A season of success

HIGH SCHOOLS; Student-athlete is their teacher; Armstrong's Evan Wilson knows a thing or two about competition and victory, and shares his enthusiasm with his grateful teammates and coaches.(SPORTS)(John Millea)

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

May 18, 2007 | Millea, John | Copyright.  John Millea

Minneapolis (Minnesota) Armstrong’s Evan Wilson knows a thing or two about competition and victory, and shares his enthusiasm with his grateful teammates and coaches.

Almost every step of the way, Tim and LaRinda Wilson wondered if they were doing what was best for their son, Evan. Through preschool, grade school, middle school and high school, they wondered if mainstreaming was the best path for their child with Down syndrome.

Would he be teased? Would he be pushed around? Would anyone help him, keep an eye on him?

Now they know. Evan and 539 other seniors celebrated their graduation from Armstrong High School on June 7. That day brought memories, cheers and some tears, but they were tears of joy. And they were shed by lots of people – including coaches and Evan‘s fellow athletes – at the public school in Plymouth.

Armstrong wrestling coach Bill McCloskey had a hard time keeping his emotions in check as he spoke about what he and his wrestlers have learned from having Evan on the team for four years.

“It’s an incredible thing,” McCloskey said. “I’m trying not to tear up here, thinking about him and all the special things he’s brought to the program.”

The coach added: “You can always count on him for a smile, whether it’s his smile or him making you smile. As tough as things can be sometimes, he’s an inspiration all the time.”

Evan also played football and was on the track team. Oh yes, he’s an Eagle Scout, too. This spring he played adapted softball, which is a typical activity for special-needs students. He might be the most heavily recruited athlete at Armstrong, with coaches tugging at him to join their teams.

Dan Enna, an assistant football coach, also is the adapted softball coach. Knowing what kind of spirit Evan brings, he convinced him to play adapted softball this spring.

“He’s a great kid, he’s a great athlete, he really contributes and it’s a pleasure to have him on the team,” Enna said. “He’s always smiling, he’s always leading. He’ll say in the huddle, `C’mon guys!’ He’s just a fantastic kid.”

Alex Rubin, one of Evan‘s fellow senior athletes at Armstrong, was a first-team All-Metro basketball player who helped the Falcons to a runner-up finish in Class 4A. He has known Evan forever, going back to a kindergarten-age soccer team.

“He’s definitely a popular guy,” Rubin said. “Everyone loves him.

It doesn’t matter; girls, guys, they all love him. There’s no reason not to like him.”

Talk to anybody who knows Evan and they’ll tell you a great story. Tim, LaRinda and Evan sat in their family room and spoke about the time...

• When Evan was a new middle school student and the subject of teasing by another kid. One of Evan‘s friends – who just happened to be the biggest kid in school – told the offender, “You mess with Evan and you mess with me.”

• When a few high school kids walked behind Evan in the hallway and made fun of him, only to turn around and find some football players walking behind them with a clear message: Lay off our teammate.

• When Evan scored a touchdown – “I scored four or five touchdowns,” Evan corrected us – because coaches and players from both teams knew it was the right thing to do.

• When Evan received a wrestling trophy from the nice people at Andover, and a large framed poster with photos of Evan playing football from the nice people at Wayzata, and on and on.

“As a parent, you can only be grateful to have people from other schools reach out and make it great for everybody,” Tim Wilson said.

McCloskey said Evan was not only an athlete, but also a teacher.

“With Evan, it was never about winning and losing in terms of how we think of winning and losing,” he said. “For him, it was about how many points he scored. If he got beat 20-4, well, he scored four points. Every time he wrestled, it was a celebration. That was another lesson we learned from Evan; he sees victory in another way.”

Evan, 19, is the middle child of five. This fall he is off to Brigham Young University, living with his big brother, Brigham, who is a student there. Evan has a job lined up in the student union, he will audit some classes and volunteer in the BYU athletic department.
And once again, he’ll be the most popular guy in school.

John Millea is a sportswriter and columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Reprinted with permission of the Star-Tribune.

Copyright ©2011 National Federation of State High School Associations. All Rights Reserved.

Mother's Day

Evan has always respected and loved his mother. And so it is fitting to post his tribute this mother's day.

In Evan's Words the talk he gave

Happy Mother’s Day.

Being part of a family is a great blessing.  You can

 have happiness in a family.  You can learn what is

right in a good place and you can prepare for eternal

 life. You can have a good heart and have love in a

family.  In a family you can together make plans for

 where to work and to go to college.

You need to do your part to have a happy home.

  Many problems happen in a family because people

are selfish and unkind.  Be nice to members of your

family.  Seek to bring peace in your family, don’t

tease, fight or quarrel. 

Honor your parents by showing them love, respect

and by being obedient and true.  Be willing to help in

the home with chores that need to be done,

homework and helping each other.  Be with your

family in activities, family prayer, family home

evening and family scripture study.  Set a good

example for other family members.

We need to love our brothers and sisters and our

moms and dads.  They can become your

closest friends.  Support them in their

activities and help them with what they are

doing.

 

I am  about mother's day 

ever good people Love mom

Heart feeling life for mother

Be true remember

BYU Bookstore

A great door-opener for Evan at BYU was his being able to get a job at the BYU bookstore in the Wilkinson Center his first semester at the Y. He did clean up and set up , basic manuel labor with a team of workers that allowed him to be on campus, contriubte, and be at the hub of activity. It was a wonderful start at the Y.

Getting the job was a result of multiple conversations with multiple people and interviewes and recommendations and prayers and massive effort by r?indy.

One interesting letter was a letter of recommendation to get the job by a dear friend.

Brigham Young University

BYU Bookstore – ELWC

Provo UT.  84604

Attn:  Roger Reynolds

Dear Roger:                                                                                                                         3/5/07

The purpose of this letter is to endorse Evan Wilson as a candidate for a position at the BYU Bookstore.  I have known Evan most of his life, and have worked closely with him as his Bishop, Scoutmaster, Quorum Advisor, and basketball coach. 

Evan is a good young man who has worked very hard in life to accomplish many things that haven’t come as easily for him as they might for some other kids.  He has earned his Eagle Scout, Varsity Sports Letters, Duty to God, has served as my 1^st Assistant in our Priests Quorum, and he will soon graduate from both our Seminary program and from Armstrong High School. He has greatly enjoyed all of these programs. He loves, and is greatly loved by his fellow scouts and quorum members who are also his best friends. He has been blessed with a good family that has been very supportive and helpful to him as he’s participated in all the above.  

Evan has had to overcome his own set of obstacles and challenges in life. While he may not be “the strongest or fastest”, he is the most reliable young man I know.  He never misses an assignment, he’s always on time, and (remarkably) he remembers the exact dates and times of upcoming events, practices, tasks and assignments weeks and even months in advance of their arrival. I was able to witness the huge level of excitement and commitment that Evan exuded recently when he worked a temporary position at a large Sporting Goods Store here in the Minneapolis area. He was thrilled and put his whole heart and soul into the job. He has risen to every challenge put in front of him. I believe that is due to his own persistence, and due to the strong support of his outstanding family.  Evan has been a singular source of kindness, fellowship and unity in our ward. He serves others; and others very much want to help him.  Also, Evan’s sense of good fun and humor make immeasurable contributions within his peer group!

Evan is willing to try anything from stage musical productions to Football, Basketball, Track, and Wrestling. He jumps in whether it’s his personal “strong suit” or not. His peers have demonstrated how they feel about him by electing him as their homecoming king at Armstrong High School. I fully endorse Evan for a position at the bookstore.  Given his developmental disabilities, consideration will need to be given to placing him in a position that will be the right fit for his skills and abilities. I am happy to discuss that with you further if needed; I recommend Evan to you as a good person, who is reliable, dependable and as one who loves to work and would be an asset to your organization.

Sincerely,

Brad Taylor

HR Director

General Mills Inc.

Wrestling

Wrestling was a big part of Evan's High school experience. These photos capture some but not all of it. Another day I'll write a recap

football banquet

Tulopek

As High Priest Group leader I regularly receive the names and addresses of new move-ins to the Ward to find, contact, and invite to attend the Ward. At times these visits are with my counselors and at times they are with my hone-teaching companion that is my son Evan Wilson. Evan is currently 18, a priest, and ready to start his senior year in high school.

The typical routine is for us to take our assigned names , hop in the car and make a loop of visits on a Sunday afternoon. Today our quest took us first to Brooklyn park in the northern part of the Ward. The roads and boundaries are tangled and confusing in that area and though we persisted in looking for the address within our boundaries we didn’t succeed. Having spent 20 – 30 minutes in vain I called my nephew, Paul 3, asked him to check his computer for where the address was – the location is at once, both north of 694 and east of 81 placing it in the Shingle Creek Ward. With the investment of time I had already made I wasn’t leaving without finding the home.

The apartment was in a part of town that has become primarily West African, and Olivia being Liberian was comfortably situation there. We found the apartment, were able to get past the first screening / security doors and went straight to the door. I knocked and a woman’s voice answered asking who was there and then after my response saying she could not open the door. This endless loop conversation continued for sometime – I asked Evan if we should leave – he lowered his head and shook no; I knocked and repeated the exchange. This happened three times until I finally explained to Evan I was leaving, now being half-way down the hallway by myself the door opens and a young 20 something Liberian man answers the door. He and Evan shake hands. I get back there and introduce myself, I formally re-introduce Evan and they shake hands. Evan comments he knows Patrick from high school and asks Patrick where he went – the response of no not Armstrong I went to Patrick Henry over in northeast Minneapolis doesn’t phase Evan – they are now friends. With the gap bridged by Evan we are now invited in, they wake-up Olivia and we have a pleasant discussion inviting her back to church, her being receptive we can arrange a ride.

WE would have left if Evan hadn’t insisted we stay.

We would have stayed at the door if Evan hadn’t made a friend and got us invited in

We would not have had the opportunity to invite her back to Christ but for Evan being my companion that night.

Evan's View of Scouts

 Evan spoke at his eagle court of honor and shared these thoughts

His written and spoken

Ambitions and Life Purpose:

I want to finish Armstrong High School, graduate and then go to college.  When I’m done with college I want to serve a mission for my church.  I want to work in an office when I finish my schooling.  I’d like to work at a TV station.  I want to help people and be kind to others like they have been kind to me.  I want to help my family and be a good friend. 

I have served as a president and officer in my church group.  I have also served as a senior patrol leader and patrol leader in my troop.  I am working on my “Duty to God Award” at my church.

I want to talk about Scouts.  I like scouts a lot.  It helped me do service, help people out, build things, go on hikes and activities.

Some of my favorite scout activities were:

1.   Fishing at Elm Creek.  We caught fish and went hiking.

2.   Archery at Many Point Scout Camp.  I was able to hit the target.

3.   Art Merit Badge with painting and hobbies.

4.   Camp Fires at campouts.  I liked eating campfire dinners and doing the programs.

5.   Sailing at Many Point.  When it was windy, it was fun.

6.   Rock Climbing and backpack hiking.

My favorite part was being with the guys and having fun.  Having friendship with my troop is great.  I like my Scout Leaders too..

 I would just like to say again how grateful we are for:

1. Older brothers who have set the path, a younger brother and sister who have encouraged.
2. A great quorum who have liked and loved Evan
3. Great Scout leaders who have found ways for Evan to participate, to accomplish things at his level and to succeed.

A son Evan, Ah Evan, who was born with a different package than most, but who was also born with a great love for people, a desire for doing well, and an obedient and diligent heart.