Fremd product Dudczak offers a helping hand
Buddy Dudczak didn't have to care one iota about the 650 or so people who live in the Western Illinois town of Niota.
But these were people along the flood-ravaged Mississippi River in need of buddies such as Dudczak. They were looking for as much help as possible to keep their town from being inundated by water.
A couple of weeks ago in Macomb, about 40 miles southeast of Niota, Dudczak was preparing for his junior football season at Western Illinois University. The two-time Daily Herald All-Area player at Fremd High School in 2003-04 and former wrestling standout is trying to win the starting job at strong-side linebacker and is taking a couple of summer school classes.
Dudczak was in the midst of a workout that started at 6 a.m. when he was asked if he wanted to go help sandbagging efforts in Niota by Western defensive coordinator Thomas Casey. Dudczak could have used an upcoming class lasting nearly three hours as a reason to take a pass.
"You see things like (Hurricane) Katrina and 9-11, and you want to give a helping hand," Dudczak said.
So after their morning classes ended, Dudczak and teammates Brandon Kreczmer from St. Patrick and Victor Visoky from Glenbrook North hopped in a car with Casey and headed to Niota. For four hours they helped fill, tie and throw sandbags on trucks to provide some relief to people desperately trying to preserve their livelihoods.
"We didn't know what to expect and these people were in such dire need," Dudczak said. "We talked about how these people are struggling - but they were in pretty good moods and taking it the best way they can.
"They were doing anything they can to save their town. It was frustrating because at some point you can only do so much."
These are powerful guys - Dudczak stands 6-feet-3, 225 pounds, Kreczmer is 6-2, 230 and Visoky is 6-4, 250 - accustomed to pushing themselves to their physical limits. Dudczak was renowned at Fremd for his unrelenting efforts in football and wrestling.
They discovered four hours of moving sand was no day at the beach.
"These guys were exhausted when we left," Casey said. "It was nonstop shoveling and picking up sandbags.
"I can't say enough about those guys to go out there and do that. There was a feeling where you wish we could stay longer and you wish there was more you can do."
But Casey said it was a unique opportunity for student-athletes to help others from different backgrounds. Some of them who graduated from or had family members that graduated from Western.
"These guys are very fortunate to go to college, play football and have their school paid for," Casey said. "A lot of times these guys are given a lot of things and this is one of those times where these guys can give something back."
And get more out of it than they imagined.
"It was quite a scene and I've never been a part of anything like it," Dudczak said. "It makes you feel good. It's one of those life memories and moments you'll never forget."
Neither will the people of Niota.