North by northeast ... in search of high school journalists

I never turn down a trip to northeast Iowa, especially in the fall, spring or summer.

But last week, I trekked to Manchester and Guttenberg to meet with students interested in journalism, making a pit stop in Epworth to talk to Rudy Award finalist Matt Riniker.

It was an unseasonable warm and seasonably gray day, but any day that ends in Clayton County along the Mississippi River is a good day.

This was not a weekend getaway for a little rest and relaxation, however. I went in search of high school journalists willing to contribute content to our prep website, IowaPrepSports.com, and possibly our newspaper.

I always enjoy meeting with students, their enthusiasm brightens any gray day. The students at West Delaware and Clayton Ridge are not unlike many in Eastern Iowa, where our search begins.

As I told them this is their opportunity to promote their school, their teams, their athletes. Take a peak at IowaPrepSports and look what already is posted - Claire Swift sent a story on club volleyball at West Delaware, joining stories from Williamsburg, Cedar Rapids Xavier and Dubuque Senior.

Where is your school, your team, your players?

It's a pitch I've made before in this space and will continue to promote. I'm looking forward to making more trips around Eastern Iowa - north, south, east or west. Contact me at the email address or phone number below.

But this trip also was special because of the stop at Western Dubuque High School, a beautiful and massive school located just off Highway 20.

I've interviewed a lot of athletes and coaches the past 34 years, several of which I will remember because of who they were, not what they said.

Talking and listening to the 15-year-old Riniker is an interview I won't soon forget. I'm often impressed by the maturity of the young athletes I meet, but shouldn't be surprised.

People like Riniker - and, obviously, his parents - are what rural Iowa is all about. Growing up with the responsibilities of doing daily chores builds the kind of character needed when faced with life-changing situations like the one the Riniker's dealt with in 2010.

If you missed the story on KCRG or in this paper, Riniker is a finalist for the Parade Magazine's Rudy Award - named after the former Notre Dame football player who inspired the movie “Rudy” - after losing part of his right leg in an ATV accident. Riniker, then 14, made the decision to have leg amputated and was determined to get back on the football field, which he did last year.

“There was no doubt in my mind,” he said of his return.

An inspiring story from an impressive person.