‘Most improved team, from Day 1’

“This is truly a special event. Each one is a constant reminder of how big a deal this is — and credit goes to everyone in this room,” said Coach Chad Johnston (right).
“This has been the most improved team, from Day 1,” said  Activities Director and Offensive Coordinator Matt Myrvik.
This state championship, while the talent was there, was not a given when the season started.
At the Welcome Home Saturday night, a jam-packed, standing only crowd heard Coach Johnston say, “When we went into the year, we had a lot of pieces in place — but our biggest unknown was the offensive line. We lost four linemen to graduation and they are such a big part of the game.”
He added, “But this group stepped up every week and they got better and better.”
The coach said, “They became an even better team than I thought they would be.”
He said two words stood out about this team. They are: “Execution — and physicality.”
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is coach,” said Myrvik. He’s gotten his wish — and has been part of Minneota’s huge winning tradition.
“This group has put in the time and effort and have done the little things. We as coaches didn’t agree all the time, but we made it work,” Myrvik said.
“It’s truly an honor to be proud of this,” he added.
He told the crowd the first game these seniors every played as elementary kids — was against Wabasso. “And the last game they played was against Wabasso,” he chuckled.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. They put in so much time and worked so hard. They deserve everything they’ve achieved,” he said.
Captains Thomas Hennen, Alex Pohlen and Isaac Hennen all talked about the tremendous fan support they received — and Pohlen thanked the coaching staff, “And my teammates.”
“You all make a huge difference,” Thomas Hennen told the crowd.
“Our fans were great today. Thanks to our teammates. You gave us seniors a heck of a ride,” Isaac Hennen said.
Myrvik called this 2017 state championship team, “The most unselfish team I’ve ever had. They didn’t care who got the ball.”
Coach Chad Johnston wanted everyone to understand how special this state championship was. “This (title) is a constant reminder of how special it really is,” he said.
He thanked the coaches and their wives for all their support.
Then he said, “It’s a credit to them (the team), they became an even better team that I thought would be.”
Myrvik closed by saying he got a “Tweet” after the game that  told him a lot about the Minneota tradition.
It said, “Isaac Hennen is a better football player than me.”
It was written by Garrett Hennen.
The former all-state player who got hurt in the championship game against Minneapolis North three years ago said, “Yes, I tweeted that.”
How much better to end, than for one great Minneota athlete honoring his brother.
AMEN!