Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight

Do you have a nickname your friends or family call you?
“The nickname I’m called the most is Brendawg, which stems from my dominance on the field and the tone I set during practice. Another nickname I’m called is Freaky Brendan, due to my colorful personality and the energy I bring, especially on defense.”

What is your favorite sport to play?
“Football is my favorite sport to play because of the family aspect of the game I don’t see in any other sport. The game has also given me a new definition of what adversity is and how everything in life is momentum-based. Football has served as a symbol for self-improvement and how there is no such thing as getting worse, only steps forward, which I learn typically mid-season when I feel myself plateauing in progress.”

Is there a personal goal you want in football this year?
“I have always felt the need to prove myself as an athlete because I have always been the underdog due to my lower weight. However, this year I’m hoping to receive some conference recognition for my talent because I truly do believe I deserve it. All my career, I’ve been told that I have improved a lot from where I started, but I haven’t turned that into the bigger results I always wanted.”

What other hobbies do you have outside of sports?

“Consistently throughout high school and middle school, right after football season, I would be in the weight room for the majority of winter. Last year, I also started picking up chess, and I never knew how hard it was until I actually started playing, as I’ve been slowly improving. Like any person in the Midwest, I also enjoy the common hobbies of fishing during the spring/summer and hunting during the fall.”

Favorite vacation spot that you’ve been to?
“I’ve never been to a real vacation spot, but occasionally I visit my grandparents’ house in Marquette, Mich., which invokes memories of my childhood. I like to reminisce about certain parts of my life every time I visit, because of the train collection my grandpa had before he passed. In addition, my grandparents’ house is one of the few times I get to see my whole family, so it serves as a place for connection and community.”

Do you have a pregame ritual that helps you before Friday nights?
“Right before every practice and game, the team does belly breaths, which is essentially deep breathing, and it helps me lower my heart rate and, more importantly, it helps me envision the goal in mind and my responsibilities as a player. It helps me forget about my recent past and makes me more present in what matters in the moment.”

Do you have any plans for after high school? College?
“Sports after high school have never been a huge consideration for me because I believe I can make a greater impact on society when I get my engineering degree upon graduating from a four-year college. I have excelled all throughout high school, so I want to make the most of my potential as a student.”