Four Burlington athletes to play college football

By Mike Ramczyk

Sports Editor

College football national signing day was Feb. 6.

While zero Burlington players will play at the next level on scholarship, four local gridiron grinders will test their luck on Saturdays this fall.

Three Demons, Tyler Kirkeeng, Chris Runjo and Larry Meeks, will all play at state schools.

Catholic Central senior Brett Gardner will play linebacker at UW-La Crosse this fall.

Meeks, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound linebacker, earned all-area, all-conference and all-Racine County honors as a senior last fall.

Meeks led the Demons in tackles, was a two-year starter and was a team captain. He played both ways as a senior. Meeks will play at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

“Larry has great instincts, works hard and has great football intelligence,” said former Burlington head coach Hans Block.

Kirkeeng, a 6-foot-1, 255-pound lineman, all earned all-area, all-conference and all-county accolades.

A two-way starter for two years, Kirkeeng led the defensive line in tackles and tackles for loss last fall. He was voted the best defensive lineman on the Demons.

Kirkeeng will play at UW-Oshkosh this fall, joining former Demons Jay Essman and Chad Redmer.

“Tyler enjoys contact and has good balance and quickness,” Block said.

Runjo is a handful for opposing teams at 6-foot-1, 285 pounds. Voted the best offensive lineman on the Demons, the two-year starter was selected to first team all-county, all-conference and all-area.

According to Block, Runjo had in-depth discussions with several Division II schools before deciding on UW-Whitewater.

“Chris is powerful, has terrific feet, is very good at pass blocking and is an outstanding drive blocker,” Block said.

In the past two seasons, nine Demons have gone on to play college football.

Others still playing include Neal Miller (UW-Stout), Ty Dennis (D2 Minnesota-Mankato), Essman, Redmer, Jimmy Penzel (Carthage College) and Matt Lunsmann (Concordia).

“We are pleased that nine of our former players have enjoyed their high school experience so much that they continued playing at the college level,” Block said.

While the Southern Lakes Conference isn’t the toughest league in the state in terms of football, it’s no slouch with Lake Geneva Badger, Waterford and Wilmot churning out strong, college-ready players each year. Burlington has joined that group the past two seasons.

Block said the Demons stress fundamentals, which will help at the next level.

“At BHS, we pride ourselves on being fundamentally sound, playing with passion and playing with discipline,” he said. “Our guys will do well at the college level. I am proud of them, and I have truly been blessed to have had the privilege to coach them.”