Schott family has been very good to North Linn athletics

Editor's note: Although I am not a football player or a wrestler, I am a Schott, I am a football cheerleader, wrestling manager and a cousin to JD, Brendan and Kyler. North Linn football and wrestling have become a big part of who we are as individuals and who we are as a family. Our family has spent countless hours in the bleachers on cold fall nights under lights and in the hot and crowded gyms for wrestling meets. It is in our name. It is what we know. Dawn Schott - mother to JD, Brendan and Kyler - said 'I think I will feel lost after 12 consecutive years of having a son at North Linn. I am, however, very excited and proud of the men they have turned out to be and look forward to new adventures.” While Kyler may graduate in the spring and one portion of our family is closing their North Linn journey, my brother, Curtis, and I are determined to carry on the tradition of the Schott family, playing an important role on both the football and wrestling teams.

By Brooke Schott, North Linn junior

COGGON - Schott has been a memorable name at North Linn High School for many years.

The Schotts have made themselves known for their talents in football and wrestling. Jordan (JD) and Brendan, both NL grads, and Kyler Schott, a senior, have accomplished great things during their high school careers, breaking records and winning state championships.

Although Kyler is a senior, the Schott name isn't going to go away after he graduates in the spring. Eighth-grader, Curtis Schott, has high hopes he will live up to reputation his older cousins have built.

JD played football and wrestled for North Linn all four years of his high school career.

He was a conference wrestling champion, a district qualifier and is in the North Linn Pinners Club, where a wrestler needs 20 or more pins in one season. He ended his wrestling career with an overall record of 91-45. Throughout his football career, he was voted a second-team all district lineman his junior year and first-team his senior year. He graduated from North Linn in 2009 and attended Coe College for one year before leaving for St. Luke's/Mercy Radiology School. He graduated as a radiology tech and now is attending the University of Iowa, working on a degree in pre-med with plans on attending med school to become a physician assistant.

He was honored this football season as honorary captain at North Linn's homecoming game in recognition of the Lynx's 2008 playoff team.

Brendan, the middle brother, also played football and wrestled all four years while at North Linn. He was a two-time state wrestling champion, a three-time conference champion and also a member of the Pinners Club. He finished his high school wrestling career at 150-18.

'Brendan had a lot of mental toughness,” North Linn wrestling coach Brad Bridgewater said. 'He was an extremely hard worker throughout his career. He was always the last one to leave the wrestling room each night, often doing extra sprints or lifting after every practice.

'He was and is a great role model for our future athletes. He conducted himself well on and off the mat or playing field. He was a great leader and a great role model.”

Brendan also was very successful in football. He received honorable mention all-district his freshmen year and earned first-team honors at linebacker his junior and senior years. Brendan went to Wartburg College to pursue a degree in history education while also playing football. The itch to wrestle didn't take long to return, however, and in his sophomore year he became a two-sport college athlete. Now a senior at Wartburg, Brendan will continue to compete in football and wrestling.

Kyler is the youngest - but not so little - brother of the Schott family. He is a senior at North Linn and has hopes of playing football for the University of Iowa next fall.

'High school sports have had a big impact on my life and I will never forget the memories I have made,” Kyler said.

Not failing to live up to the Schott name, Kyler is active in football and wrestling. He is a three-time state wrestling qualifier and placed third at the state meet in 2016. He has high hopes for his senior year as he soots for a state title. Kyler made the Schott boys three-for-three by getting into the Pinners Club. He also holds the records for fastest pin, at 8 seconds, and most wins in a season, with 48.

In football, he has made first-team all district as an offensive line his junior year and first-team all district defensive line his senior year.

'Kyler has been good on both offense and defense since his freshmen year,” North Linn football coach Jared Collum said. 'He's really a team leader and not only to the varsity team but also to the JV team.”

Collum said Brendan and Kyler are the only freshmen to start varsity for him in his 10 years as North Linn head football coach.

'The Schott brothers have been outstanding for many years and it will be hard to not have one (on the team) next year,” he said.