2021-22 Kevin Higgins College Scholarship Recipient: Brett Krenke
Brett Krenke
Brett Krenke’s dedication to conditioning not only made him a stronger player on the pitch, but also in everything that he does. The mental toughness and work ethic that he has developed from the sport has transcended into all avenues of his life, giving him the confidence to excel. “Rugby is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Krenke. Brett played for the Middleton Area Rugby Club from 2018-2021. During his tenure with Middleton, he helped his team reach three state championship games, winning the Division II title in 2018. He was named to the Badger selects in 2018, 2019, and 2021, representing the best of Wisconsin’s young ruggers in competitive games throughout the country. Brett was also a member of the Midwest Thunderbirds in 2019.
Krenke graduated from Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart in Madison, Wisconsin in the spring of 2021. In addition to rugby, he was a well-rounded student-athlete participating in his local church, choir, math club, badminton, and wrestling. While at Edgewood, he also played football and earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Region Team and Associated Press All-State Team honors as a defensive lineman for his play during the 2020 season.
Off the pitch, he was heavily involved with philanthropy lending his time to various organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Youth Service Council and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Krenke completed over 100 hours of community service. Brett will attend Indiana University and play for the Hoosiers. At the collegiate level, he is determined to make an impact on both his own level of play and for his team. After the completion of the 2021 fall season, Brett is off to a great start. “We had a veteran roster and most of the players had been together for several years, but Brett slid right into the lineup and fit in with that group immediately. One of the main reasons was his willingness to play whatever position we needed him to play at a moment’s notice. Brett played first side minutes at every forward position except hooker this year and was quick to step up and embrace new challenges when asked. That attitude also helped him as a leader on our second side. Even though he was only a freshman, Brett was a leader on our second team and embraced the challenge of being a featured player,” said Eddie Abel, Indiana University Rugby coach.
Combining his passion for athletics with academics, he plans to study exercise science with intentions of pursuing a career in athletic training or coaching. “I really enjoy helping other athletes get better, both physically and mentally. When I help one of my teammates who is new to the sport of rugby and then watch them succeed, that makes me happy,” said Krenke. He credits the influence of sports making a difference in his life and would like to utilize his experience to help others reach their full potential, too.
