We Are the League Feature Series: Meet Luke Decker

Editor's Note: Welcome to We Are the League, a feature series that recognizes the work, dedication and enthusiasm of individuals who are essential in making opportunities within the Minnesota State High School League a truly great experience for all. During this series, you will meet an incredible array of individuals, including student -participants, who will share their journeys through education-based activities. The League hopes you enjoy this recognition series.

My High School Journey

• Although my time at St. Charles High School is coming to an end, the last four years have been jammed packed with multiple awesome opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime. Throughout high school, I have been involved in many activities with a need to always wanting to stay busy and try new things. During my freshman year, I participated in soccer, Knowledge Bowl, Math League, Trap Shooting, FFA, Student Council, basketball and baseball. While just a freshman, some of these activities were brand new to me, being it was the first year I was able to participate. I am always willing to try something new, especially if it means being around friends, upperclassmen who are good role models, or even fun teachers who always show up every day and make everything a positive experience. During my freshman year, I really underestimated how much time and effort went into being a part of this many different activities. It showed me how much work it would be to stay committed to school, and at the same time, committed to my teammates, and the fun waiting to happen. Going into my sophomore year, I decided to play football, instead of soccer. I then continued to play basketball, baseball, and was still involved in FFA, Math League, Trap Shooting and Student Council. After that year of high school, I was faced with many decisions on how I wanted to spend my junior year. I thought maybe I should make sure I am doing these activities for the happiness of myself, rather than going through the motions and just showing up every day. This thought was primarily for basketball, the sport I have loved since being a little kid, but never really found the drive and determination to improve enough to play serious minutes on the court. I told this to some teachers, many of which are experienced sports officials, many of them in basketball, and they decided they would try and get me on board to the officiating world. I had only ever officiated baseball, but never really anything on a basketball court. This would be a whole new experience for me, but I thought why not give it a shot. I started out my junior year playing football again, and throughout the year was a part of Student Council, Math League, FFA (I was an officer of our chapter; Sentinel), and baseball, where I received all-conference honors. When the busy winter season rolled around, I didn’t know what to expect. I joined the Rochester Area Officials Association (RAOA) and became an official member of MSHSL Officiating. When joining RAOA, I had so much support from everyone in the association, and especially all the teachers and staff members that were already a part of it in our school. My PE Teacher, Jared Butson, is a long-time member of the association, and officiating is his “hobby.” He got me on the right track, putting me in the lane to success. Throughout the winter, he was then my mentor, as someone who I could always count on, and ask numerous questions to. It was definitely a learning process, but fun, nonetheless. Out on the court, I was always trying to make myself better, to improve on the little things. I was always trying to make the games fair and fun for everyone included, especially the players and coaches, but also trying to make the environment positive for fans and everyone else who may be in attendance. High school sports should be a place to be competitive, but more importantly a place where kids can go and have fun. When officiating, I love to see the kids challenge themselves and their competition, but also to have fun. I personally have fun when out on the court, it makes me happy to see kids willing to try something new, get better at something they’ve done forever, or simply be a part of the team. Everyone has a purpose and role on the team, which is fun to see when officiating. After having a very successful season of officiating my junior year, I moved into senior year where I played football again and officiated basketball once again. It was another very successful year, and lots of learning happened. I look forward to next year when I will have the opportunity to officiate varsity games. This year I am involved in Student Council, where I am the treasurer, FFA, where I am the President of our chapter, Trap Shooting, and I am currently playing baseball. Earlier this spring before our games started for baseball and softball, I was approached by our Athletic Director and Head of Maintenance to see if I would be available and interested to prepare our baseball and softball fields before games. My schedule during the end of the day works out, with it being a Teacher Assistant during seventh period, and a study hall during eighth period. In the previous summers, I have worked for the city doing this job, preparing baseball and softball fields before games, so I thought this would be a great opportunity. Everyday there is a home game, I go out to the field and drag the field, chalk lines, and make sure they are ready for the game that night. The school district needed someone to step up in a time of dealing with budget cuts, and called upon me for this opportunity. It all turned out to work well, and I enjoyed every second of it!

Favorite High School Memories

• I have many memories from high school; the list could go on forever. Some of my favorite memories revolve around sports, whether that be on the teams I have played on, watching and cheering on other teams in our school, or even when I am officiating games on the court. My favorite memory in the stands has got to be the year 2023 when both our boys and girls soccer teams qualified for the state tournament. We were down at Saint Mary’s University in Winona for the section final. The boys played first, pulled off an amazing win, and then came the girls. They went the full game, both overtime periods, and were still tied. They went into a PK shootout and there it was, back of the net, and a ticket to the state tournament. The boys had their trip end shortly with a tough loss in the first round at state, but the girls made it all the way to the championship game in U.S. Bank Stadium. We brought the pep band, a roaring student section, and basically the whole town showed up. The girls gave it their all, but fell short, earning second place. It was an amazing accomplishment and experience for all of us, but it wouldn’t end there. The following year in 2024, the girls made it to the state tournament again. They won the first round with an exciting overtime goal and were back to the Bank. The excitement and fun to go and watch them play at such a high level was a once in a lifetime experience, and a memory that will last forever.

Why I enjoy being involved with high school activities

• High school activities, to me, are opportunities that cannot be given or experienced by student athletes any other time in their lives. To me they are learning opportunities, times to grow with their buddies, and grow themselves both physically, mentally, and socially. I enjoy being involved in many different ways, being a player, an official, and even a “groundskeeper”. As a player it gives me a sense of accomplishment, or belonging. Being on a team is like a family. Supporting each other through the good and bad times, both on and off the field. When officiating, it gives me a chance to observe, but still be in tune with the game. It gives me a chance to give back to the game, and learn a skill that I hope and plan to continue doing for many years to come. As a “groundskeeper,” it gives me a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of pride. When preparing the fields, I always try to make it look as good as I can. Although the games are only high school level games, the field can still look college level or above. It is my goal to always give my best, whether that be as a player, official, or “behind the scenes,”