left. There is no tomorrow. Lay it all on the line,’” Reeder claimed. “And which is what they did.”

Also in reference to the team’s potential to bounce again to earn 3rd location in the condition event Thursday, Teutopolis senior Caleb Siemer mentioned the crew was identified to conclusion the period on a sturdy take note with their victory around Taylor Ridge (Rockridge).

“We did not want to go dwelling with our remaining game staying a reduction,” Siemer explained.

Siemer also expressed his appreciation for the overpowering help the neighborhood has demonstrated during the year, especially at the Point out Farm Heart when they took the courtroom throughout the condition event this 12 months.

“I observed a bunch of blue and gold,” Siemer said of the group. “They’ve generally been supporting me, cheering me on, particularly the youngsters.”

James Niebrugge was also among the the 5 Teutopolis seniors who dealt with the group during the ceremony Sunday.

“This is a excellent team to be with and I couldn’t talk to for far better teammates,” Niebrugge stated Sunday.

Following the ceremony, Niebrugge reflected fondly on getting to play two game titles at the State Farm Middle Thursday.

“It’s usually variety of been a aspiration for me,” he mentioned.

Like Niebrugge, Teutopolis senior Logan Roepke mirrored positively on the possibility to engage in on this kind of large-degree court with the exact same teammates he’s been taking part in with for just about his entire life.

“U of I was a surreal second,” Roepke mentioned. “You get the experience that you have designed it.”

Fellow senior Caleb Bloemer is happy to be a part of the workforce that last but not least brought Teutopolis Superior College back again to the point out tournament for the initial time due to the fact 2007.

“It felt fantastic to ultimately split the curse,” he stated.

Yet another senior, Brendan Niebrugge, briefly mirrored on the historic season right after the ceremony Sunday.

“It indicates a whole lot to put our names in the history reserve,” he said.