Basketball From This End of the Telescope
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People who work with me will enjoy the above family pictures, as they know I don’t waste time. All of the old family pictures that included me show me leaving the scene, often just including my backend as I crawled away. Grandma Barb Kapsner sewed all of our pajamas. Why did I pick the Gophers in the NCAA March madness tournament? Because I love to support the people closest to me. Another basketball season ended in Pierz featuring some outstanding seniors like Becca Athman, Kaci Broschosky, Taryn Becker, Tori Fleischaker, Matt Tautges, Chris Marshik, Lukas Otte, Thomas Funk and Fred Linehan. Matt would be a star on any team, and I remember years of Chris’s dominate play as a post player when he was younger. Lucas’ work ethic was fun to watch. I’m not as familiar with the girls program, but as a college professor I know Becca, Kaci, Taryn and Tori are all incredibly smart and decent people. 
Becca Athman 
Chris Marshik 
Matt Tautges 
Lukas Otte 
Taryn Becker 
Kaci Broschosky 
Tori Fleischaker 
Thomas Funk Basketball is like chess being played a hundred miles an hour. If you think you have too many friends, try coaching or reffing and that problem will quickly be resolved. When people ask me at a basketball game if I would have done something different, I tell them I’ve never watched a game, at any level, where I wouldn’t have done something different. However, while I’m contemplating that one decision, that coach has had to make 100 decisions, and I’m not sure I would have got the other 99 right. I want to take moment and thank Andy Marshik for his kindness and contributions to the program --from when we coached together to the present.
There are a lot of things I would do different as a coach, but you do the best you can with what you know at the time, and it’s all you can do. Looking back, the 2006 Pierz team ranked 2nd in state had talent that exceeded my ability to coach at the time. At one point, I checked into seeing if we could field more than one varsity team, as in 2006 we had enough talent in the program where we could have won our conference with two different teams. The trick with basketball is that you end up committing to playing 7 or 8 players as you need them to work together like a fine watch if you’re going to be successful. I’ve always expected a lot from people. To quote Jakob Dylan: “I just want someone who can walk on a wire with a trembling glass in their hand.” The song is titled, “From This End of the Telescope.” I was disappointed in myself at times, as losses were reflective of my inability to effectively teach concepts, but I’m not disappointed in anyone who performed. And as obnoxious as I was, people had fun. In 2006, I coached with great coaches and Kurt Stumpf, Danny Saehr and I took our team to Chicago and beat some of their best teams-- lots of good times and great teams-- despite losing major talent to football injuries every year (Matt Poepping, Brian Virnig, Scott Herald, Mark Kahl and Chad Lanners.) Injuries are devastating to players and parents, and cripple small town programs. It’s amazing our wrestling team took 2nd in state after losing the talent of Lane Girtz, and the girls’ team had its success with Rebecca Athman coming off a major knee injury. As a parent I went through injuries with both boys. Obviously none of this was as hard as Shane having survived cancer, chemotherapy and radiation.
Preston was moved up to varsity in basketball at the end of his freshman year, only to break his ankle in the last JV game of the season, so he missed varsity practices and playoffs. He started varsity as a sophomore but his nose was broken in a varsity basketball game. I remember impatiently waiting with him in the emergency room at the St. Cloud Hospital for 2 hours as he sat in his basketball uniform bleeding. (As Charles Dickens said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”) His junior year, he had the orbital bone in his eye socket broken at the end of a basketball game when he sprinted for a pass and collided with an opponent coming the other direction. When Preston returned to playing, he initially had to wear a mask, until one game he finally flung it over our bench and that was the end of it. (The problem with the Plexiglas mask is it held all the heat in and restricted his vision, which is particularly problematic for a point guard.)
I always enjoyed coaching, and the class of 2012 was the pinnacle of that joy with a great group of players and parents. We celebrated 4 grade state championships together, and we could count on any of the parents and players to fully support the success of anyone on the team. I’ve always believed that players need to be strong to be great at basketball. In 2012, Caleb Janson and Preston held all the weightlifting records for the two weight classes in school; a status typically dominated by our wrestling program. Caleb surpassed a rebounding record held by Shane Poepping for years. We took pictures of the boys with ties on every year and celebrated every season. All great people who still make me smile! Thank you!
I have to brag a little as our kids are the best evidence that we didn’t mess everything up. My son Shane hit 32 consecutive free throws in varsity games (winning 5 games with last minute free throws in that stretch). Shane is also tied for the school record for most 3 point baskets in a game (8). Shane missed 1 shot that game. (By the way, he is tied with Scott Kimman.) Basketball pundit Kurt Stumpf said the conference coaches commented, “Shane’s one player who should have shot more.” My son Preston has the school record for most 3 point baskets in a season, and could easily slam a basketball, which at 5’11” is impressive. Preston is also the second leading single season scorer in Pierz boys basketball history. Dustin Monson has that record. Dustin works with me in our Brainerd office at CORE. Most of the pictures I’ve seen of Dustin recently involve him holding a 30 pound fish. During those years, Dan Saehr emerged as an amazing coach who always gets the best out of his players. Pierz’ new coach, Joe Kahl, also came out of that era and with the talents of Andy Leidenfrost and Matt Poepping around him offers new hope for the basketball program.
A couple of my favorite quotes from kids over the years in basketball:
During a grade school game I asked a boy who he was guarding and he told me, “No one. They’re all guarded.”
A player once gave me a notebook of plays to consider, but then added, “The only problem with them, is that they all involve 6 players.”
A great person, but not a great basketball player, once complained to a coach (I was assisting) about not getting in the game. The coach explained it was a close game, “But I’ll try to play you twice as much next game.” The player astutely responded, “But twice as much of zero is still zero.” I chimed in, “Then make it three times as much.”
Back to the beginning: As I read this to Brenda she laughed at the irony of me always risking embarrassment for a great picture, when I never cooperated for pictures myself. My family was playing Oregon Trail this last Christmas and we had a rule that if someone was killed off we had to come up with their last words. When I was killed off, Shane said my last words were, “Let me take a picture with that snake real quick.”
Quote for the week:
“Do you believe in true love?”
“So much so that I’ve stopped looking homeless people in the eye.” Nikki Glaser
Thanks for listening,
Frank
An example of Preston’s vertical leap. Here he is intercepting a pass in a playoff game against Holdingford. 
Shane guarded by Isaiah Dahmen (2006 Mr. Basketball award winner). Pierz played Braham 3 times in the 2006 season, with each game sold out 90 minutes before game time, even with extra seating brought in. It was always when Shane played his best! 
Preston hitting a 3 point shot in and overtime playoff win over Melrose. 
Preston going up for 2 of 34 second half points against Braham. 
Eventually it all comes to an end for players and parents, creating the beginning of something even better. 
After my last game as a coach.
People who work with me will enjoy the above family pictures, as they know I don’t waste time. All of the old family pictures that included me show me leaving the scene, often just including my backend as I crawled away. Grandma Barb Kapsner sewed all of our pajamas. Why did I pick the Gophers in the NCAA March madness tournament? Because I love to support the people closest to me. Another basketball season ended in Pierz featuring some outstanding seniors like Becca Athman, Kaci Broschosky, Taryn Becker, Tori Fleischaker, Matt Tautges, Chris Marshik, Lukas Otte, Thomas Funk and Fred Linehan. Matt would be a star on any team, and I remember years of Chris’s dominate play as a post player when he was younger. Lucas’ work ethic was fun to watch. I’m not as familiar with the girls program, but as a college professor I know Becca, Kaci, Taryn and Tori are all incredibly smart and decent people. Becca Athman Chris Marshik Matt Tautges Lukas Otte Taryn Becker Kaci Broschosky Tori Fleischaker Thomas Funk Basketball is like chess being played a hundred miles an hour. If you think you have too many friends, try coaching or reffing and that problem will quickly be resolved. When people ask me at a basketball game if I would have done something different, I tell them I’ve never watched a game, at any level, where I wouldn’t have done something different. However, while I’m contemplating that one decision, that coach has had to make 100 decisions, and I’m not sure I would have got the other 99 right. I want to take moment and thank Andy Marshik for his kindness and contributions to the program --from when we coached together to the present. There are a lot of things I would do different as a coach, but you do the best you can with what you know at the time, and it’s all you can do. Looking back, the 2006 Pierz team ranked 2nd in state had talent that exceeded my ability to coach at the time. At one point, I checked into seeing if we could field more than one varsity team, as in 2006 we had enough talent in the program where we could have won our conference with two different teams. The trick with basketball is that you end up committing to playing 7 or 8 players as you need them to work together like a fine watch if you’re going to be successful. I’ve always expected a lot from people. To quote Jakob Dylan: “I just want someone who can walk on a wire with a trembling glass in their hand.” The song is titled, “From This End of the Telescope.” I was disappointed in myself at times, as losses were reflective of my inability to effectively teach concepts, but I’m not disappointed in anyone who performed. And as obnoxious as I was, people had fun. In 2006, I coached with great coaches and Kurt Stumpf, Danny Saehr and I took our team to Chicago and beat some of their best teams-- lots of good times and great teams-- despite losing major talent to football injuries every year (Matt Poepping, Brian Virnig, Scott Herald, Mark Kahl and Chad Lanners.) Injuries are devastating to players and parents, and cripple small town programs. It’s amazing our wrestling team took 2nd in state after losing the talent of Lane Girtz, and the girls’ team had its success with Rebecca Athman coming off a major knee injury. As a parent I went through injuries with both boys. Obviously none of this was as hard as Shane having survived cancer, chemotherapy and radiation.
Preston was moved up to varsity in basketball at the end of his freshman year, only to break his ankle in the last JV game of the season, so he missed varsity practices and playoffs. He started varsity as a sophomore but his nose was broken in a varsity basketball game. I remember impatiently waiting with him in the emergency room at the St. Cloud Hospital for 2 hours as he sat in his basketball uniform bleeding. (As Charles Dickens said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”) His junior year, he had the orbital bone in his eye socket broken at the end of a basketball game when he sprinted for a pass and collided with an opponent coming the other direction. When Preston returned to playing, he initially had to wear a mask, until one game he finally flung it over our bench and that was the end of it. (The problem with the Plexiglas mask is it held all the heat in and restricted his vision, which is particularly problematic for a point guard.)
I always enjoyed coaching, and the class of 2012 was the pinnacle of that joy with a great group of players and parents. We celebrated 4 grade state championships together, and we could count on any of the parents and players to fully support the success of anyone on the team. I’ve always believed that players need to be strong to be great at basketball. In 2012, Caleb Janson and Preston held all the weightlifting records for the two weight classes in school; a status typically dominated by our wrestling program. Caleb surpassed a rebounding record held by Shane Poepping for years. We took pictures of the boys with ties on every year and celebrated every season. All great people who still make me smile! Thank you!
I have to brag a little as our kids are the best evidence that we didn’t mess everything up. My son Shane hit 32 consecutive free throws in varsity games (winning 5 games with last minute free throws in that stretch). Shane is also tied for the school record for most 3 point baskets in a game (8). Shane missed 1 shot that game. (By the way, he is tied with Scott Kimman.) Basketball pundit Kurt Stumpf said the conference coaches commented, “Shane’s one player who should have shot more.” My son Preston has the school record for most 3 point baskets in a season, and could easily slam a basketball, which at 5’11” is impressive. Preston is also the second leading single season scorer in Pierz boys basketball history. Dustin Monson has that record. Dustin works with me in our Brainerd office at CORE. Most of the pictures I’ve seen of Dustin recently involve him holding a 30 pound fish. During those years, Dan Saehr emerged as an amazing coach who always gets the best out of his players. Pierz’ new coach, Joe Kahl, also came out of that era and with the talents of Andy Leidenfrost and Matt Poepping around him offers new hope for the basketball program.A couple of my favorite quotes from kids over the years in basketball:
During a grade school game I asked a boy who he was guarding and he told me, “No one. They’re all guarded.”
A player once gave me a notebook of plays to consider, but then added, “The only problem with them, is that they all involve 6 players.”
A great person, but not a great basketball player, once complained to a coach (I was assisting) about not getting in the game. The coach explained it was a close game, “But I’ll try to play you twice as much next game.” The player astutely responded, “But twice as much of zero is still zero.” I chimed in, “Then make it three times as much.”
Back to the beginning: As I read this to Brenda she laughed at the irony of me always risking embarrassment for a great picture, when I never cooperated for pictures myself. My family was playing Oregon Trail this last Christmas and we had a rule that if someone was killed off we had to come up with their last words. When I was killed off, Shane said my last words were, “Let me take a picture with that snake real quick.”
Quote for the week:“Do you believe in true love?”
“So much so that I’ve stopped looking homeless people in the eye.” Nikki Glaser
Thanks for listening,
Frank
An example of Preston’s vertical leap. Here he is intercepting a pass in a playoff game against Holdingford. Shane guarded by Isaiah Dahmen (2006 Mr. Basketball award winner). Pierz played Braham 3 times in the 2006 season, with each game sold out 90 minutes before game time, even with extra seating brought in. It was always when Shane played his best! Preston hitting a 3 point shot in and overtime playoff win over Melrose. Preston going up for 2 of 34 second half points against Braham. Eventually it all comes to an end for players and parents, creating the beginning of something even better. After my last game as a coach.
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