Keep someone in your prayers

We wish your friend well and I'm sure all 6,100 coaches on our site will keep him in our thoughts and prayers. Coach Campbell

Will do!

Capt.31,

I offer this special prayer for the young man for his full recovery!

Dear God,

You who spoke this world into existence, can certainly reach down and correct the physical problems that this young lad has suffered in his accident. I earnestly pray that it is your plan for his life to fully recover as you, Lord, add the healing touch to his physical body. Your Word teaches us that we have the right to come boldly unto the throne of grace, asking for some of that grace to help in time of need. (Heb.4:16) We come now, collectively Lord, as friends and relatives of this young person to whom you have given such a wonderful start in life to this point, asking you to minister unto him that grace and blessing as he lies in the hospital. Establish his spiritual strength, and then add onto him the healing of his physical body is our sincere prayer. In the mighty name of Jesus we sincerely pray. Amen

Rev.J.C.(coach) Easton

Hey coaches-

Here's a little update on the young man. He's still fighting and working as hard as he can to regain use of his legs.

Injured Captain Inspires Edgewood
The Capital Times
Friday, August 25, 2006
Dennis Semrau

In every young athlete's life there are events that not only shape their character but reveal it as well.
Thursday night's season-opening nonconference prep football game between Madison Edgewood and Sauk Prairie provided one of those special moments.

Kevin Merfeld certainly will remember rushing for four touchdowns to pace Edgewood to a convincing 35-0 victory over the Eagles. So will the Crusaders defense, which posted a shutout.

But it was the surprise appearance of Edgewood senior lineman Robert Kozarek -- who was severely injured in a car accident in July and is confined to a wheelchair while he battles to recover movement in his legs -- which the Crusaders will never forget.


Following postgame handshakes with the Eagles, the Crusaders quickly converged on Kozarek and knelt to join coach Al Minnaert in a prayer.
Minnaert's message was brief but poignant: Treasure the moment, but keep it in perspective. Be there for your teammates because they will be there for you.

"He just got out of the hospital in Milwaukee on Tuesday and we didn't know if he was going to be here or not," Minnaert said of the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Kozarek, a two-way starting lineman a year ago who earned All-Badger South Conference honors on defense.

"A lot of kids didn't know he was here until halftime, when we left the field. He's been on our minds and in our hearts. He's been an inspiration to us. Just seeing him made our day."

When Kozarek greeted his "football family" with high fives as they left the playing field at halftime, and returned for the second half, the Crusaders gave him as big a lift as he gave them.

"I'm happy to be here," said Kozarek, whose infectious smile and strong handshake that he shared with his many well-wishers belied the pain he must have felt at not being able to participate in the one sport he truly loves. "It's great to see the guys."

Kozarek will be listed on the Edgewood roster all season -- despite being unable to play -- and also serve as one of the Crusaders' captains along with seniors Jake Kolb, Dan Minahan and Merfeld. Edgewood bestowed another honor on Kozarek by wearing shirts bearing his No. 75 under their jerseys.

When Minnaert concluded his postgame prayer, the Crusaders broke into loud chants of "75, 75, 75." It was a moment that Kozarek and his teammates will cherish for the rest of their lives.

"We want to dedicate the season to Robert because there is nobody who played with more passion," Minnaert said. "He loved playing football more than anything else. I wish we could all play with Robert's passion, and treasure every moment."

While Kozarek faces a long, hard road in his rehabilitation, he will serve as a reminder of how one's fate can change in an instant.

So, treasure the moment and don't have any regrets.

"Every time you're tired and you don't think you can go another step, think about what Robert would give to be out there for even just one more play," Minnaert said. "That is all I have asked the kids to do."

In nearly two decades of covering high school sports, the Crusaders' postgame meeting was one of the most emotional I've ever been around.

It also served to define, though, the reason why Minnaert and his peers pursue careers in teaching and coaching in the first place.

"It's not just the sport and about the X's and O's," he said. "It's the relationships that you develop that are important. It's about, how do you get through the tough times and adversity? It is about family and your faith and making a difference every day."

E-mail: dsemrau@madison.com

Well guys our season ended Saturday in round 3 of the playoffs. We finished 9-3 (tying the school record for wins) and made it farther in the playoffs than any other team. The other guys on the team stepped up big time and tried to honor Robert with their play.

Our program only gives out one individual award, which goes to the player who best represents Edgewood football and the qualities we want to display. Our coach announced at our banquet that the award will now be known as the Robert Kozarek Spirit Award, since he was truly everything one could want in a teammate, classmate, friend, or man. There were quite a few tears shed when one of Rob's best friends was given the award. This other kid played inspired all year and ended up being named the City Lineman of the Year.

As for Rob, he is still progressing slowly. He can sometimes flex his quad muscles and his legs have also started sweating from time to time, which is a good sign. I'll try to keep you all posted when further progess is made.