“Hey Luke, how’s it going?”

I turned around to see his preschool teacher, Mrs. Krueger, for the first time in over ten years. To his surprise, she had never forgotten him.

On a bright Wednesday afternoon, four hometown heroes, Luke Knoll, Noah Lampman, Isaac Maki, and Matt Dubois, walked back through the doors of their old elementary school, St. Johns, with something special in hand: their football state championship trophy. This is a tradition that has been done since your vice principal, Sean Brogan, was a student just like us. Just a few years ago, they were the small kids running through these same hallways, dreaming big during recess and counting down the minutes until lunch.

Now, accompanied by Coach Herb Brogan, they returned as champions, eager to share their accomplishment with the next generation.

The trophy gleamed under the cafeteria lights as students gathered around, eyes wide with excitement. The players helped the kids realize that with enough hard work, they too could make their dreams come true.

One kid in particular looked like a glimpse into the future while holding the trophy. Padraic Brogan, grandson of the legendary Herb Brogan, looked like a natural while toting the championship hardware.

Being around the kids was nostalgic, especially for Noah Lampman, who had some family in attendance.

“Being here is just so surreal, especially with my little brother Gabe here, talking to him and his friends, it’s just so crazy.”

Teachers smiled proudly as they watched their former students give high-fives and pose for photos. For the four champions, the visit was about more than showing off hardware—it was about inspiring young students to believe in themselves.

As they left, trophy in hand, they carried with them not just a title, but a new love for the Lumen community.

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