John's Journal: Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Honors Mitch

WATERVILLE – When you have been writing about sports and the people involved in sports for many decades, it’s easy to think you have seen everything. I’ve learned many times over the years that I in fact have not seen everything, and what I witnessed Monday night at Waterville-Elysian-Morristown High School emphasized that point.

The event was a playoff volleyball match between the W-E-M Buccaneers and the Le Sueur-Henderson Giants. The Bucs won the match 3-1 to advance to the second round of the Class 2A Section 2 tournament at Glencoe-Silver Lake on Thursday. The match was played in a brisk 1 hour, 32 minutes, and something equally as important, or maybe even more important, happened afterwards.

Mitch Tegmeier is 30 years old and he has been a manager for the W-E-M volleyball and softball teams for many years. Both teams are coached by Crystal Lamont, who had Mitch in her Developmental Adapted Physical Education classes when he was in school. Mitch, who has Down Syndrome, and Crystal developed a relationship back then that will never end, although Mitch’s time as a team manager came to a close at Monday’s volleyball match.

Mitch, who is Mr. Everything and is known to everyone at W-E-M, has chosen to step down from his managerial duties and the last home volleyball match of the season was a fitting time. His routine Monday night was typical: help shag balls during warmups, offer encouraging words to the girls on the team, shoot photos from various spots in the gym, lead the student section in cheers during breaks in play.

After the players and coaches were introduced, Mitch was recognized to cheers as he waved to the crowd. He joined everyone from W-E-M in clapping along as the pep band played the school song (to the tune of the Marine Hymn): “From the shores of Lake Sakatah, Raise a cry of victory!”

Mitch wore a shirt that read, “I never dreamed I’d become a super cool manager but I’m killing it!”

During a timeout in the second set, Mitch stood in front of the crowded student section and led everyone in a raucous cheer: “Here we go Bucs! Here we go! (Clap! Clap!)”

After the Bucs wrapped up the victory by winning the fourth set, the teams shook hands. The fans, instead of heading for home, hung around for a postgame ceremony that was everything … sweet, emotional, cute, funny, memorable and filled with love.

Lamont and Mitch stood on the court in front of the scorer’s table. Holding a microphone, Crystal talked about Mitch and what he has meant to everyone for so many years.

“Mitch has been a volleyball manager for W-E-M since 2012 and softball manager since 2014. Mitch has taken amazing action shots and team pictures, he gets the crowd hyped up by leading our fans in cheers and motivates our players with pregame speeches. He's watched over our players and he made sure they don't look at boys.” (That line was followed by laughter.)

“Most importantly, Mitch has given our Buccaneer family unconditional love and support. Mitch has a smile that brightens the room. He has a laugh that is uplifting and contagious. Mitch, thank you for watching over our players and helping guide them to be better people. Thank you for helping us smile and always brighten the mood. Thank you for having a laugh that is uplifting and contagious and thank you for the positive impact you have had on your Buccaneer family and the amazing legacy you will leave behind as a manager.

“Mitch hasn't just been our manager. He’s one of my dearest friends, and I thank you for your friendship, for all you've done for me and taught me over the years. The world would be better place if there were more Mitches in the world.”

Mitch then took the microphone and read from a typed page he had prepared. He thanked everyone, thanked Crystal, and said how proud he was to be a manager. There was more cheering when he was done, and he and the coach hugged each other tightly.

Then the players pulled out a large banner that carried a delightful collage of Mitch photos and the words, “MITCH…BEST MANAGER EVER…THANK YOU.”

The team posed with Mitch, holding the banner, and everyone smiled.

In an interview a few minutes later, Lamont said, “Mitch has brought so much to our program. You know, everyone has always made comments to me about what I've done for him, but it's the complete opposite. He just brings joy to our team. He keeps us smiling, he keeps our mood upbeat. He's taught my girls so much about accepting others and that we all have our own differences, but we all can impact our team in different ways. And he just has bought wholeheartedly into our Buccaneer family thing, and he treats these girls like his sisters.”

Not long after the match ended, Mitch’s photos – 50 of them – had been posted on the WEM Volleyball Facebook page.

Well done, Mitch.

--See more photos on the MSHSL Facebook page.

--MSHSL senior content creator John Millea has been the leading voice of Minnesota high school activities for decades. Follow him on Twitter @MSHSLjohn and listen to "Preps Today with John Millea” wherever you get podcasts. Contact John at [email protected] or [email protected]