He knows it takes hard work

Bobcat Cullen Becher's sports career started at about age 5 or 6 in wrestling and PeeWee football with his father's support and coaching. He's always been talented physically according to his mother Kim, and she noted that while she was not a college grad, the value of education was always an important element of home life for all the kids, and all are now closely looking into the future to see where that education could take them.

Cullen's favorite sport isn't wrestling, but football. Though he finished his high school football career as the Bobcat quarterback, he once thought to become the Denver Bronco quarterback, and had Mother Nature been more kind there is no doubt that he would have accomplished that...but at around 6' and 150 lbs, those 6'10", 320 lb defensive linemen would create major problems upon contact. So, he has developed his skills and talents to their best advantage in wrestling and track. When one watches him perform, one is struck by the lack of obvious effort seen as he does those things which separate him from other competitors to such an extent that amateur wrestling icon Ken Chertow has offered Cullen an athletic scholarship in wrestling to attend his college in the East.

Often times in young men, sports become the center of their existence to the exclusion of practically every thing else around them. While sports are certainly an important element in Cullen's life, and a possible pathway to other elements he's looking forward to, he recognizes the importance of good decision making now to preserve his options later. Decisions about relationships, partying, and academic achievement are made with an eye to the future. Teaching and coaching are on the horizon of his vision, and decisions which would limit those options are carefully made.

"I know that one stupid decision now could totally foul up anything I wanted to do later," he remarked with certainty.

Though rah rah type leadership is not a hallmark of Cullen's personality, a quiet word of encouragement from him to a teammate, or a tap on the shoulder, communicates his support more clearly than the loudest air horn. His praise is earned by effort, his own and others. He doesn't receive or give it cheaply or easily, but only in the maximum effort to achieve success does he see value.

In the top third of his class, Cullen anticipates the difficulty of an active sports career and the academic responsibility he'll face at the college level. There is no doubt in him that he will be able to conquer the academics with the discipline he's developed over his school days at HSCHS.

Cullen and his coaches know the difficulty in winning the state championship this year in Cullen's weight class, but when asked about his chances, he responds with what is a guideline of his young life.

"If I put the work into it, I have a good chance of getting the state championship."

Cullen is joined in what has become an atypical family by brother Ethan and sister Caydence. Ethan is a young man who makes you sure that this country is going to be all right in the future if there are enough like him around. He exudes a quiet confidence that puts one at ease and a genuine interest in, and concern for, others.

Caydence may be the athlete of the family, but she insisted that the most important aspect of her life is a deep concern for her own spiritual well-being and of those around her. The serenity of her smile seems to bring the observer a peace without adequate description or explanation.

Literally thousands of young men and women have made some sort of contact with me over the more than half century I've taught and coached, but this family and my contact with them through Cullen has once again ignited the flame of hope for our community and country. The Thermopolis community should feel good about it's accomplishment in playing a role in helping to develop young people such as Cullen Becher, and it owes Kim and Bart Becher sincere thanks for creating this remarkable family.