Former TC West Titan Peyton Wilkening works U-M sideline during games as student manager

Jan. 7—ANN ARBOR — Traverse City connections paid off for Peyton Wilkening.

Now he enjoys the best seat in the Big House.

The Traverse City West grad is a student manager for the University of Michigan football team that will play in Monday’s College Football Playoff national championship game in Houston, Texas.

He’s one of about 20 student managers who help out in practices and during games. Wilkening works exclusively with the quarterbacks and helps communicate plays on game days.

“I didn’t even know this position existed,” Wilkening said. “Every game, you’re on the sideline in awe. We were here against Alabama, and I was able to rush the field with the team.”

Traverse City Area Public Schools teacher Debby Regiani contacted Wilkening about applying for one of U-M’s student manager positions after a nephew of hers had the same position and graduated. She put him in contact with her nephew, and after some discussion, Wilkening decided to go for it.

“It all worked out from there,” Wilkening said. “It was a real Traverse City connection.”

A two-year varsity player at defensive end at TC West, he started his manager gig with the Wolverines’ spring game as a freshman. He then went full-time in the 2022-23 campaign and was on U-M’s travel team this season.

He helps with drills and warms up the quarterbacks in practice by snapping the ball to them and running routes.

On game days, his responsibilities include being one of three managers who wear a headset on the sidelines and uses signs and hand signals to relay play calls to players on the field.

“It is a huge honor and says a lot about what he is able to handle,” said Jason Morrow, who was Wilkening’s defensive coordinator at West. “He puts a lot of time in with the football program while maintaining his impressive academic workload.”

Over the headset, Wilkening hears all…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/former-tc-west-titan-peyton-193600230.html

Author : The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.

Publish date : 2024-01-07 19:36:00

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