‘Dream big and go after it’

I ended up missing the moment an Aurora hometown kid was drafted to the NFL because I was already occupied watching another Husky hero making threes in the NBA playoffs. 
I cannot believe I wrote that and have no idea how that’s real life.
While 2019 Aurora grad Baylor Scheierman was contributing to the Boston Celtics’ playoff run, 2020 Husky alum Nate Boerkircher’s name was announced as the 56th pick in the second round of the NFL draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 
Pinch yourself if you must. I still haven’t woken up from this dream either.
It’s truly remarkable the run of post high school success multiple Husky alums have had in the last decade. Not just your run-of-the-mill collegiate success, either. We’re talking three boys into grown men who have reached the top levels of their sport.
It really begs the question: What’s in Aurora’s water?
Austin Allen, the gentle giant we refer to as Oz, ran with that ball first, taking his talents to Lincoln where he blossomed into the Big Ten tight end of the year and a Husker captain his senior season.
He went through the NFL draft process in 2022 and while he wasn’t selected, he was picked up by the New York Giants and also spent time with the Green Bay Packers in his short stint with the NFL. 
Allen, now just a regular guy with a normal job up in Wisconsin, shared that while he loves where he’s at in life now, there’s no place like Aurora.
“This is really good for Aurora,” Allen said. “Those kids in elementary school to be watching NBA at night with Baylor and soon the NFL with Nate, and knowing the coaches in Aurora now helped them get there is huge for what’s to come. I’m just really proud of both Baylor and Nate with what they’re doing for the community.”
Don’t forget about Scheierman, the guy who oozes confidence and flair that people only wish they could possess. 
Scheierman bet on himself, going to South Dakota State before taking a chance by stepping up to Creighton, a move that ultimately lifted the former Husky to the pro level and, at this point, a rotational spot on a playoff team.
He’s not sure what’s in the water here but you won’t find anyone more proud to be from Aurora, Nebraska than Scheierman. 
“How about Aurora, Nebraska?” Scheierman said. “I obviously have so much pride in my hometown and just to think about how special it is that we had three professional athletes walking the halls at the same time! I don’t know if many small communities can say that and it speaks to everyone involved.”
There’s also Nate’s older brother, Ian. While he won’t know what it’s like to put on a NFL helmet, Ian was there as Nate started his career in Lincoln and watched from the stands as his career blossomed at Texas A&M this past fall.
Ian said it’s difficult to wrap your mind around what those three former Huskies have accomplished over the past couple years and will continue to do so with his younger brother and Scheierman.
He added, though, it may not end there.
“How insane is it that a town of 5,000 in the middle of the country can produce this much talent,” Ian said. “And, can still produce more. Is it the culture, the strength and conditioning? Aurora has a very competitive, disciplined, hard-working mindset. There’s something special about Aurora and someone should do a study about what’s in the water there.”
If you reached out to Nate since the weekend trying to congratulate him on his dreams coming true, he’s still working on getting back to everyone with more than 500 unanswered texts as of Sunday. 
At least he answered the correct potential spam call Friday night. 
So, what are his thoughts about the water he drank in Aurora?
“There’s got to be something in that water,” Nate said. “It’s truly impressive a town our size produces the talent we have. It’s every year in a town with one stop-light. When I told coaches about the town I grew up in, their eyebrows always raised. It’s not supposed to happen. Aurora shaped me into who I am and I’m thankful for everyone there that helped me get to where I am today.”
How about we just ask the guy himself who called out water breaks during those sweltering August practices.
Aurora football coach Kyle Peterson has continued a tradition of excellence within the Husky football program over the past 11 seasons and coached all three of Aurora’s professional sports talent. 
So, coach, what’s in that water?
“We teach our kids to be physical,” Peterson said. “I’ve had the opportunity to talk to professional teams when Austin Allen was being evaluated and now with Nate, too, I always say our kids play multiple sports and they play defense. There’s a physicality our kids bring.
“Also, we have a competitive nature here. Aurora kids are just a bit different than a lot of kids around the state with how they perform and their attention to detail.”
Turns out, big dreams start deep from within and are sprinkled with plenty of blood, sweat and tears that turn into smiles, hugs and cheers down the road.
In another piece I wrote, AI told me that the possibility of three kids reaching pro sports from this small of a high school within a four-year span was like winning the lottery and getting struck by lightning. 
Peterson told his track team and wants those even younger to know that the dream may be just that, but those three have proven it’s attainable.
“I tell our kids to set a goal so big than you can’t achieve it today,” Peterson said. “Someday, you’ll grow into somebody that can. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming so big that it’s just a pipe dream. There’s no way you can accomplish it if you don’t set that dream, you never will.”
And, for all the BigRich fans reading this inside Aurora elementary school right now, (all elementary teachers please assist and read if necessary), don’t let anyone tell you reaching pro sports can’t happen. 
There’s a green Celtics jersey, blue Giants jersey, green Packers jersey and aqua Jaguars jersey that prove otherwise. If you haven’t already, hopefully many of you find those in birthday presents and under Christmas trees real soon. 
If you don’t believe me, trust the guy who walked those halls and now has a locker in the NBA.
“I hope the kids that are seeing all of this happen the last few years with Austin, myself and now Nate are encouraged to dream big and go after it with dedication and persistence,” Scheierman said. 
“Have a huge goal because someday you’ll become a person that can accomplish it,” Peterson added.
A-Town is a special place full of the most determined folks. Look how far they can go.
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.