Arch rivals unite as college teammates
Keghan Hartway of Edgar and John Seitz III of Stratford are best friends, despite the fact their high schools are arch rivals on the football field. They’ll now be college teammates this fall on the Division 3 St. Norbert Green Knights football squad.
They first met each other through youth wrestling when they were five or six years old. Seitz III hated wrestling against Hartway because he’d always lose to him. Hartway kept wrestling throughout high school, whereas Seitz III switched to playing basketball.
Hartway and Seitz III reconnected with each other when they were older in middle school. Now they always hang out and play Xbox with each other at either Hartway’s parents house in Edgar or Seitz III’s parents home in Stratford.
Their schools split football games the past two seasons. As juniors, Stratford edged Edgar, 9-8, in the Tigers’ regular-season home game that was moved to D.C. Everest. This past season, Edgar beat Stratford 14-0 at home. They would pose for a photo together after the games, win or lose.
“We really didn’t get mad at each other when one of us lost, because we have a mutual respect for each other,” Hartway said.
Seitz III agreed. “We both love playing football and being good friends with each other is bigger than the sport,” he said.
Hartway and his good friend Jase Apfelbeck, an Edgar sophomore football player this past season, even took off school to watch Seitz III and his Stratford team win the WIAA Division 6 state championship at Camp Randall in Madison.
Now Hartway and Seitz III are looking forward to becoming college roommates at St. Norbert College. They will be able to work out, practice and play football together for the Knights. Hartway played defensive back for Edgar but he’ll probably play free safety in college. Seitz III played outside linebacker for Stratford but he’ll likely play inside linebacker in college.
Dan McCarty, St. Norbert College head football coach, is ecstatic to gain commitments from Hartway and Seitz III.
“We are extremely excited to add John and Keghan to our SNC football family,” McCarty said. “Both players come to us from high school powerhouse programs that are well coached and respected. These guys understand the importance of hard work and a winning culture which aligns perfectly with our SNC family and winning culture here in De Pere. We are excited to develop these two guys into even better football players and, more importantly, better people by the time they leave St. Norbert College.”
Edgar graduate Max Larson is currently an offensive lineman on the St. Norbert College football team. Seitz III’s older brother, Zack Seitz, is currently an offensive lineman on the Division 2 Bemidji State football squad.
Hartway plans to study physical therapy while Seitz III plans to earn a degree in business administration with a minor in marketing or sales management while attending St. Norbert College.
