By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Darin Tiedt has been described as many things.
A loving husband, a terrific father, a dedicated wrestler (and wrestling coach) and the kind of person you want around when the going gets tough.
“He always keeps things light,” said friend and fellow wrestler Kevin Bird. The two competed for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. “I’ve never seen him riled up.”
For everything Darin Tiedt has done for other people, though, it might come back two-fold next weekend.
On April 8, suffering from severe dehydration after a bout with ulcerative colitis, Tiedt suffered a pair of strokes. He has been hospitalized since, and is paralyzed on his left side, though he is improving with rehab and therapy.
“His progress has been very encouraging,” said Tiedt’s wife, Heidi. “Our long-term prognosis is still unknown.”
Unknown, but not without support. Friends and family – stretching as far away as North Carolina – have stepped up to make June 7 into a series of fundraisers for Darin and his family.
A youth folkstyle wrestling tournament will run at Burlington High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a pig roast going from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 2107 South Browns Lake Drive.
In addition, there will be a 5K run/walk beginning and ending at BHS. Cost is $20, and includes a ticket to the pig roast.
There will be silent auctions and raffles at the pig roast as well. All proceeds will go to the family to help with the financial strain Darin’s health issues have caused.
“The outpouring of generosity has been a humbling experience,” said Heidi. “To say ‘thank you’ would never seem like enough.”
The family – and wrestling
Burlington is one small community among many in Wisconsin.
Freedom, where Darin Tiedt grew up, is another. A two-time state-qualifying wrestler, Tiedt went on to become a three-time All-American in college and was later inducted into the UW-Parkside Hall of Fame.
After graduating and earning a master’s degree in business administration, Darin married Heidi – a Burlington native – and the two settled in Burlington to raise their family.
The couple has five boys – Cru, 24, Hegeman, 16, Malik, 12, Zeke, 10, and Porter, 5.
Porter just competed in his first wrestling competition this past December, and seemingly everyone in the family has a tie to the sport. Hegeman, just a sophomore at BHS, has been on the verge of qualifying for state as an individual, and been a part of two state-qualifying teams.
Everything seemed normal until Darin got sick – and then ended up in the hospital April 8.
Then he suffered one stroke. Once transported to St. Luke’s, he suffered another.
Now, the friends Darin made through wrestling – and through his involvement in wrestling – have started to rally for him.
Coming together
Heidi said Wednesday that family and friends have come together to make the last few weeks easier. As Darin has worked his way through therapy and looked toward coming home, those people renovated a downstairs half-bath into a full bathroom that is wheelchair accessible.
There have also been alterations made to the entries of the home, to allow for Darin’s wheelchair.
But for all that’s been done, more is coming. Bird said he went to Fox River State Bank “right away” to establish a fund for the family, and both he and his wife, Caryn, have been to the hospital.
“I mentioned to Heidi that we’d like to get a benefit together,” said Caryn. “She actually said, ‘what about a wrestling tournament?’”
That is what started the ball rolling. From there, though, the ideas have continued to flow in.
“Most of the community is stepping up with all kinds of ideas,” she explained.
One man, who lives in North Carolina but has ties to Burlington wrestling, has donated a pair of generators and a single-stage snowblower for raffles. Julie Verhagen and Robbie Twohig, BHS teachers, organized the 5K run/walk.
The Aquaducks – Browns Lake’s water ski team that includes Hegeman and Zeke – will do a special performance at the pig roast. And T-shirts will be on sale through Pharmacy Station.
Doug Tiedt, Darin’s brother, is an assistant athletic director at the University of Wisconsin – and will be in charge of pulling in items from the university for the silent auction.
“It’s a true definition of small-town America rallying together to help someone when they’re in tough times,” said Doug Tiedt. “It’s also a true testament to the wrestling community.”
Through Facebook, Twitter and also caringbridge.org (search for Darin Tiedt), the story has spread far and wide.
“To really promote a good cause,” said Doug.
Moving forward
While others organize the events of June 7, the family continues to cope with the changes.
To Hegeman, not much has really changed.
“My dad’s been my coach, my teacher and, well, my hero my entire life,” Hegeman said. “I just look up to him. He’s gone through all this, and he’s the same cheery guy and wonderful dad.”
Malik added, “Every time I face some difficulty or a bump in the road I say to myself, ‘Do it for dad.’”
Zeke, meanwhile, penned a homemade get-well card for his father recently. It reads, “I don’t have the words to make you feel better, but I do have the arms to give you a hug, and I have a heart waiting to see you smile again.”
Porter voiced a wish the whole family wants – to get their father home again. That looks to be on schedule for this week.
When he does get home, everyone knows the future could be uncertain.
“There’s going to be many, many challenges that I don’t even think most of us are aware of,” said Doug.
In a sense, though, that may simply be the plan, at least as Heidi sees it.
“On April 8, 2014, our lives changed forever,” Heidi said. “But we know God has a plan, and we feel incredibly blessed that all of you are a part of it.”
To register for the wrestling tournament online, visit www.trackwrestling.com (USA Wrestling card required). The tournament will be limited to 400 wrestlers, and each wrestler receives one ticket for the pig roast. Admission for the tournament is $2 for adults, and $1 for students and coaches with cards.
To register for the run/walk, contact Twohig or Verhagen at BHS at (262) 763-0200. For all other questions, contact Kevin Bird at (262) 206-9843.
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