All-Star friends get collegiate preview
By Justin A. Cohn
The Journal Gazette
Friendships can start in the strangest of ways. Jon Rocholl and Michael Brune can attest to that.
Their relationship began with Rocholl rocketing his leg toward Brune’s head Oct. 1, 2004. At the time, they were enemies, football gladiators warring at Spuller Stadium in a pivotal in-conference game.
Snider was pinned near its own goal line and Rocholl, the punter, faced the monumental task of booting the ball into safe territory as the Concordia defensive line barreled in on him. One member of that line, Brune, dove toward the ball as it touched Rocholl’s foot.
Brune was too late; the kick sailed a whopping 78 yards downfield.
It was a minute portion of a 56-7 blowout for Snider, but in it laid the foundation for a friendship.
Rocholl and Brune didn’t speak for several weeks after that; it was at the all-SAC banquet that they had their first conversation. Both were being recruited to play college ball for Columbia and since they were both from Fort Wayne, why not make the trip to New York together?
“It’s really worked out great,” Brune said. “We met each other knowing we each were thinking of going to Columbia.”
Of course, it didn’t take long for Rocholl’s punt to come up in conversation.
“I felt like I was close to blocking it,” Brune said. “But you never know. It would have been great to block him.”
Rocholl isn’t so sure it was that close, and he’s quick to bring up the length of the punt and the outcome of the game.
But that was the last time Rocholl and Brune found themselves on opposite sidelines. Today, for the first time, they will be teammates, for the North Team in the Methodist Sports Medicine Center All-Star Classic.
Rocholl will be a kicker in the game. Brune will play offensive line. And they will be joined by 10 other players from northeast Indiana, plus assistant coaches, Joe Rietveld of Wawasee and Bob Yager of Heritage.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things from people who have played in (this game in) the past,” Rocholl said. “I’m looking forward to hanging out with guys and meeting good people.”
The game will be at North Central High School in Indianapolis, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
For most of the players, this will be their first game since the fall and their last before departing for college, so it’s a good opportunity to get into game shape and shake off the rust.
“I’m definitely going to use it as a tune-up, as an early start to college football,” Brune said. “It kind of gets long doing work outs, it’ll be fun to get in and play some before I go off to college.”
Speaking of college, both Rocholl and Brune settled on Columbia and they’ll be roommates there this year.
“It’ll be great to have someone from the same city there; it’ll make it feel more like home,” said Brune, who also considered attending Hillsdale and Indianapolis. “Most people haven’t even heard about (us rooming together). It’s kind of neat that two guys from the same city will be at Columbia.”
Rocholl, who had Ball State among his considerations, agreed.
“I’m really glad that there’s someone else coming (to Columbia) from my area, so we can talk about Fort Wayne,” he said. “We’ve shared some similar experiences and backgrounds growing up.”
Apparently, they also share some smarts, getting invited to an Ivy League school. Rocholl, also a soccer player in high school, scored a 1,440 on his SAT. Brune had a 1,450.
Their intelligences and work ethics have paid off on the football field, too.
“(For Rocholl), it starts from the basis of athleticism and then the art and skill of kicking and punting,” Snider coach Russ Isaacs said. “It’s solely dependent on his willingness to put in the time. It’s a lonely proposition. … He’s put the time in to make himself a Division I punter and kicker.”
Rocholl is 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Brune, who is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, expects to play defensive line at Columbia.
“(Brune) is everything you want in a player,” Concordia coach Dean Doerffler said. “He’s a student of the game and a coach on the field.”
Rocholl and Brune, both 18, are hoping that when they leave Columbia they will have helped transform the identity of the football program – Columbia was 1-9 last year, including 1-6 in the Ivy League – and they want to earn prestigious degrees.
“I’m really looking forward to going there, helping turn around the program,” Brune said. “It’s a program on the rise. Really, Ivy League football is improving. It’s some great football and the biggest thing is going out there and getting an education.”
Rocholl agreed.
“(In picking that school), I just decided that 10 years down the road, being at Columbia and having a degree from there would be worth it,” he said.
But first, they will suit up for the North Team today.
“I think winning’s probably not the most important thing,” Rocholl said. “It’s just about having fun and getting to know everybody in the week-long (practices leading up to the game).”
Said Brune: “It is a big deal (to win). You take a little pride in (representing) your side of the state. But definitely, I’m going down to have fun. And we want to win, just for pride.”
All-Star Classic
Methodist Sports Medicine Center All-Star Classic
When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
Where: North Central High School, Indianapolis
Local participants: Brody Dixon, East Noble, OL; Michael Brune, Concordia, OL; Ryan Kauchak, Wawasee, TE; Selwyn Lymon, Harding, WR; Doug Wasylk, Heritage, FB; Daniel Stauffer, Southern Wells, RB; Jordan Swain, Wawasee, RB; Jon Rocholl, Snider, K; Travis Craven, Snider, DE; Matt Michuda, Norwell, DE; Josh Doctor, Bishop Dwenger, DL; Mike Woods, Northrop, CB
Local coaches: Joe Rietveld, Wawasee; Bob Yager, Heritage
The Journal Gazette
Friendships can start in the strangest of ways. Jon Rocholl and Michael Brune can attest to that.
Their relationship began with Rocholl rocketing his leg toward Brune’s head Oct. 1, 2004. At the time, they were enemies, football gladiators warring at Spuller Stadium in a pivotal in-conference game.
Snider was pinned near its own goal line and Rocholl, the punter, faced the monumental task of booting the ball into safe territory as the Concordia defensive line barreled in on him. One member of that line, Brune, dove toward the ball as it touched Rocholl’s foot.
Brune was too late; the kick sailed a whopping 78 yards downfield.
It was a minute portion of a 56-7 blowout for Snider, but in it laid the foundation for a friendship.
Rocholl and Brune didn’t speak for several weeks after that; it was at the all-SAC banquet that they had their first conversation. Both were being recruited to play college ball for Columbia and since they were both from Fort Wayne, why not make the trip to New York together?
“It’s really worked out great,” Brune said. “We met each other knowing we each were thinking of going to Columbia.”
Of course, it didn’t take long for Rocholl’s punt to come up in conversation.
“I felt like I was close to blocking it,” Brune said. “But you never know. It would have been great to block him.”
Rocholl isn’t so sure it was that close, and he’s quick to bring up the length of the punt and the outcome of the game.
But that was the last time Rocholl and Brune found themselves on opposite sidelines. Today, for the first time, they will be teammates, for the North Team in the Methodist Sports Medicine Center All-Star Classic.
Rocholl will be a kicker in the game. Brune will play offensive line. And they will be joined by 10 other players from northeast Indiana, plus assistant coaches, Joe Rietveld of Wawasee and Bob Yager of Heritage.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things from people who have played in (this game in) the past,” Rocholl said. “I’m looking forward to hanging out with guys and meeting good people.”
The game will be at North Central High School in Indianapolis, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
For most of the players, this will be their first game since the fall and their last before departing for college, so it’s a good opportunity to get into game shape and shake off the rust.
“I’m definitely going to use it as a tune-up, as an early start to college football,” Brune said. “It kind of gets long doing work outs, it’ll be fun to get in and play some before I go off to college.”
Speaking of college, both Rocholl and Brune settled on Columbia and they’ll be roommates there this year.
“It’ll be great to have someone from the same city there; it’ll make it feel more like home,” said Brune, who also considered attending Hillsdale and Indianapolis. “Most people haven’t even heard about (us rooming together). It’s kind of neat that two guys from the same city will be at Columbia.”
Rocholl, who had Ball State among his considerations, agreed.
“I’m really glad that there’s someone else coming (to Columbia) from my area, so we can talk about Fort Wayne,” he said. “We’ve shared some similar experiences and backgrounds growing up.”
Apparently, they also share some smarts, getting invited to an Ivy League school. Rocholl, also a soccer player in high school, scored a 1,440 on his SAT. Brune had a 1,450.
Their intelligences and work ethics have paid off on the football field, too.
“(For Rocholl), it starts from the basis of athleticism and then the art and skill of kicking and punting,” Snider coach Russ Isaacs said. “It’s solely dependent on his willingness to put in the time. It’s a lonely proposition. … He’s put the time in to make himself a Division I punter and kicker.”
Rocholl is 6-foot-2, 170 pounds. Brune, who is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, expects to play defensive line at Columbia.
“(Brune) is everything you want in a player,” Concordia coach Dean Doerffler said. “He’s a student of the game and a coach on the field.”
Rocholl and Brune, both 18, are hoping that when they leave Columbia they will have helped transform the identity of the football program – Columbia was 1-9 last year, including 1-6 in the Ivy League – and they want to earn prestigious degrees.
“I’m really looking forward to going there, helping turn around the program,” Brune said. “It’s a program on the rise. Really, Ivy League football is improving. It’s some great football and the biggest thing is going out there and getting an education.”
Rocholl agreed.
“(In picking that school), I just decided that 10 years down the road, being at Columbia and having a degree from there would be worth it,” he said.
But first, they will suit up for the North Team today.
“I think winning’s probably not the most important thing,” Rocholl said. “It’s just about having fun and getting to know everybody in the week-long (practices leading up to the game).”
Said Brune: “It is a big deal (to win). You take a little pride in (representing) your side of the state. But definitely, I’m going down to have fun. And we want to win, just for pride.”
All-Star Classic
Methodist Sports Medicine Center All-Star Classic
When: Today, 1:30 p.m.
Where: North Central High School, Indianapolis
Local participants: Brody Dixon, East Noble, OL; Michael Brune, Concordia, OL; Ryan Kauchak, Wawasee, TE; Selwyn Lymon, Harding, WR; Doug Wasylk, Heritage, FB; Daniel Stauffer, Southern Wells, RB; Jordan Swain, Wawasee, RB; Jon Rocholl, Snider, K; Travis Craven, Snider, DE; Matt Michuda, Norwell, DE; Josh Doctor, Bishop Dwenger, DL; Mike Woods, Northrop, CB
Local coaches: Joe Rietveld, Wawasee; Bob Yager, Heritage
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