Scholarships to Students with Exemplary Leadership Traits

Permit me to tell you about a young man who I had the privilege of knowing and coaching—an extraordinary man, a man of quality, a man of character, integrity and a quiet depth, and I might add, a man with a big smile and a bigger heart. I loved that kid. I loved coaching him. A player of this caliber comes along only once in a coaches’ career. I’ve been inthe coaching profession for more than 50 plus years. Kyle was unique, a special athlete and a rare human being who left an uncommon mark in this world.  I recall the day I met Kyle. I showed up at his high school to watch him play soccer. I saw a player with grit and guts, nothing fancy, just a “blue-collar” worker, who was committed fully to do his job, who wouldn’t quit, who was determined to do his best—an unselfish competitor who made the players around him better. He was a “winner” in every way. Kyle embodied the words of the great Vince Lombardi who said to his Green Bay Packers, “I am not remotely interested is just being good.”  Neither was Kyle. His pursuit of excellence on and off the field was evident. Consequently, I decided right then and there that he was the player I wanted dressed in the red and gold colors of Bryan College, playing soccer for the Lions. His collegiate career was no different from what I observed that day on a high school field in Texas. He chased excellence. I remember his frequent long runs down the sidelines into the attacking third of the field. I can still see him in my mind’s eye racing down the pitch. I remember him scoring a goal against Bryan’s crosstown rivals. I remember the encouragement he offered to his teammates during times of stress. I remember the tears in his eyes when he slipped on a wet field and hit the turf hard, but pulled himself up and raced to get back in the fight. He cared deeply, and played like it. Kyle Wagley was a remarkable young man. I miss him greatly and think of him often. He left this world a better place, and I am certainly a richer man today, truly blessed for having known a young man of his stature. Follow in his footsteps.   

 

 

Sanford “Sandy” Zensen, DMin, PhD (Retired) Head Men’s Soccer Coach (1990-2013) Director of Athletics Professor of Christian Studies Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee