Wives hold down the fort while coaches are dedicated to sidelines

By Sabrina Stockrahm
EDITOR

Coaching the Linton-Stockton High

School football team is a year-round
commitment, so someone has to keep
the rest of the world turning while the
guys are out on the field.
The wives of the coaching staff could
be called the unsung heroes of the
football season, especially considering
these women keep lives moving forward
off the field.
Barbara Gennicks has a long history
with the Linton football team, starting
with the fact her husband, Mark, has
been on the coaching staff for 20 years.
Their son, Jake, currently coaches and
son, Silas, previously coached.
Coach Rick Wellington asked Mark
to join the staff in 1996. (Our son) Jake
was a freshman, our daughter Rachael
was in sixth grade and Silas was in
third. It was all exciting and new then,
Gennicks said.
In those two decades, Gennicks said
football has been a big part of their

By Shad Cox

Barbara Gennicks (cheering in center)

was at the State Championship with her
children Silas (left) and Rachael (right).
family. Mark coached youth league and
all three of their children played their
own role on the team, from playing to
cheering to joining the coaching staff.
It has really been what our family does and is. Rachael played youth
league when she was in fifth and sixth
grade, then managed and cheered for
the team in high school, Gennicks

said.
Rachael started a tradition in high
school with her dad and brother Jake,
which Gennicks has carried on since
her daughter graduated.
Every Friday night, she gave Blow
Pops to Jake and her dad, Gennicks
recalled.
It has evolved to me greeting the
team as they take the field at game
time, telling (Coach) Brian (Oliver) good
luck coach, exchanging names with
Coach Scott Padgett, giving Mark a kiss
and telling him to call a good one, then
handing Jake the suckers -- four cherry
Blow Pops, one each for Brian, Mark,
Jake, and Mickey Tostie -- and telling
him call a good one, love you. In all
theses years, Ive rarely missed a game,
but this year I had the stomach flu on
the Friday of the first sectional game.
That night we had to be flexible, so Jake
stopped by the house pre-game and we
went through our ritual there.
Cant mess with traditions. I was
even on the field when the team came
out of the tunnel at Lucas Oil. And that
turned out pretty good, Gennicks said.

Their son Silas also has deep roots

in the football family, starting back in
elementary.
Silas was Jakes towel boy when he
was in elementary, played all through
high school, broke down film when he
was in Afghanistan, was stat guy for a
year, and coached a year, Gennicks
said.
While she has been excited to see her
family so involved in the sport, she has
also played her own role.
Over the years, I could be found
screaming from the south end zone,
cheering from the stands, walking the
sidelines and watching from the press
box, Gennicks said.
But, she has found a second family
in the Linton football team, staff and
families.
During season, eating together is
very difficult. Thats why Thursday
night dinners are so important. We
finally get to eat and visit with Jake,
(daughter-in-law) Lacey, and the grandkids, Gennicks said.
See Wives, Page 21

GREAT JOB
LINTON MINERS!
WE ARE SO pROud Of yOu!

Way to go
Miners!
289 A Street NE, Linton, IN 47441

812.699.4017

Glenburn Home

618 W Glenburn Road, Linton

(812)847-2221

Remembering a State Title Page 20

Wives

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

After 20 years theres been a lot of

personal great highs and a few rough
patches, a lot of different bed times due
to film watching, a lot of discussions
about players and positions and schedules and scouting, a lot of time apart, a
lot of time spent on Linton Miner football period. And thats really 365 days
a year.
Bottom line, I love Miner football.
The football field is like a second home
and everyone associated with the team
is definitely family. Weve been blessed
to have been a part of this for 20 years,
and I hope we get 20 more, Gennicks
said.
As the wife of head coach Brian Oliver, Lindsey Oliver says she has to
step up in a big way to keep life moving
smoothly while her husband is dedicating many hours to the football team.
Oliver said while her husband is on
the field, she has to focus on getting
their two children to and from practices and events. This year was a little
more taxing, she said, considering their

daughter is in junior high and joined

the cheer squad. Their third-grade son
is also playing football.
When they were younger, it was easy
because they could go to practice with
Brian and that was fine, but now they
need someone to run them around, and
thats me, Oliver said.
She added with a laugh, Its up to me
to keep the Oliver house running.
But, like many on the coaching staff,
the teams roots are much deeper for
her than just those who run out on the
field. Olivers sister, Lacey, is the wife to
coach Jake Gennicks.
Ive got my sister, and my sisters
mother-in-law, so we already have a
bond, plus the Gentrys are good friends,
too, Oliver said.
Oliver said she enjoys getting to play
an active role in the team, even if that
means seeing her husband for just a few
minutes on game day, that is made up
during the Thursday night feeds, which
the coachs wives help out with as well.
During sectional championship week,
the football wives all make the meal for
that week, Oliver said.
But, despite the fact she spends the
season working extra hard to keep their

home and family in order, she enjoys

seeing the difference the coach makes in
the lives of the young men he coaches,
and also her children get to see their
dad succeed in a big way.
Hes not only their coach. Even when
the kids are graduated, they still come
to him for advice. Thats special because its about more than football, she
stressed.
Its been fun watching Brian be successful. This has always been something
he has wanted to do. Four years ago we
sat down as a family and discussed
what this was going to entail. It wasnt
just going to be him as the coach. Its a
lot more than that. Its not just a game
on Friday night.
At that time, Oliver said the decision
just made sense, even though they
knew it would be a lot of work.
Kelly Gentry said she has enjoyed Linton Miner football as not only the wife
to coach Dennis Gentry, but also as the
mother of a current player, Avery, and
former player, Ross.
Being the wife of a football coach is a
big undertaking, Gentry said, noting the
coaches start working on the next season in December. While its a sacrifice

at home, Gentry said its worth it to see

such a successful program.
They (coaches) get a lot of credit, but
if people only knew how many hours
they dedicate, theyd be surprised,
Gentry said.
Getting to watch the game with her
sons on the field and her husband helping on the sidelines is worth all those
sacrifices, Gentry said, but a lot of that
is due to the fact Linton Miner football
is about more than just touchdowns
and tackles.
(Football) is such a big thing in this
town, Gentry said.
She added, Its not always about football. Its about relationships, too.
Gentry said she has been involved in
the Thursday night feeds and enjoyed
the teams bonfires and other celebratory gatherings during the season.
But, most of all, she said she was
excited to see her son, Avery, be able
to celebrate this years victory as the
Class A state champions with his family
who understands the importance of the
game.
Avery got to share this experience
with his dad and brother, and thats a
blessing, Gentry said.

CONGRATULATIONS
LINTON MINERS
2016 IHSAA IA STATE CHAMPIONS!

#LMF

YOU EARNED IT!

And a big shout-out to the band, and cheerleaders on a
season of terrific performances!
Trevor, we are so proud of you, and your team!
Congratulations on a 15-0 perfect season!
Love, Mom, Dad, Papaw Larry & Grandma Kathy,
Grandma Rita & Papaw Bobby, Granny B & Papaw Steve,
Pappy, and Grandma Ruth.
Remembering a State Title Page 21

#CHA

MPS