Prep Profile: Drew Birrenkott, McFarland

The Capital Times  —  1/07/2009 7:11 pm

Drew Birrenkott

School: McFarland

Year: Senior

Sports: football, swimming, track and field

Football highlights: Birrenkott is a two-time letterwinner, a three-year starter at center and a reserve defensive tackle for the Spartans who was recently named a captain. He earned All-Badger South Conference honorable mention honors as a junior when he helped lead McFarland to a 7-4 overall record and a berth in the second round of the 2007 WIAA Division 3 playoffs.

Other sports honors: Birrenkott is a two-time letterwinner in swimming in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle events for McFarland, which won back-to-back Division 2 state team titles his sophomore and junior seasons. The Spartans won Badger South Conference titles his freshman and sophomore seasons. He also served as a team co-captain as a junior. Birrenkott has also competed in the shot put and discus in track and field for two years.

Cumulative grade-point average: 4.17 on a 4.0 scale

Favorite subjects: history, science

Quick quote: "Always be on time. Competing in sports also teaches you about sportsmanship, how to compete with class and how to work as a team to get things done."

Three words to describe me are: leader, enthusiastic, motivated

When I got started in sports: I started playing T-ball and soccer in kindergarten, basketball in fifth grade, swimming and playing football in sixth grade and competing in track and field my freshman year.

I wish I could play: lacrosse, rugby

My most memorable moments in sports were: beating Sauk Prairie in football in double overtime my sophomore year and beating an unbeaten Madison Edgewood team during the regular season my junior year

I enjoy playing football because: you need all 11 players to do the job to be successful and you get to meet people

My role model is: McFarland football coach Paul Ackley

My intermediate family includes: my parents, Mark and Ginny, and brothers, Scott and Brant

Favorite athlete: Lance Armstrong

Favorite movie: The Dark Knight

Favorite food: Italian

Favorite place to visit: national parks while backpacking

I want to visit: Europe

Radio pre-set: WIBA-FM/101.5

I wish I could meet: Theodore Roosevelt

I like to read: Harry Potter series

Nickname: Breadsticks

I like McFarland High School because: it is a smaller school and you can become involved in more activities

Favorite opponents: Madison Edgewood, Evansville

My perfect day would be: having time to relax and do nothing

This and that: member of National Honor Society, Student Council, Model United Nations and Ambassadors ... is an Eagle Scout ... member of Village Board Park and Recreation Committee ... plays the trombone in school's Pep Band ... member of High Honor Roll throughout high school ... earned an Academic Letter ... two-time Presidential Service award winner ... volunteer work includes installing playground equipment at a local park and serving as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the Spartan Aquatic Center ... hobbies include backpacking, trap shooting, camping, canoeing.

Post-high school plans: attend college to study pre-med or pre-law and play football

Career goal: doctor

The Capital Times  —  1/07/2009 7:11 pm