Stillwater Area High School senior Trey Kruse was awarded the eighth annual Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship. With the annual award ceremony at Stillwater Area High School canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Head Football Coach Beau LaBore presented the $1,000 scholarship with a plaque to Kruse at his home before he left for college. Kruse’s name will also be engraved on a plaque, which hangs in the athletic hallway. Previous recipients include Aaron Romportl (2013), Jake Olson (2014), Nick Johnson (2015), Kevin Jones (2016 four-year) and Josh Wille (2016 two-year), Ben Peterson (2017), Charlie Richman (2018 four-year) and Carl Tomlinson (2018 two-year), and Will Gleason (2019). In eight years, the PTC has awarded $10,000 to college-bound alumni.

The Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship, created in 2012, recognizes superior, holistic achievement as a student-athlete with special emphasis placed on contribution to the Stillwater Ponies football program.

First, the student-athlete is regarded as someone who invested thoroughly in academics, athletics and activities, and community service.  The recipient is well-rounded, gained a diverse, co-curricular education. The recipient shares their time and talent generously and believes “giving is receiving.”

Second, the student-athlete made a significant impact on the football program while using the experience to become a better person. The player promoted, influenced, and furthered the objectives of the program, which includes having fun; growing as a person; representing our school and community with class; and helping us become the best team possible. The Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship recipient is an ideal representative of the Stillwater Ponies football program.

“We had great candidates, particularly when you consider how many young men took a half a dozen or more AP courses,” Head Coach Beau LaBore said. “However, not only did Trey display the most challenging academic record, he was perfect throughout. Add on Trey’s contributions to our football team on defense and special teams and a 145-pound AAA State Championship in wrestling - what a senior year.”

In Kruse’s reflection, he stated, “Football has taught me many valuable life skills, but it has also been, in as few words as possible, fun. It has also taught me more about what it means to be part of a team and work as a group than anything else in my life up to this point. These teamwork skills have taught me that listening can be the most important part of working as a group and have allowed me to more effectively work collaboratively in class.”

Kruse will apply his scholarship at the Prudue University where he will wrestle.

Twins Nate and Nick Simcik and Andrew Langenberger were awarded the sixth annual Richard (Dick) N. Olsen Memorial Scholarship.

Other recipients include Josh Godbout, Jake Simcik, Jackson Dunleap, Tommy De St. Aubin, and Zach Cowley and Holten King in 2019. This memorial scholarship seeks to award student-athletes who contributed to Stillwater football, volunteered in the community, contributed positively to their faith community, and worked to the best of their abilities in the academic setting.

In high school football, these young men served by visiting elderly, Feed My Starving Children, Pony Youth Camp, VAA Football, and adaptive athletics. They each volunteered through their church and other community programs as well. Volunteerism was a significant part of Olsen’s life.

“These young men would always be first in line to help someone in need,” said Head Football Coach Beau LaBore. “They are happy kids, always smiling, finding joy in simple things. They worked hard, played hard, and will put the scholarship to good use.”

Other Ponies football players earning scholarships at the award ceremony include: