former cowboy goes from the gridiron to the guard
• Photo by Carol Colby
Feigum certainly achieved folklore status during two state tournament trips as a basketball player and one as a baseball player. Forging his own path with no handouts was something Hunter took great pride in. He moved to Breckenridge in kindergarten and dedicated his athletic career to a display of honorable hustle. In a small town with a population of 3,500, he proved it’s not where you do it — it’s what you do.
“I had to pave my way for my last name,” Feigum said. “Playing and becoming known in Breckenridge was very, very important to me.” Aside from his game-clinching steal in section basketball playoffs, or his golden glove performance on the diamond, being a keeper of the culture was something that truly set Hunter apart during his tenure as a Cowboy. He was seen by many as Breckenridge’s beam of light. “There’s a difference in being a good athlete and being good off the court. Our younger generation comes to the games and it made me so happy when they’d come up to me and wear my pin,” Feigum said. “It’s important to be a really good person off the court. I feel like I’ve been given so much my whole entire life, that I would love to give back to my community and the national guard is one way to do that."
Initially, Feigum wanted to enter the Fish and Wildlife field. He also wanted to play college football. While talking with interested programs, none of those schools offered the major he desired. He opted not to play college football and enrolled at South Dakota State University.
That lasted one year, as Hunter craved the presence of those he grew up with and moved in with his best friends and former teammates Charles Boldingh and Luke Arnhalt. The move took Feigum to Fargo, where he’s now a student at North Dakota State University. “I really like that a lot of people from the area go to NDSU. It’s the place to go,” Feigum said. “I can walk around campus and see tons of people from the Heart O’ Lakes Conference. When I went to school in South Dakota, my classmates would walk around and point out to other friends they played against in high school sports, I’d kind of be in the background and wishing I had that.” While he regrets not pursuing a college sports career, he won't let the opportunity of being a guardsman slip through his fingers. After speaking with classmates Sam Bakken and Nate Phillips, who enlisted, Feigum made the leap. One of the big reasons, along with a $20,000 bonus, is that he can now pay his way through college on the back of his work ethic without living life in regret. The young man may not have a name plate on his back, but he will have one on his chest, and be part of another team. Feigum will begin his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood beginning May 26th. The base is located in the famed Missouri Ozarks region. Feigum now studies Agricultural Economics, a field with a bountiful amount of jobs that take place outdoors, where Hunter enjoys working and relishes in hunting and fishing often. Ag-Econ makes up roughly 25% of all jobs in the world. Feigum’s sportsmanship was always on display, notably in the 2018 section basketball semifinals against Hawley. He scrambled to corral a rebound and got tangled up with an extremely stocky Noah Glad. They didn’t tussle, instead they embraced in the midst of a tense rivalry game for a hug, before continuing to battle to the buzzer. It’s that fine line between knocking your helmet off on the field and shaking your hand after the whistle that embodies Feigum’s legacy. He became friends with many of his opponents over the years, transcending the competitive side of sports into an unlikely brotherhood. “Ever since you’re little, you go to tournaments and you just see familiar faces. You get a little older and the game means a little more, less of the fun and more of the competitive wanting to win,” Feigum said. “Noah and I would go hangout. It started sophomore year after we played, we’d link up on social media congratulating each other. That sparked me to become really good friends with Chase Libak and Noah.” Those friendships never took Feigum’s eye off the prize, but it made sports less of a job and more of a wholesome experience for the lunch pale and hard hat style athlete. “I just knew I was playing against some good guys, so even though it’s competitive you get to go out and have fun,” Feigum said. As one of the most passionate players to ever grace the halls of Breckenridge High School, Hunter doubled down on his appreciation for the game, reminding this year’s football seniors to remain present where their feet are, cherishing each moment that remains before looking too far ahead. “Any athlete can say that it goes by too fast, but these guys almost lost their season because of the pandemic,” Feigum said. “Cherish every play because once high school sports is done, there’s nothing even remotely close to it. Nothing.” Feigum was the 2018 Carter Casey Sportsperson of the Year.
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Tanner Werner pictured with Robert Wanek Jr. and Stanley Cup Champion Matt Cullen.
Werner was a senior starter for Breckenridge’s high school football team, also throwing discus and shot put for the track and field squad. He spent two years playing city league basketball as a highly intelligent player who specialized in ball screens and boxing out would-be rebounders. Werner recently bowled a 244 scratch game in league competition at Terrace Lanes. When it comes to athletics, Tanner doubles down on his strengths instead of dwelling on his inabilities.
“As a senior, I’m not sure we had a harder worker on the team. Tanner never made excuses and never felt sorry for himself with his limitations,” Breckenridge football coach Chad Fredericksen said. The ultimate team player, Tanner only asked for one thing — a chance. “Getting that equal opportunity to play the sport of football made me very appreciative of everyone who has supported my desire to play the sport I loved most,” Werner said. Bringing Tanner into the fold with Breck Sports Talk as a videographer was a no-brainer because of his high character and personal generosity. Fredericksen noticed these qualities on and off the football field during Tanner’s playing time as well. “Even before he started playing for us he helped out as a ball boy and manager. He was always willing to do whatever we asked to help out the team,” Fredericksen said. “Tanner continues to give back to the team and does a great job with video highlights. We are very lucky to have him so involved!” Having to work hard for everything he’s earned in life, football was no exception for the gritty lineman. The gridiron trenches weren’t much different from Tanner’s daily life and he seemed to embrace those battles. “As Tanner started to get older, he started to get larger. He worked hard in the weight room and eventually moved from backfield positions to line positions,” Fredericksen said. “He started on the defensive line for us and had a great senior year.” Sports isn’t just a hobby for Werner, it’s a lifestyle. The 25 year old participates in a wide variety of athletics and outdoor activities. “I love to hunt and fish,” Werner noted. “ I’m thankful for my stepdad, Jesse, who has helped me since day one to figure out ways I can achieve what it takes to do both, and actually being there with me all the way through to share those experiences.” Tanner’s advice to others suffering from eye disease is not a script of sorrow, but an example of strength and humility in the face of life’s challenges. “My advice to those with this disease is to first accept the disease, because that will make you more open to yourself and others,” Werner said. “It will give others a better understanding of what you’re going through every day by just talking about it and raising different questions. Others will help you figure out the way you need to go about problems in your life, so you don’t feel so alone going through a lifelong condition.” Throughout Tanner’s yearly visits at the University of Minnesota, doctors have informed him that his disease has progressed but has been mostly stable for the last 10 years. Doctors have been following research studies and hope that one day stem cells may be a viable treatment or cure for Stargardt disease, an ailment that has had an impact on so many. “I do hope a cure can happen in the near future, so I can get that opportunity to see what I’ve never been able to see before,” Werner said. For now, Tanner will continue reaching thousands of viewers with his professional sports highlights. Although he sees differently than his counterparts on the playing field, Werner’s video vision is an inspirational story for us all. 
• Photos and videos by Robert Wanek Jr. and Tanner Werner
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March 2021
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