January 5, 2012 - David Kusel`s Homepage

Page 3 - The Manning IA, MONITOR, Thursday, January 5, 2012
Reflection Of Our Community
by Dave Kusel - continued from last week
Upon graduation, Aaron moved to Arizona to work as a GA (Graduate
Assistant) at Arizona State University, working mainly with Track and Field.
After his first semester, the Phoenix Suns asked Aaron to help them out during
the 1993 playoffs (the year they played Michael Jordan and the Bulls for the
NBA Championship). In the summer, between school, Aaron worked for the
Arizona Sandsharks (pro indoor soccer) and the Phoenix Smash (pro Team
Tennis—Jimmy Connors was on their team), both owned by the Suns. During
the Finals in Chicago, their owner, coach, and VP of Basketball called Aaron to
the front of the bus and asked if he would like to do this full time. They would
find a replacement to cover the arena teams that Aaron had been working with.
After getting permission from ASU to leave his GA position, Aaron joined the
Suns as the assistant athletic trainer.
Unfortunately, Jeff Hornacek had been traded before the start of that season
to Philadelphia for Charles Barkley, so Aaron never got to work with him. Jeff
was a huge influence Aaron’s life. While Jeff and Stacy (Aaron’s sister) were
dating in college, he would come back to Manning to watch Aaron in some of
his sporting events, both in junior high and high school. “I know he had better
things to do, but it meant a lot to have his support and encouragement. He was
a role model to me and had a positive impact and part in molding me into the
person I am today, both personally and professionally. You honestly won’t find
a better person than Jeff. He and Stacy started dating their sophomore year of
college and got married a few weeks before he was drafted by the Phoenix
Suns.”
Here is a list of head coaches Aaron worked with as the assistant athletic
trainer; Paul Weshphal, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and Danny Ainge. As the head
athletic trainer, Aaron’s head coaches were Scott Skiles, Frank Johnson, Mike
D’Antoni, Terry Porter, and Alvin Gentry.
The first player Aaron taped was Charles Barkley. Some of the other
players that Aaron said he was fortunate to work with were Dan Majerle,
Tom Chambers, Kevin Johnson, AC Green, Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury,
Penny Hardaway, Steve Nash, Joe Kleine, Rex Chapman, Amare Stoudemire,
Joe Johnson, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O’Neal. There were about 300 other
players, but Aaron just wanted to list a few.
Aaron reflects, “We have made the playoffs 14 out of 18 years that I have
been with the team. Going to the finals in 1993 was my first major highlight.
Negotiating my first contract as the head athletic trainer was also very
memorable. It was done in Salt Lake City during summer league in 2000 with
our then General Manager, Bryan Colangelo. Negotiating my last contract (a
year ago) with our owner was also very memorable. I have always negotiated
with the GM, but this one was a little more difficult and had to be done with
our owner, whose background is banking and real estate (gives me an unfair
advantage, right?).”
“Once we reacquired Steve Nash, we went on to go to the Western
Conference Finals 3 out of 6 years. In 2009, I was named the 2009 Joe O’Toole
NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year. It was great to have a lot of family to see me
presented with the award, including my two young boys.”
Two years ago, in 2009, Aaron hired Tom Maystadt as his assistant. He is
a 1987 graduate of Carroll Kuemper and a very close friend to Aaron. Aaron
had tried a couple of times to hire Tom, but the timing wasn’t right as he was
growing his family. His wife Jennifer, a 1988 graduate of Carroll Kuemper,
is also a close friend to Aaron. Her family owns IPAC (Iowa Popcorn and
Concessions) in Breda and makes the best popcorn, Snappy.
Working with the Suns has allowed Aaron to travel all over the country
and the world. He has gone to Germany, Italy, Mexico, Canada, China, and
Slovenia for training camps, competition, and ‘Basketball Without Borders.’
Aaron has developed some great relationships with both current and former
NBA players and coaches. Working with athletes like Steve Nash, Grant Hill
and Shaquiille O’Neal has been unforgettable for Aaron.
Aaron shows Coach Robert Cast an ankle
mobilization technique.
Aaron wrapping the ankle.
Airport in Slovenia, which was formerly a part of Yugoslavia.
Aaron’s duties with the team involve assessing, treating, and rehabbing
their athletes. He is also in charge of transportation logistics, including air
travel and hotels. Aaron handles per diem (money given to players and staff
when they are on the road), player tickets (both home and road), league injury
reporting, and normal day in and day out events of their team. The main aspect
of Aaron’s job is keeping the players on the court and able to play. Sounds
pretty simple, but it is actually somewhat complex. Fortunately, Aaron has
been doing it a long time and has a very good system in place.
First Communion - Back: Mrs. Iola Muhlbauer, Monsignor David Walker,
Mrs. Rose Ann Nulle; Third: Kerry Bauer, Brian Eischeid, Dan Renze, Nate
Bandow, John Wittrock; Second: Danny Qualters, Mike Zubrod, Aaron
Nelson, Scott Kerkhoff, Kelly Croghan, Cory DeBoth; Front: Lisa Irlbeck,
Kay Wieland, Sue Gruhn, Nicole Enenbach, Jackie Hinners, Michele Irlbeck,
Jeff Lampman
Aaron reflects back on Manning, “Growing up in Manning is something
that has been an important and positive part of my life. The people that I
have made relationships with back then, last to this day. I received a great
education, was able to play several sports, and we didn’t have to lock the doors
to our house or car. I love coming back and enjoying the blue skies, farm land,
brick Main Street, and all of the friendly people. I hope Manning can continue
to grow and be a positive place for all of those who get to live or spend time
there. Honestly, I wouldn’t change any part of my time in Manning and thank
my mom for letting us grow up in such a great community.”
Aaron would like to finish his story with his favorite quote and all around
good advice: “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.
Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too,
can become great,” Mark Twain.
During the August 20th Manning Wellness Rally, Aaron provided
information and tips on proper care of athletes and ankle wrapping to the local
IKM-Manning coaches on the mezzanine at the high school in Manning.
Aaron demonstrating how to test the strength of the gluteus medius (butt)
muscle with Coach Brad Benton.
1988 MHS classmates: Kay Wieland, Aaron Nelson, Jackie Hinners
Holding a KIA Veteran’s medals
Have you looked at a Veteran’s medals? Were you allowed to hold them?
Most Veterans are humble and few put their military medals and honors
on display but keep them private. They don’t want someone to think they are
bragging or that people should feel beholding to them.
There is nothing wrong with this but we all need to encourage our Manning
area Veterans to document their service in the Manning Veterans’ history book
- the facts are not bragging!
Many of you may have seen a Purple Heart. Some of you may have held
someone’s medals.
But it really hits home when you hold someone’s medals, scan their pictures,
letters, and memorabilia - realizing they died serving our country.
Fortunately John Detlefsen, nephew of Heinz, has kept these wonderful
treasures of Heinz’s service and let me scan them.
This “Reflection of our community” Monitor article has become quite
lengthy but with today’s 10 second sound bite mentality, which many times
distorts the facts, I think we need to take more time to truly understand the
facts and stories about our citizens. We need to “slow down the world” once
in a while and appreciate more of the things and people around us - especially
our Veterans.
Now we begin with Heinz Detlefsen’s story.
Back: Jay Dreyer, Keith Wagner, Cory McCarville, Brad Benton, Gene
Rasmussen; Front: Floyd Forman, Robert Cast, Aaron Nelson, Beth Hagedorn,
Joy Gross
Aaron Nelson (left) receives the NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year Award
before a home game in Phoenix.
The biggest highlights for Aaron, probably surprisingly, came in 1998
during the last NBA lockout. Aaron met three very important people when he
went back to ASU to work as an assistant ATC. One was Dr. Tom Carter, who
would become the team doctor when Aaron became the head athletic trainer in
2000. “I think he is one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country and has
become a very good friend of mine.”
Next was Casey Smith, who was the basketball trainer at ASU. Aaron hired
him as his first assistant athletic trainer and later went on to become the head
athletic trainer with the Dallas Mavericks. Aaron remains a close friend with
Casey who just won his first NBA Championship.
Aaron recalls meeting the love of his life, “Finally, and the most important
highlight, was a swimmer on the ASU Women’s Swim Team named Jessica
Zentmeyer. She had to have two shoulder surgeries performed by Dr. Tom
Carter and needed some rehab. After knowing her about a year, we started
dating. About seven years later, we were married in Phoenix, Arizona. My
groomsmen were Eric Kelderman and Russ Sturm, both of Manning; Tom
Maystadt from Carroll; Jeff Hornacek, my brother-in-law; Keith Walton of
Ankeny, Iowa; and Mike Clark, originally from Wisconsin. As you can see,
several of my groomsmen were close friends from high school and college.”
Aaron continues, “The priest who married us and baptized both of our boys
went on to become Bishop of New Mexico. So, needless to say, that lockout
had a lot of positive outcomes for me. I met three important individuals in my
life, but most importantly, one of the best women I know. It takes a very special
woman to be able to handle the difficult schedule of someone working in the
NBA, particularly the travel component. Jessica is an incredible woman and
a great teacher (she taught Fourth and Sixth Grades). We have been fortunate
that she can stay home with our boys. It is unfortunate for the school system
because she is a terrific teacher who is passionate about her profession, but I’m
lucky to have such a special person at home to help raise our children.”
Aaron instructing Coach Keith
Wagner on the proper steps prior to
wrapping the ankle.
Heinz W. “Cotton” Detlefsen, ASN 0-757961, 1st Lieutenant, was inducted
into the Army Air Force in January 1943. He took three months of training at
Santa Ana, California, and then began pilot primary training at Ryan Field,
Hemet, California, logging eighty-five hours flying a Ryan PT 22. He took
his pilot basic training at Minter Field, Bakersfield, California, logging eighty
hours in a BT13A.
Heinz took his pilot advanced training at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona,
logging ninety hours on the AT-9, AT-6 and the RP 322. Upon completing
his training at Williams Field he received his commission and silver wings.
He was then assigned to the 444th and later the 329th Fighter Squadrons at
Hamilton Field, Concord, California, flying P-39s.
Heinz was transferred to England on May 1, 1944, arriving at Wattisham
RAF base near Ipswich, England, on May 14, 1944. As a fighter pilot he logged
260 hours of combat with the 479th Fighter Group, 435th Fighter Squadron,
flying bomber-escort and strafing missions over Europe in P-38s and P-51s.
On November 8, 1944, Lt. Detlefsen was killed in a mid-air collision near
Bersenbrueck, Germany, while returning from a mission.
Heinz received the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished
Flying Cross, and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
In Heinz’s military collection were two books about his service. This first book
is about his time at Williams Field, Arizona, where he was commissioned and
received his Silver Wings.
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Cover of Heinz graduation book.
On page nine was an interesting picture. At first glance you might thing it
was some “racy” magazine you were looking at but this picture was in the
graduation book and below is some information about the Varga Girl.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
Wash And Groom Styling
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Owner/Groomer
307 2nd Street • Manning
712-653-2132•712-830-3664
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