Tragedy, support bind families

MINSTER - High school football has been ensnared in a web of uncertainty all summer, so it was only fitting that the embrace between Scott Hogenkamp and Phil Trzaska on Friday evening at Memorial Field at Minster High School further emphasized how fragile life truly can be.

A few moments earlier, Trzaska had walked across the over-sized M at midfield with his mother, Bonnie, at his side. The pair were greeted with a generous round of applause from the Senior Night crowd, followed by Hogenkamp's warm handshake and hug. The gesture was subtle, yet screamed volumes of emotion to everyone there but more importantly to a couple of people who were not.

In 2015, when Phil was in the sixth grade, his father, Steve, died after a tree-trimming accident.

"As funeral home director, I was there when Steve passed away, and, of course, Phil being a classmate of our son's gave it more significance as well," Scott Hogenkamp said. "I'm certain that the anticipation of Senior Night was difficult, but I wanted him to know I was there for him. I feel that he may have felt he was there for me, too, since there were two very important people missing for each of us on Friday night."

A few minutes earlier, Hogenkamp and his wife, Shelly, made the same journey across midfield to a standing ovation from the Minster faithful. Although the moment was undoubtedly special for the couple, it wasn't how it was supposed to be.

Jackson Hogenkamp was supposed to be walking, smiling and laughing between them. If anyone has grown to understand that sometimes life doesn't unfold how it is "supposed" to, it's the Hogenkamps.

After a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer, Jackson passed away near the end of his sophomore year in the spring of 2019.

"I had the opportunity to hang out with the Hogenkamps a lot when Jackson was sick, and through that, Scott became like a father figure to me," Trzaska said. "I know Senior Night was very difficult for them as well, but I am very grateful for us all to have the opportunity to lean on one another on nights like that. I am so thankful for Scott and for the true role model he has been for me."

Steve Trzaska was a firefighter and active member of the Minster community, and although five years have passed since his accident, the lessons he instilled in Phil have certainly not been in vain.

"Senior Night was honestly very surreal for me," Trzaska said. "Walking across the field with my mom sort of felt like an initiation into adulthood as I get closer to the end of my career, so that was very emotional, but I know my dad was there in spirit. I think he would have reminded me of two things, really: to keep working hard and to listen and learn every chance I get. He was very big on learning from others because very rarely are you ever the smartest one in the room."

From the moment of Jackson Hogenkamp's diagnosis, the Minster football family and entire community embraced the "Action Jackson" mentality, most notably throughout the school system and in the athletic arena.

"Last week was obviously difficult to watch the football game and not miss him out there playing," Scott Hogenkamp said. "He absolutely loved this team and his teammates, and the ways they have honored him has truly been amazing and it means so much to us. The way the community and the kids have also embraced both Jackson and us has been very special. The 'Action Jackson' motto, hats, buttons and signs have really brought joy to our hearts, and to see his spirit still inspiring people means so much."

Trzaska is also quick to acknowledge how much Jackson's spirit has enveloped the football program in this 2020 season.

"I think the biggest thing that I have really learned to appreciate is the cohesiveness of the team and how we are united for one goal," the linebacker explained. "It starts with Coach (Geron) Stokes and goes through the entire coaching staff and roster all the way down to the freshmen. We have had a lot more heart-to-heart talks this season and we begin and end every practice with five pushups to honor Jackson."

As the Minster offense lined up against Coldwater on Friday evening, the scene was packed with emotion, as Coldwater's defense respectfully took a knee on the opening play. Across from them was Minster's offense with a shadow box propped up on an easel at the split end position, holding the No. 5 jersey. Following the snap, quarterback Johnny Nixon and the rest of the offense took an immediate knee for a five-second moment of silence to honor Jackson.

In a year filled with a spectrum of emotion for everyone in the stadium, no one understands dealing with loss more than the Hogenkamp family.

"The past few months has been very difficult, especially for kids. Whether it has affected their sports, school, clubs or anything else, those things are their life," Scott Hogenkamp said. "I guess the biggest thing for me and my family is that the loss of Jackson has helped to put a lot into perspective for us. It by no means minimizes the loss that others are feeling over the past few months, but we hope that Jackson can give them all some inspiration during this difficult time and help them see through this and get through all they are dealing with in the sense of loss."