West thanks longtime supporter

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Oct. 3, 2013

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor

Tammy Schinker was worried, just like any mother would be when her son needs emergency care.
One year later, she and a handful of other West Bend West football parents said their thanks for the man who often held their hands throughout those tough times with their sons on the gridiron.
Before Friday’s game against Watertown, the parents of the Spartans’ football program paused and honored Dr. Gary Herdrich, the man who has been the team doctor since 1984.
It was a brief ceremony, but one that was needed, Schinker said.
“It’s amazing because he has such dedication for the program,” she added.
Herdrich felt a bit guilty about all the hoopla. It was his job.
“My job is to be the team doctor,” he said. “It’s not about me, it’s about them. It’s about the kids.”
Herdrich has helped hundreds, maybe even thousands of West football players throughout his tenure. When it started in 1983 on a part-time basis, he had no loyalty to West or West Bend East. It was just the West spot became open for him. It’s a spot he hasn’t let go of since.
In 30 years at his post, Herdrich has missed three games — all in the past two years.
On countless occasions, Herdrich will go to more than one game in a day, if it is possible, just to be with the kids. He wanted to be able to look out for them and also be there ready to help.
Before 1988, the team doctor wasn’t required to travel with the team. It still isn’t. However, Herdrich didn’t like that. The protocol at that time was medical coverage for road games would be by the host team medical staff.
As no disrespect to the other doctors, Herdrich believed he needed to be there because nobody would know the West players better than he did.
“I was always concerned with the players when they were away,” he said.
Plus, he didn’t think it was fair for kids to keep getting passed from doctor to doctor, wasting valuable time, just to find out what was wrong and what needed to be done.
So when Tammy Schinker’s son, Jordan, broke his leg early last season for the Spartans, Herdrich knew what happened, knew what needed to be done and knew the right people to help get the job finished as soon as possible.
Having that expertise right alongside her in the emergency room that night was a blessing for Schinker. He was a sight for sore eyes.
“I knew somebody was there if I had questions,” Schinker said.
Having Herdrich around was also a benefit after Jordan Schinker had his surgery and was released to go home. Herdrich helped get Schinker home and into his house. Then he stopped by frequently to check in on him, offering moral support.
“He was very thoughtful,” Tammy Schinker said. “He stopped in more often than when the coaches had the opportunity to. He didn’t have to do that. He went out of his way numerous times.”
He even brought over some ice cream. Not because he had to. It was because he wanted to.
“It’s just a rewarding experience and just do it to help them,” Herdrich said.
When Jordan Schinker broke his leg, it came early in a season where he had high hopes on the gridiron. It was supposed to be his big season in hopes of working toward playing college football.
In the hours, weeks and months following the injury, Schinker and his family were crushed.
“I was very concerned about how he would take this mentally,” Tammy Schinker said.
No fear, Herdrich was there.
“I was suprrised he came out of his way to stop at our house,” Schinker said, adding he would talk to Jordan about keeping his spirits up and, like he’d tell all the players on the team, to make sure their grades stay up.
Herdrich decided to pursue medicine when he was in third grade as his neighbor was a doctor.
“I thought he could do everything,” Herdrich said. “When I was really young, I wanted to be like him.”
Before that, Herdrich thought he’d go into priesthood.
“I decided there was women in the world,” he joked.
Herdrich got his bachelor’s degree and his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin.
“It’s rewarding to see guys come back that I took care of or helped,” he said.
He’s also a big football fan at heart.
During the game, West public address announcer Bill Albrecht read off various factoids about Herdrich. One of them was Herdrich once received a 15-yard penalty. He loves football.
So during the ceremony, all he could think about was getting the team into the locker room and get ready for the game.
“It was very touching to me,” he said. “I didn’t really know what to say. I didn’t know it was happening.”
“I felt like I was not as appreciative as I should’ve been,” he added.
The second the ceremony ended, he quickly said let’s play football. The team has a job to do and so does he.
“It was pretty overwhelming,” Herdrich said.