Wichita Independent senior Graham Burmeister loves the game of football. What the game has given him over his high school career is something he will carry with him for the rest of his life. The thought of not playing a season or having to cut the season short was nearly too much to consider. Burmeister, alongside a fellow teammate, worked tearlessly to ensure the season would continue for his final campaign.

The program picked up their first win in several seasons when they defeated Elkhart, 36-19 breaking a 22-game losing skid. That moment will be cherished by Burmeister and his teammates for the rest of their lives. But more moments were on the brink of never happening again this season. Head coach Eric Swenson knew a tough decision was coming. With the number of players on the team dwindling, Burmeister set out to save the season by recruiting classmates to join the team, giving them the numbers they needed to compete. Burmeister said his fellow classmates, “took pity on us,” and joined the team. With a 23-man roster, coach Swenson took his team on the long journey to victory thanks in part to the efforts of a senior who refused to allow his final year on the football die.