Crank encourages students to put themselves out there

By Julia Wolf

Brent Crank, a Class of 2000 Cadott graduate, shared some words of advice with Cadott High School students, during the annual Cadott Lions High School Honor Banquet May 10, at the school forest. He encouraged the students to value their time and use it efficiently, become comfortable with being uncomfortable and push themselves, and others, to be their best.

Crank was a three-sport athlete during school, before attending UW-Eau Claire, where he majored in kinesiology, minored in business and was a member of the Blugolds football team for four seasons. Crank then pursued a career in college athletics, starting as an intern, then working in ticket operations and marketing at a number of institutions of higher learning.

In 2020, Crank changed career paths, when he began working for a software logistics company in Eau Claire, and moved back to Cadott.

Crank started by talking about time and living without regrets, adding time is something they can never get back.

“Please value your time, or you’ll regret it later, I promise you,” said Crank.

He says, as students get opportunities in their life, they should make sure they are efficient with their time and using it to the fullest.

“If you do that, there will be plenty of time to spend with your family, do really good at your job, at whatever it is,” said Crank. “You’ll still have time to spend with friends.”

He also encouraged everyone to become comfortable being uncomfortable, since discomfort is where growth happens.

“In your life, you’ll obviously be faced with different choices,” said Crank. “And sometimes, the choice that you know is maybe the best path or the best choice, it might be uncomfortable.”

He says their comfort level with something should not drive their decision.

Crank grew up in Cadott, and went to school nearby at UW-Eau Claire, and says he was comfortable near his family and friends. Then, he got an opportunity to intern in the ticket office at the University of Oregon.

“I always wanted to work in college athletics, thought it’d be cool,” said Crank. ‘But I wasn’t at all comfortable with moving to Eugene, Ore.”

Crank says he made the uncomfortable decision to move cross-country, knowing it could lead to a pretty cool career. He says the move paid off, paving the way for his career and leading him to the University of Miami, where he met his wife.

Finally, Crank says students should push themselves to the limit, using a demonstration to show that motivation from others can help people do better.

“I think there’s two lessons to be learned from it,” said Crank.

One, is that they can probably be pushed by others to be a little bit better, even if they think they are doing the best they can.

“You can apply it to anything in life,” said Crank, such as writing a paper a little better, achieving a little more in sports, or being a little kinder to others.

Crank says students should try to find internal motivation to push their limits, too, since there will not always be someone there to cheer them on.

The second lesson to take from the demonstration, is to be that motivation and encouragement for others around them, to push everyone to do a little better.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="368"] Receiving honors for the freshmen class, left to right, in front, are Logan LaNou, Carter Matherne and Mustanna Green. In the middle, are Alexa Gindt, Iszybelle Sonnentag, Karlee Davis, Josie Roth, Clara Blanchette, Airianna Bremness and Alexis Bremness. In back, are Mitchell Reineke, Olive Larose, Myka McCullough, Lilliana Spaeth, Taylor Hager, Taliann Donahue, Haley Mathison, Abigail Bowe, Kennedy Nerdrum and Danielle Sikora. Missing, are Abigail Blodgett, Nova Davis, Shelby Johnson, Collin Kowalczyk and Michael Wellner. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="367"] Receiving honors, a flower and a gift bag for the senior class, left to right, in front, are Tristan Drier, Kyle Seiberling, Garrett Nerdrum and Peter Weir. In the middle, are Anna Glenz, Bryannah Bremness, Natalie Steiger, Lillian Olson, Laken Ryan and Holly Nesvacil. In back, are Tylee Ebert, Eliana Eiler, Lauryn Goettl, Jadyn Waegli, Morgan Moldrem and Eva Enestvedt. Missing, are Breanna Check, Jerika Drangsveit, Kaylee Gjonnes, Lucy Lindeman, Jacob Rowe, Nicholas Rowe, Tyler Rowe, Brayden Sonnentag and Bailey Witt. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]   [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="368"] Receiving honors for the sophomore class, left to right, in front, are Mozelle Walthers, Rilei Weeks, Adrianna Goodman and Tarynn Donahue. In back, are Warren Bowe, Lily Wahl, Mckenna Steinke, Abigail Goettl, Keira Urbanek and Annabelle Hughes. Missing, are Brooklyn Blodgett, Andrew Hawkinson, Cody Jablonski, Ethan Kerschner and Ewan Weir. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_206881" align="alignnone" width="300"] Receiving honors for the junior class, left to right, in front, are Jaycee Stephens, Jayden Winchell, Imara Mackie and Emma Enestvedt. In back, are Henry Danielson, Aubree Foldy, Emma Kowalczyk, Kelcey Benson and Bridget Verdegan. Missing, are Sage Handrick, Makenna Harel, Logan Matherne, Jordan Peters, Lucy Walters and Ashton Wolfgram. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]