New, larger press box at Waukon High School to be dedicated this Friday


The new press box at the Waukon High School football/track and field stadium will be formally dedicated in honor of 2004 Waukon High School graduate Mitch Einck in an event planned for halftime of this Friday’s Waukon varsity home football game against Dyersville Beckman. The 48’x10’ structure was constructed this summer by Waukon High School Industrial Technology instructor Jed Hemann with some help from students, local contractors and other Allamakee Community School District staff members, and it spans half again as far as the previous 32’x10’ press box that originally hovered above the home team bleachers. A donation of $26,500 by the Einck family helped make the project possible, including some additional forward-thinking amenities within the project. That donated funding was the product of the generosity of family members and friends of the Einck family at the second annual Mitch Einck Memorial Golf Outing held in June of 2014.

The Waukon Indian home football game this Friday, September 18 will feature much more than the hosting of a highly-regarded Dyersville Beckman team, as the stadium at Waukon High School will also host members and friends of the Dave and Nancy Einck family, who will be gathered there to dedicate a new press box overlooking the stadium in honor of their late son, brother and friend, 2004 Waukon High School graduate Mitch Einck.
In a seemingly fitting full circle, the football field and track and field complex where those family members and friends once watched Mitch perform as a student-athlete at Waukon High School will now, in turn, be kept watch over by that new, larger press box that will be formally dedicated in Mitch’s memory at halftime of this Friday’s varsity football game, just over three years to the day that an accidental fall claimed his life September 16, 2012 at the tender age of 26.
The dedication is a product of a generous donation of $26,500 made to the project from Mitch’s family and friends through proceeds raised at the second annual Mitch Einck Memorial Golf Outing held at the Waukon Golf and Country Club in June of 2014. “Even though it’s our family that presents the check, we know that it’s the generosity of family members, extended family and friends that made the donation to this project possible, and we are so grateful,” Dave and Nancy echoed.
What started as an idea sparked by listening to a halftime radio interview during the fall 2013 football season - within which previous Waukon High School Activities Director Jen Garin spoke of the Waukon High School athletic facilities and hopes of expanding the then current press box at the football/track and field stadium, then took shape over the next several months as the Einck family pledged funding to that project from that 2014 golf event, and finally became a reality this past summer with that funding leading the way. The new structure was built from floor to ceiling by Waukon High School Industrial Technology instructor Jed Hemann, along with help from some of his students and additional Allamakee Community School District staff members and local area contractors.
“It’s something that we knew we had to do at some point in order to address the failing condition of the previous press box, along with space concerns within the previous structure,” Allamakee Community School District Superintendent of Schools Dave Herold explained. “Through the thoughtfulness and generosity of the Einck family, the project became a reality much sooner than it would have originally, and we were able to include some very forward-thinking amenities to serve this district and our athletic programs well into the future.”
The new press box expanded the previous facility by half again as much space, going from a 32’x10’ structure to now a 48’x10’ structure to allow for more space for coaches, media personnel and event duty staff. The new facility also has baseboard electric heat and insulation, as well as fiber optics and high-end electronics to better facilitate electronic timing and video devices used at the finish line during Waukon Indian home track meets. Total cost of the project was just shy of $40,000, with the balance of that cost following the donation in honor of Mitch Einck coming from the boys and girls athletics funds and the Allamakee Athletic Booster Club.
“The initial cost estimates we got for such a project were more than three times that amount,” Superintendent Herold explained. “But, with the assistance of local contractors and labor, we were able to cut that cost down considerably. We also made every attempt to use whatever was salvageable and in good condition from the previous structure, so that helped a great deal with cost savings as well.”
Before Garin’s transition this school year from Waukon High School Activities Director and Assistant Principal to her current Waukon Middle School Principal and Activities Director position, she was also instrumental in working with the Einck family early on to help bring the project to reality. She had shared the following thoughts early on in the process. “Waukon High School is truly honored that the Einck family would like to donate the funds necessary for this project in honor of Mitch,” Garin expressed. “We are honored that they are taking steps to improve our facilities for our school, athletes and our community.”
New Waukon High School Activities Director and Assistant Principal Brian Hilsabeck acknowledges that his involvement with the project comes near its tail end, but he says that doesn’t leave him any less impressed. “What an incredible way for the Einck family to honor their son and brother,” he said. “The generosity they have shown allows for another outstanding feature to be added to one of the nicest all-around athletic facilities in northeast Iowa.”
Prior to his graduation from Waukon High School in 2004, Mitch and his teammates played to a District Championship and Waukon football’s first-ever State Play-Off qualification in the fall of 2003. Mitch was awarded First Team All-District honors, as well as Second Team All-State accolades for his efforts on the field that season.
“We are really thankful to the Indian fans and Mitch’s teammates and coaches who helped make some very special memories out there on that football field,” Dave Einck explained. “We feel really fortunate that he had memories like that to treasure, and it’s our privilege to be able to give back to Indian football and Indian athletics that helped create those memories for Mitch.”
Mitch’s passion for the game of football carried well beyond high school, as he committed to playing the game at Upper Iowa University in Fayette prior to his high school graduation, and he eventually completed his collegiate gridiron career at Loras College in Dubuque. Even though his high school football playing days were behind him, his love for Waukon High School football remained strong as well.
“Mitch loved Indian football, he was always very excited to come back and watch a game,” his mother shared. “I can still remember, just before his accident, Mitch saying how much he wanted to make it back up to Waukon to watch a game because that year’s team (2012) was having such a good season. I know he is so proud that we’ve given back in some way to a program that gave him so much.”
Mitch’s older sister and brother, Tiffany (Einck) Merrick and Bryan Einck, will be speaking on behalf of the family at the halftime dedication event. “We are humbled to be able to give this gift in honor of Mitch, due to the kindness and generosity of our family, friends and the amazing community we belong to,” Tiffany said. “Waukon Indian football and athletics gave Mitch some of his greatest memories, lifelong friends, great mentors as coaches, and proud accomplishments. We are honored to support the entire Waukon Indian athletic program through this gift in remembrance of Mitch.”
Bryan and his family will travel all the way from Chicago, IL to attend the dedication event. “When my family heard there was a need to upgrade the school’s press box, we felt it was a perfect opportunity for our family to give back and honor Mitch,” he shared. “Although his life was cut far too short, he made the most of his time here with us. A lot of those moments were on that field either training, Friday nights, and also on the track in the springtime. I’d like to thank the community for being so supportive of our family and the WHS athletic department for giving us the opportunity to honor Mitch this way.”
Mitch’s oldest brother, Nate, will not be able to make the trip back from his home in Seattle, WA, but shared his thoughts as well. “In Mitch’s all too short time here on this earth, some of his greatest memories were created right out there on that field with his highly-cherished teammates, coaches and friends,” Nate said. “Having a structure built overlooking that field in his honor seems to be a very fitting way to honor him and the memories he created and has shared with so many others.”
A sign adorning the south end of the new press box commemorates Mitch and his accomplishments while a student-athlete at Waukon High School, as well as summarizing the thoughts of those who remain to carry on his memory. The sign was created and donated to the project by Kolor Graphics of Decorah and pays tribute to Mitch with these words: “Mitch loved life, and positively impacted everyone who knew him. He is deeply missed and continues to teach others to lead by example and embrace each day.”