Exchange student

gives Cathedral a leg Up

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Last year at this time, Philipp Niemeyer was playing soccer and tennis near Frankfurt, Germany.

Last week, Niemeyer was booming kick-offs into the end zone for the New Ulm Cathedral football team.

While he does not play offense or defense, Niemeyer, who is staying with Scott and Gigi Rysdahl, has become a big part of the Greyhounds team and is taking some on-the-job training in American football.

"I had never played American football before," he said. 'I sometimes saw a football game on television but I did not understand the rules of the game."

But when he arrived in New Ulm, his host family -- and namely David Rsydahl (who is the back-up quarterback for Cathedral) talked to Philipp about kicking an American football.

"We went into the back yard and I kicked. He said that I need to kick for the (Cathedral) football team," Philipp said. "The football is a lighter ball than a soccer ball and I had to get used to the tee."

Catheral coach Denny Lux said that he first heard about Philipp on a Saturday after a Cathedral football game,

"Philipp was first introduced to the students right after a football game in the New Ulm Catheral parking lot," Lux said. "And they asked him if he would kick a football for them. The next day, I kept hearing from different players about how far this new kid could kick a football across the street and into Washington Park."

Lux knew that with Phillip coming from Germany that he was a good athlete and he knew how to kick. So Lux invited Philipp to a football practice.

And it did not take the Cathedral coaching staff to know that they had found someone special.

"He us a real defensive weapon," Lux said.

But Philipp's first practice told the difference between soccer and football, "I kicked the ball very hard -- as far as I could." So hard, in fact that his knee on his left leg got sore.

"I needed to get my muscles used to that," he said.

That first practice transformed into Philipp's first varsity game when the Hounds traveled to Morgan to play Cedar Mountain..

"That was our third game of the season and Philipp had just practiced with us a few times. We went into the game not really thinking that we were going to use him as a kicker," Lux said. "But we scored early -- we felt comfortable with our lead -- so we thought that this would be a great time for Philipp to start kicking. And right away, he put his first two kick-offs into the end zone. We knew then that there was no question that he could really help us."

Philipp fondly recalls that game against Cedar Mountain and his first time on the field.

"It was great feeling -- I ran onto the field and the crowd was yelling and screaming. Even though I was from Germany and new here they really cheered for me."

Now, with Philipp's left knee healed, Lux said that the coaching staff has worked with him on kickng field goals. "He had a lot of height and distance on field goals. Against BLH, we were able to get him on the field to kick extra points to get that feeling of guys rushing in to try and block it. He is a natural as a kicker and has a lot of talent."

Of Philipp's 17 klck-offs, 12 have sailed into the end zone.

"Philipp is only 16 -- and as he gets older he is going to get stronger," Lux said. "If there are any colleges out there that want to look for a good kicker, he would be one."

Being only 16, he is taking junior and senior classes at CHS.I am registered as a senior here."

But Philipp has also experienced the game of football as a player. After kicking off, players from opposing teams have blocked him.

"We have told Philipp that once he kicks the ball (and usually into the end zone) he can come towards the sidelines," Lux said. "We have 10 guys going down to cover the kick. Unless you grow up with this game, it is pretty hard to just jump in from a different culture and play the game of football as far as the physicai part of it."

While Philipp is a great kicker for the Greyhounds, Lux said that he is also a great young man.

"The crowd is cheering for him because of his kicks but they are also cheering because he has been accepted real well at our school. I think that he has dealt with this popularity and his ability as an athlete real well. He has a lot of respect from all of our players and he respects them."

"I like the team spirit that we have. I never played the game before -- it is a very physical sport. Football is cool."

When he returns to Germany on June 4 (after playing football and tennis at CHS) he said that he will remember the great time that he had here.

"This is an experience that one only gets one time in their life -- I have great friends here and a great coach. I will try to make them jealous."

SCHREIBER SCORES FOR ST. THOMAS: Billy Schreiber, a New Ulm Cathedral graduate, scored on a 73-yard touchdown pass in St. Thomas' 27-9 win over St, Olaf last week.