Perry’s Joyce and Pete VanKirk made a trip to Grinnell Sept. 19 to visit with their grandson, Jackson, even though he is not a student at the private college.
The reason for the younger VanKirk’s visit to the Jasper county school was football, as the former Perry standout is a linebacker for Luther College, and the Norse were in town to battle the Pioneers. As Grinnell is shorter drive from Perry than Decorah, the chance for a brief family reunion was simply too good to pass up.
The game itself was far from suspenseful, as the Norse pummeled their hosts, 56-0.
VanKirk is not the only former Bluejay to suit up for the Luther gridders, as Gabe Saemisch is also a member of the Norse. Unfortunately, Saemisch is currently sidelined by an injury.
Luther is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in IIAC action after falling to host Dubuque, 16-14, Saturday. The season began with a 26-19 setback at Wisconsin-La Crosse, but the Norse bounced back to stop St. Olaf, 34-16, in Decorah before humbling Grinnell. The team returns to action Oct. 10 with a visit to Pella to face Central College.
