Published: Dec. 22, 2018
Kewaskum junior’s involvement in NFL
program helps her get tickets to the big game
By Nicholas Dettmann
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
KEWASKUM — In front of the entire student body
of Kewaskum High School on Friday, junior Courtney Zarda was singled out by
Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman and former Wisconsin Badger Travis Frederick.
That’s when she knew something was up.
Appearing via online video, Frederick invited Zarda to come to a podium that
was placed in the center of the fieldhouse and she looked into the computer
screen and talked to a player from her favorite NFL team.
She was in disbelief and was about to get the
surprise of a lifetime.
First, she was presented Cowboys apparel,
including a jersey of running back Ezekiel Elliot.
“I have one more surprise for you,” Frederick
said.
Frederick, on behalf of the NFL and its Fuel
Up to Play 60 program, presented Zarda with a pair of tickets to this year’s
Super Bowl in Atlanta.
She covered her mouth and crouched over, all
while her classmates shouted and cheered.
“I really can’t wrap my head around it,” she
said moments after learning she was Super Bowl-bound.
Very few people knew about the presentation,
none of them informed Zarda, her parents or the rest of the student body.
Throughout the day, she thought the full
school assembly was going to be a greeting from Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
and National League MVP Christian Yelich or someone coming home from the
military.
So, when Fredrick popped up on the projection
screen in the fieldhouse, Zarda was excited, but also confused.
I was like, ‘Why are we Facetiming him?’” she
said.
“I was like, ‘Why our school?’” she said.
According to its website, the NFL’s Fuel Up to
Play 60 is an inschool nutrition and physical activity program launched by the
National Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with the USDA, to help
encourage youth to lead healthier lives.
“It’s been a passion ever since middle school,
getting involved in this program,” Zarda said.
She also said she enjoys being a role model for
kids and the program.
Brian Vetter, one of Zarda’s teachers and an
advisor within Kewaskum High School for the program, couldn’t think of anyone
more deserving to be recognized like this than her.
“I met her three years ago when I got here to
the high school, when I started Fuel Up to Play 60 program here,” said Vetter,
a former West Bend teacher. “She was one of our leaders right away. “With it
being my first year in the program, not really familiar with the program, she
was actually one of the people teaching me about it.”
And imagine how difficult this was for Vetter.
He has Courtney in his classroom every day and he knew the surprise nearly
three weeks ago.
“There were definitely a handful of times that
I wanted to ... I just made some comment
and I stopped myself because ‘Oh. I can’t say
that out loud,’” Vetter said. “When she’d walk down the hall, my heart would
immediately start racing.”
According to her parents, Rick and Jenni,
Courtney doesn’t drink soda as one healthy choice she made.
She also has taken on several projects to help
spread the word about the importance of eating healthy and being active. Her
most recent project was leading the way to get healthy food options sold at
Kewaskum sporting events.
“She puts in so much hard work ... It’s just
amazing that they noticed her,” Rick said. “It’s crazy.”
For her career aspiration, she wants to be a
physical education teacher, so the NFL’s program fits right into that dream.
But she never dreamed it would lead her to the Super Bowl.
Zarda was picked by the NFL to go to the Super
Bowl. She and a guest — likely dad — will receive the allexpense paid trip,
including airfare and hotel, plus tickets to the game.
In addition, Zarda was given $500 as a gift by
Jane Losee of the Wisconsin Dairy Council.
“It’s an honor,” Courtney said about going to
the Super Bowl. “I’m so thankful to be even given this opportunity. ... I’m so
grateful for it.”
As for her favorite team’s chances to get to
the Super Bowl, Courtney and her dad are optimistic.
“Their defense is pretty solid,” she said,
quickly adding, “Let’s not talk about the Indianapolis game.”
The Cowboys, who are 8-6 and lead the NFC East
division, lost to the Colts, 23-0.
“We play the (Tampa Bay) Buccaneers this week,”
she said. “We’ll see how that goes.”
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