The Perry Class of 2017 was given the boot, as it were, at their baccalaureate service Sunday evening, as former Iowa State University placekicker extraordinaire Cole Netten was the featured speaker.
The holder of numerous school records for his four years as the primary kicker, Netten — a longtime roommate of ISU linebacker and Perry native Kane Seeley — spoke of his journey from Ankeny to Ames and of his relationship with Jesus Christ, which he called “the most important thing in my life.”
Netten said he was grateful for an initial redshirt year (on scholarship but not allowed to play in games) as it allowed him to adjust to college life.
“All of a sudden I didn’t have parents wanting to know where I was at midnight, and I could order pizza whenever I wanted,” he joked. “I thought ‘this is going to be OK’ and I had fun.”
He detailed his first three years of being ISU’s kicker, including hitting a winning field goal in Kinnick Stadium.
“We were down by three and they hit a field goal, so I knew it was going to come down to me,” he said. “But I wasn’t nervous at all. Sure, it was on ESPN and in front of 75,000 people, but my faith helped keep me calm and have confidence that everything was going to be fine. I have to admit, I loved sending all those people out of the stadium real quiet.”
Along with the highs came his share of lows, Netten said, particularly in his third year after missing a potential game-winning kick against Toledo (whose coach, Matt Campbell, would, coincidentally, be hired as the new Cyclone coach the following off season).
“Social media just went crazy,” he recalled. “I was called every name you can imagine, had death threats, all of that. I thought how crazy is this? These people don’t know anything about me.”
Netten said he nearly quit before the start of his final season because football “wasn’t fun anymore, and it had become more of a chore than anything else” but was encouraged to stick with it by his parents and after some self introspection.
Thinking to himself “what is the most important thing I want people to know about me?” led, Netten said, to a strengthening of his faith.
His sometimes comical remarks were sprinkled with comments about his wife Kate, who sat, smiling and laughing, a few feet away.
“We were a couple back in high school once I convinced her she needed to go out with me,” Netten deadpanned. “We broke up for a bit, and I just waited for her to realize she needed to come back to me.”
His future wife had a friend named Hannah, and Netten and Seeley were in a bible study group, along with another set of friends. All three couples have ended up married “so something was at work” Netten said.
The evening started with an opening prayer from Rev. Charles Compton and piano music from Burinda Bakker. Lonnie Ostransky led the gathering in the popular hymn “How Great Thou Art” with Perry junior Brandon Kenyon reading a biblical passage, after which Dr. Randy McCaulley sang “Above All.”
Senior Haley Vaughn introduced the seniors present, who mentioned their future plans.
The hymn “Holy, Holy” was sung, with senior Samantha Paullin taking to the piano to accompany junior songstress Breanna Penenger for “Ten Thousand Reasons.”
Netten then spoke, beginning by congratulating seniors Paullin, Brooke Huntington and Brandon Juarez for “making the right choice” in picking Iowa State at which to continue their education.
Those gathered sang “Because He Lives” with Joseph Dantzler leading a closing prayer, after which all congregated to the lobby, where refreshments were provided, congratulations offered and many photos taken.
The Class of 2017 will receive their diplomas at their graduation ceremony Sunday.
Very nice ceremony, but I cannot figure out why fewer than a dozen seniors were even present. In years gone by, the entire class would have been there and probably in caps and gowns. Very sad to see such a poor turnout for this event.
Thanks to Jeff Webster for an excellent report and good coverage. Charles Compton
Thank you to ThePerryNews for the excellent coverage and wonderful pictures of the Perry graduates at the baccalaureate service! Congratulations to all the seniors who participated, for all the hard work they put into their years of schooling, and for taking a stand for Jesus Christ and recognizing the spiritual component to their lives and the successes they will have in their future. Thanks to Perry Bible Church and Charles Compten for providing this experience and celebration for Perry students and families!