For the last half decade, Coach Jahnke has written “Wicklund” on his lineup card over 200 times.  With the 2015 Flyers season just around the corner, he will have to learn how to write in a new name at the shortstop position.  This week’s Alumni Spotlight takes us on a journey west, out I-94 to North Dakota, where the Wicklund brothers, Andy (class of 2012) and Erik (class of 2014) can be found attending college at NDSU and UND.  Andy is a Junior for North Dakota State University, and Erik a first-year student at the University of North Dakota.  
 

Andy and Erik have patrolled the six-spot, shortstop position for the Flyers for the last five years, and have done so with determination, grit, hard work and an unparalleled love for the game of baseball.  In an interview with Coach Jahnke, he noted, “It will be strange not to write the name Wicklund on my lineup card this summer.  I had gotten so good at it, it had almost become second nature … I could do it in my sleep.”   The Wicklund’s accomplished many great things in there days as Hopkins Flyers – but the one thing that never went unnoticed was their love and passion for the game, and for their teammates.  “Both Andy and Erik loved to show up at the ballpark each day.  They always came with a great attitude and a smile on their face.  Their love for the game was infectious.  Both Andy and Erik were blessed to be on team’s with tremendous groups of young men – these were guys who had developed a fantastic love for the game, and an even deeper love for one another as teammates.  It made for a great experience, and from a coaching standpoint, was very rewarding to be a part of,” said Coach Jahnke.  “They would run through a wall for one another, and for me.”  
 

Following a highly successful Flyers career which included several individual and team accolades, Andy (the older of the two brothers) now plays for the Bison of North Dakota State University.  As a freshman, Andy played in 37 games for the Bison (31 starts at Shortstop), making an immediate impact in Fargo.  His sophomore year highlighted his versatility, as he moved to second base, playing in 33 games and hitting .272 on the season.  That same year, Andy was named to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll as a Distinguished Scholar and The Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.  A highly skilled defensive wizard with the glove, Andy is currently fielding 1.000 for the Bison this year.  
 

We caught up with Andy recently, to talk about his Legion baseball career for the Flyers, and how it helped prepare him for baseball at the Division I level.  He noted, “Legion ball was absolutely critical in preparing me for the college level.  A big part of it was just learning how to grind through a long schedule.  That's the name of the game in college.  It's a long season, and playing in the north it can be especially taxing being on the road for the entire first half of the schedule.  The most important thing I took from Legion ball, and from the Coaching Staff, was learning what it meant to play the game the right way.  We took a lot of pride in that as a team, and without this respect for the game I would not be where I am now.”
 

Andy went on to say, “In my 16 years or so of playing organized baseball, at every level from tee-ball to Division I, playing for the Flyers made for the best three summers of my life.  I couldn't have asked for any single aspect of my Flyers experience to be better.  We were a good team on the field, making state tournament appearances two out of my three years.  None of this would've been possible without the Flyers Coaching Staff.  Their knowledge of the game was impeccable, but what really set them apart was their selflessness.  As players, we knew that they would do anything for us, and we would do anything for them.  With that in place, combined with the talented group of players we had, success was expected and achieved by everyone.  But arguably the best part of my experience with the Flyers were the relationships we all had with our teammates.  Off the field, we were absolutely inseparable.  I spent as much time with my teammates outside of baseball as I possibly could, and I wish it could've been even more.  We were (and still are), for all intents and purposes, brothers.  And I would bet that they all hold Hopkins Flyers baseball in as high regard as I do.”      

As Andy’s Flyers career came to a close in 2012, Erik was ready and willing to take the reigns of being the Hopkins shortstop that following year in 2013.  He even wore the #16, as his older brother did.  Erik was a two-year starter for the Flyers, helping lead his teams to a 49-31 (.613) record over that timespan.  He started nearly every game at shortstop, and was a career .301 hitter at the Legion level.   
 

Similar to his brother’s experience, Erik finished his Legion playing days with a very tight knit group of players, that had a deep commitment for the game of baseball, and for each other.  “The 2014 senior class was one of the best in recent memory,” Coach Jahnke said.  “It was a group that had played together for many years, and life-long friendships were formed.  It was a group that had a tremendous amount of self-awareness, and cared more about the team’s success than their own individual accolades.  They genuinely cared for one another, and pulled for each other.  It was an honor to get to work with that group, and an honor to have Erik – he was a great player and a teammate,” Coach Jahnke went onto say.    
 

Erik is currently in his first year at the University of North Dakota, and working towards a degree in Accounting and Finance, and hopes to take the CPA exam and receive that certification.  Interesting fact, Erik and Andy’s mother, Linda, also attended UND and played volleyball there.    
 

When asked about his Hopkins Flyers American Legion baseball experience, Erik had this to say, “Playing Legion baseball was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  I was able to play the game that I love alongside a group of players and coaches that I love.  Playing for the Flyers furthered me as a ballplayer but most importantly, as a young man and leader.  It was awesome watching Andy play for a couple years before me and to see how much fun he had.  It was a privilege taking over #16, and playing for the Flyers Coaching Staff for two years.  Hands down, the best two summers of my life!”  
 

It’s evident through this Alumni Spotlight, that there are a few common themes between the two Wicklund brothers, Andy and Erik.  Their passion for the game and their teammates is unparalleled.  Their passion for becoming better each and every day, as people and ball players, is admirable.  Their passion, drive, work ethic, and love for their teammates is what always set them apart.  

“The Wicklund brothers have been a cornerstone of this Legion Program for the last five years.  There will be other shortstops, and the Program will move forward as it always does.  But the passion and love and respect for the game that the Wicklund’s brought day in and day out, will not be easily replaced.  These are two tremendous young men (thanks to their parents Linda and Scott) that are very special to me and to the Program that they helped to build.  As a Coaching Staff, we feel blessed to have had the opportunity to get to spend our summers with the Wicklund’s,” said Coach Jahnke.