On behalf of the entire Minot High School football coaching staff, it is with extreme pride that I nominate Evan Lawson for the 2009 High School Rudy Awards. Against incredible odds, Evan has overcome a weight battle which has allowed him to participate in high school athletics for the past two years. Just three short years ago, Evan was so heavy he could scarcely dream of participating in a high school sport. Just short of 400 pounds, Evan had trouble walking from class to class. He was not capable of climbing a flight of stairs without stopping.

Routine tasks for many of his classmates must have seemed monumental to Evan. In a time when his classmates enjoyed many of the social aspects of high school life, Evan lived a difficult and lonely existence at best. We are pleased to share that that Evan no longer exists. A transformation nothing short of heroic has taken place, one that has perhaps saved his own life! Sometime during his sophomore year in high school, Evan made a decision to lift weights on his own during an after-school workout offering.

He had learned a bit about the weight room during his phy ed classes and found lifting was an activity that he enjoyed and one he could do by himself. The weight room quickly became a "safe-zone" for Evan. Within weeks he saw a slight change in his body and enjoyed the feeling he got after working out. Because the after-school workout sessions only met three times a week, Evan soon made regular visits to the local YMCA so he could work out more often. Evan's father and uncles enjoyed many athletic successes during their junior and senior high school days in Minot.

As pounds began to melt away, a dream to play high school sports like his relatives began to flicker. What seemed so unrealistic just months prior began to seem possible. Evan has shared that that very dream has been a driving source of motivation to continue his fitness journey. The following summer, Evan participated in a school-sponsored workout program with intention of joining the football team as a junior. Evan continued to progress and showed tremendous improvement throughout the summer. When he checked out his gear in August for the very first time, his weight had fallen to 299 pounds.

No one knew then the thrill Evan experienced by participating on a sports team. Two years later, none of us will ever forget! Only now, as we wrap up the 2009 campaign (Evan’s senior year), have teammates and coaches begun to fully realize the significant contributions Evan has made to our team these past two seasons. Reflecting upon these contributions, we will remember his smile and the joy and enthusiasm with which Evan played the game.

We will remember the pride with which Evan wears his Minot High football jacket. We will remember the work that Evan put forth every day in the weight room and on the field. Evan recorded the seventh highest strength total of the entire team during summer post-testing, a tremendous achievement! He enjoyed his teammates and his teammates enjoyed and respected him. He took pride in his role as a backup defensive lineman and never had to be asked twice to step in and participate during any part of any practice session. Evan soaked in the whole team experience, relishing what many of his teammates took for granted.

After a 2008 playoff loss that ended the season (Evan’s junior year), our team met in the locker room one last time. Soon thereafter, students were dismissed to turn in gear. Perhaps forty- five minutes later, coaches went down to our practice field to start putting equipment away for the season. When we got there, we spied one young man with a football, lingering on the far end of the field, all by himself. As we put the gear away, we watched Evan wander about, thinking to himself. He occasionally kicked the ball and then would retrieve it.

Then, a final kick and several bursts up a nearby hill. Clearly, Evan was not ready for his first football season to be over, and efforts toward improving for his second and final one had already begun. Evan may not be your typical “impact player”, but was an "impact player" nonetheless. Though he rarely stepped on the varsity game field, Evan left a significant imprint on every teammate and coach. For the past two seasons, he has demonstrated for all of us what it means to be the consummate team player, one who strives to improve himself and contribute to his team in any and every way he can.

Accepting a team first, self second attitude in football and in life is not natural for some. Evan certainly had no trouble here. Without knowing and without even trying, Evan has become a true role model for all his teammates. Evan's example has left a lasting impact on his teammates and his impact will continue. New-found opportunities to visit and encourage participants of "Fitness For Life" classes at our local YMCA are just one example of how Evan's experiences can provide help for others in similar circumstances. The transformation of this young man is remarkable. Though quiet and meek by nature, Evan has developed a confidence and comfort level with classmates and teammates that simply did not exist two years earlier.

He has blossomed into a young man with an extraordinary enthusiasm for life. Now some 150 pounds lighter, Evan goes about daily activities with a fervor and spirit as though he is trying to make up for lost time. Because of his amazing journey toward becoming a valued member of our football squad, Evan Lawson was recently recognized with Minot High Football's very first "Inspiration Award". He has earned the respect and admiration of his coaches and his teammates with his courage and commitment to become the very best football player he could be. The courage to start his fitness journey, the commitment to continue down that path for nearly three years, the character that he displays each day to his teammates and coaches, and his everyday contributions to his team make Evan an ideal candidate for the High School Rudy Awards. Evan's steadfast willingness to improve and his passion for the game of football have inspired all who know him.

Our entire staff is proud and honored to be considered Evan's coaches. Thanks for all you've given our team. Well done, Evan! Please give Evan Lawson your most serious consideration for the inaugural 2009 High School Rudy Awards. Sincerely, Barry Holmen Head Football Coach Minot (ND) High School

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