​I’ve had many highlights in my career broadcasting high school sports on Q-92, but last Thursday, my heart grew a little bit bigger. I spent the day with the LQPV Boys Volleyball team, and it was, without exaggeration, one of the best experiences of my broadcasting career.

As many of you know, I live for high school playoff season. There’s a special magic in the air when section play begins—the “win and move on” intensity is great. This was the first year LQPV’s boys team was officially sanctioned by the Minnesota High School League.

​Because there are no other boys’ teams in our immediate area, these dedicated young men never had a home match. To play the game they love, they spent the season traveling two to three hours at a time. Most of the team is made up of Micronesian boys whose families brought a vibrant culture to Milan back in the 1980s. While they are a huge part of our community, I’ll be honest: I hadn’t spent much personal time with them over the years. That changed this week on a yellow school bus headed for the Twin Cities

​Usually, I drive myself to games. But when coaches Andrew and Molly invited me to ride with the team to their first-round match against Benilde-St. Margaret, I didn’t hesitate. I said “yes” immediately, not realizing I was in for such a treat.

​The moment I stepped onto that bus at 1:30 PM, I was greeted with a roar of excitement. The boys were genuinely thrilled I was joining them. We braved a bumpy start on Highway 40 and powered through a hot afternoon without air conditioning, but the heat didn’t dampen the spirit on that bus.

​The atmosphere was filled with pure joy. There was singing, joking, and a wonderful sense of family between the players, the coaches, and our driver, Amy. We set up an assembly line and prepared ham sandwiches, chips, bananas, water, and Gatorade for everyone to enjoy on the bus.

​One of the team managers, a kind girl named Rayme, even borrowed my phone to run to the back of the bus and film a video. Seeing the world through their eyes—full of laughter and energy—was a gift.

​When we arrived at the beautiful campus of Benilde-St. Margaret, we took a moment to capture photos, documenting this historic first-ever section playoff game. While the match didn’t go our way—we lost in three sets to a very talented Red Knight team—the score felt secondary to the spirit in the gym. Win or lose we are family.

​Seeing the fans who traveled so far to cheer them on, and visiting with my friend Boyd Huppert from KARE 11 (who was there to cover this unique team’s journey), reminded me how special this group truly is.

​The ride home was quiet at first, reflecting the end of a season, but the warmth returned as we shared a late-night meal at a Burger King in Hutchinson. We finally pulled back into the LQPV parking lot around 11:30 PM, and that’s when the tears started for some, including me.

​A Meaningful Farewell

​Before stepping off the bus, the boys lined up. One by one, they came to the front to wrap Head Coach Molly Hennen in a hug, thanking her for everything. This was Molly’s final match before she marries and moves away this summer, and the love these “fine gentlemen” showed her—and Coach Andrew—was overwhelming. Then something happened that I’ll never forget: they thanked me, too. I even got some hugs of my own and fist pumps.

​I’ll admit, I teared up. It was an absolute honor to broadcast their games, but an even greater privilege to get to know their hearts. This wasn’t just a historical season for the record books; it was a season of building bridges, sharing smiles, and realizing that we are all on one team. For me this wasn’t just a “work trip”—it was a moment of genuine connection with the Micronesian community and I loved it.

​To the LQPV boys and their managers: Thank you for letting me be a part of your family for a day. I am better for it.