Valders alum Luke Goedeke is back home for a special weekend.
Goedeke, currently employed by the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will have his high school number 30 retired prior to tonight’s boys basketball game between the Vikings and the New Holstein Huskies.
His head coach in high school was Jesse Schneider.
He told Seehafer News, “A lot of people, four or five years down the road may not realize who he is. Right now we have people here who know who he is, the staff and myself who initiated this. It’s kind of the reason that I wanted to do this sooner than later.”
Luke began his football journey as a 5th grader in the Vikings youth program and worked his way through the ranks, proceeding to start three years at Tight End and Defensive End.
After graduating in 2017, Goedeke played one year at UW-Stevens Point before being offered a Division One scholarship at Central Michigan University, where he excelled as an offensive tackle.
Schneider says it was all the result of hard work.
”I remember him calling or texting me on Sunday afternoons saying ‘Hey coach, can you come to the weight room with me?’” the coach recalled. “He really truly worked hard to get his body and mind ready for the next level.”
The NFL took note of all that hard work.
In fact, the Buccaneers drafted him in the second round last year, earning a starting job at guard, protecting who many consider to be the greatest player of all time, quarterback Tom Brady.
“There were some injuries to players and battling going on, but when he texted me he will be starting, I was like ‘Wow’” Schneider recalled. “Especially for a lineman, to be starting your rookie season is impressive.”
And Schneider admits the best is yet to come for number 67 in Tampa Bay.
He said, “Personally, just sit back and appreciate, and look forward to him finishing off his NFL career.”
