12 student-athletes visited Dover-Eyota High School on Monday, Oct. 19 for Why We Play, a conference led by former teacher and coach Tom Cody and MSHSL associate director Jody Redman.

The conference, part of an initiative led by St. Charles athletic director Scott McCready, focused on how athletes can stay level-headed in tight situations, and how to handle emotions when the going gets tough. Each school of the Three Rivers Conference elected 10-15 students to send to Eyota.

“I thought it was beneficial for our student-athletes. I’ve been to many of [my son]’s games, but I didn’t recognize many of the faces there. I think that each school did a great job of selecting a wide variety of leaders,” Nick Whaley, Cotter baseball coach, said.

Seniors Mikala Nelton, Beth Parlin, Brennan Schaffner, Tim DeMarais, and Mac Whaley, and juniors Jane Koll, Olivia Flanagan, Erin Getzin, Aubrey Allen, Noah Nachtigal, David French, and Bryant Gernes represented Cotter.

“I strongly believe the powerful messages that are delivered to the group of student leaders within our conference will help us grow as a community, and help these young men and women lead their teams in the right way,”  football coach and Cotter athletic director Shane Hedeen said.

“It was a very informational experience. The things I learned I will be carrying over in future games,” French said.

Cody and Redman had each school create a purpose statement, based off of each individual’s purpose statement. The students answered the conference’s main question – why do we play?

“We are going to share a little of the stuff the group created at our Winter Sports Eligibility Meeting, as I think what they have come up with is very valuable,” Hedeen added.