The Ponies Touchdown Club sponsored the annual Letterman's Dinner for current sophomore and junior football players who committed to a winter sport or strength and conditioning at the high school.  These young men put the time, effort, and enthusiasm into becoming better people, athletes, and ultimately, football players.

The event, held at Heights Hall and Club in Oak Park Heights, featured an all-you-can-eat burger bar, fries, coleslaw, fruit, milk and chocolate milk, and finished with root beer floats. Thirty-two of the 48 players who met the criteria for an invitation were in attendance. Members of the PTC and the Elks Club were volunteer servers.

“This has become a nice tradition," said Pony Power and Performance Director and Assistant Football Coach Mike Weiss. "The winter is a long season and fully dedicating to a sport or the weight room takes a lot of character."

A "burger king" was non-existent this year, with no player coming close to the record 10 set last year.

The keynote speaker for the event was 2008 Stillwater Area High School graduate Mark Kubacki. An all conference linebacker, Kubacki parlayed three years of coaching for the Ponies during college into a successful stint as an assistant with the University of St. Thomas. Recently, Kubacki was named Defensive Coordinator at St. Olaf College.

In his comments, Kubacki noted that great football players are usually great teammates. "In high school, you have all kinds of distractions - video games, the beach, staying up too late, and so much more," Kubacki said. "You have to surround yourself with good teammates who want to achieve great things, and are willing to make sacrifices and work for it. You have to make each other better."

Players eligible to attend due to their winter sports achievements included:

Juniors Anthony Alvarado, Matt Crowell, Tyler Cullen, Tommy de St. Aubin, Tyler Dunleap, Mason Green, Bryce Hafemeyer, Devontae Hatcher, Adam Knapp, Eric Larson, Matthew McGinley, Noah Ness, Charlie Richman, Mark Roettger, Mason Schwerzler, Luke Simcik, Kevin Thole, Carl Tomlinson, Cody Venske, Andrew Weisbrod, and Andrew Wilcek.

Sophomores Adam Ahlgren, Trenton Attwood, Zach Auleciems, Cody Branch, Zach Cowley, Porter Estenson, Blake Evensen, Tommy Flores, Will Gleason, Max Gonnion, Alex Gritters, Will Harter, Jay Haws, Holten King, Jaxon Leverty, Collin McCarthy, Tony O'Keefe, Noah Pasiuk, Matt Peterson, Levi Prunty, Thomas Riesslman, Jack Seipel, Nate Shikenjanski, Jeremy Slusher, Bailey Smith, Alex Wilhelmy, and Cooper Yeary.

Head Coach Beau LaBore would like to extended a special thanks to owner Ed Kivel, his staff, and The Elks who served the burgers. The event was coordinated by Jenn Wille who was assisted by Lynn Larson, Ann Venske, and her daughter, Emma.

Please join Ponies Football Head Coach Beau LaBore, the Ponies coaching staff and the Ponies Touchdown Club Board of Directors for our membership’s winter social event on Tuesday, March 7, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater. All PTC Members and anyone interested in Stillwater Football is invited, and there is no cost to attend. Lift Bridge Brewery products will be available for purchase.

There is no formal program planned for this social gathering. Instead, the coaches and board members are looking forward to socializing with everyone about the past season and the year ahead. Also, a tour of the Lift Bridge brewery operations will be available at 7:00 p.m..

“We have been operating for almost five year now,” said new PTC President Erich Hoefferle. “The participation of board members, families, coaches, and players, and sponsors has helped us give our players their best chance to be successful. Townie Tuesday is a chance for all of us to celebrate our work and talk about what we have in store for 2017 and beyond.”

The Ponies Touchdown Club thanks Lift Bridge Brewery for hosting this event.  We look forward to seeing you!