Signature moment for Grant's Munster clan
A special signing deserved a special writing instrument.
Leroy Munster III had the perfect gift for his son Lee, a Grant senior who's the defending Class 3A state wrestling champion at 171 pounds.
Truthfully, it was a "re-gift."
Fifteen years ago, Leroy Munster's employer showed its appreciation to him by presenting him a pen for a service achievement. It wasn't just any ol' ballpoint.
It was a pricey pen and one that meant a lot to Munster.
He had never used it - until Thursday, when the youngest of he and wife Raedel's four child penned his autograph on a national letter of intent with Northwestern University.
"I had been saving it for some day just like this," said the admittedly sentimental Leroy Munster, who's the director of program management at Abbott Laboratories. "It didn't have the Northwestern logo on it so my wife printed one off on the computer and taped it to it to sort of make it official."
The Munsters gift-wrapped the pen in a box and instructed Lee - Leroy IV - to open the present before he signed his letter of intent. The signing took place in Grant's athletic office.
"He told me (the day before) that I had to open something before (signing)," Lee Munster said. "I didn't have an idea what it was."
Munster had given a verbal commitment to Northwestern a year ago. Then, showing no complacency, he put together an undefeated season that culminated with his second state title in three years.
Several schools kept in contact with him, hoping he would change his mind about wrestling for NU, but Munster never wrestled with his initial decision and held firm.
"I was always getting reassured that it was the right choice," said Munster, wearing a purple-and-gray Northwestern hoodie. "(Schools) were still trying to recruit me and trying to get me to change my mind, but I was really happy with my decision already."
The 5-foot-8 Munster will move up a weight class this season to 189 pounds, which is his natural weight these days.
"There's no need to cut weight, just stay healthy and enjoy my final year of high school," said Munster, who placed second at nationals in Fargo, N.D., this past summer.
Among the family members on hand for Munster's letter-of-intent signing was his grandfather Leroy II, who's driven Lee all over the country since Lee started wrestling and competing judo when he was a kid.
"Since I've been doing sports, he's always been there," Munster said. "He's the one who pushed me into sports and helped me stay motivated and to keep training."