Ganske just loves

playing,

football

and piano

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- "Charles (Ganske) loves the game of football. He does whatever it takes to become a better player. I could see him playing Division II football in college."

"He works very hard and has natural ability. And I think that with as much time as he puts in, he has to love it and it shows."

The first quote is from New Ulm High football coach Rick VanRoekel about his 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior linebacker, who was named to the All-South Central Conference team last year.

The second quote is from Shannon Stuckey, who has been Charles' piano instructor since second grade.

Charles Ganske is the type of student-athlete that has many talents and uses them all well.

Playing the piano and playing football began in the second grade for Ganske, the son of Joe and Judy Ganske. And both of his talents have progressed to a point where he is using the piano and football skills to impress a lot of people.

Last year, Ganske was second on the Eagles in tackles with 67 and led the team in interceptions with four and scored a touchdown. He also averaged 35 yards a punt.

This year on the football field, Ganske has 26 tackles and 11 assists.

Ganske is also the back-up quarterback to senior Matt Schmidt and this season Ganske has scored a touchdown, and also passed for a two-point conversion. His punting average is 33.3 yards and he also has a kick-off average of 48.7 yards.

This summer Ganske was busy attending the Nebraska football camp. He also played for the wedding of assistant football coach Eric Torgerson and he continues to play not only the piano but also the organ. He started taking organ lessons in ninth grade from Craig Windschitl and has progressed to the point where he plays for church services in Winthrop and New Ulm.

"I play a couple of services every Sunday at Cathedral and at a church in Winthrop," he said.

Ganske is so accomplished in his organ-playing ability that when the New Ulm High choir (Ganske also sings) went to Germany, he played the organ in several performances there. "It was a pretty neat experience." he said.

"He is one of the top piano students that I have ever had," said Stuckey. "And I have been teaching for 18 years. He progressed rapidly. He worked very hard and has that natural ability. He is just a super young man and with as much time as he puts into both his organ and piano practice, you know that he loves it. Most of my students like it and put some time in, but to put as much time as Charles puts in, he has to love it. And it is the performance under pressure, the practicing that he does."

He practices the organ and piano every Saturday and "then one or two days during the week," Ganske said.

Ganske is also a workhorse on the football team and has put a lot time into improving himself. "He has lifted in the off-season all year, gone to (Nebraska) football camps. He does whatever it takes to become a better football player."

Ganske also is a top student and carries a 4.0 GPA.

"He is really kind of the exception to the rule," commented VanRoekel. "You really don't think of a football player being an accomplished piano player because of the nature of the thing. But he does it all and does it well. He is always busy. It is a different combination but he does them so well."

Ganske said "it is a toss-up" when asked what he likes better, playing football or the piano. "There are different things about them."

The junior linebacker said he is looking to play football in college. "I can always come back to music afterwards. You can't play football when you get older," said Ganske, who plans to major in either engineering or architecture.

"I think that after this year, he will be getting a ton of letters," VanRoekel said. "He can play D-II football because of his speed and he is a smart football player. With his talents he can just about name the college that he wants to go to whether it be academics, the fine arts or football."

LIGHTS BEING TESTED AT NEW PARK: The lights are being tested at the new baseball park on the Artstone property and the sod has been laid.