By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – De Pere High School senior Charlie Eggers grew up watching his older brother Murphy play sports.
Charlie, the son of Kurt and Jill Eggers, said that made him work harder.
“One of my fondest memories is getting to play varsity hockey with Murphy when I was a sophomore and he was a senior,” said Eggers. “I had a great time doing that. Before high school, the only time we played together was in Mites.”
Eggers also has a sister, Laney, who’s a senior at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.
“Laney played tennis and soccer in high school,” he said. “My dad lived in Allouez and went to Premontre High School, and my mom grew up in Minneapolis. My dad played baseball, hockey and football, and my mom figure skated.”
Besides hockey, Eggers also plays soccer, but De Pere moved all its fall sports to next spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was bummed we didn’t get to play this fall, but I worked out all summer preparing,” said Eggers, who describes himself as funny, nice and optimistic. “I’ve remained positive despite what’s going on, so I’m hopeful we can play hockey this winter and soccer next spring.”
The winter hockey season is scheduled to begin Nov. 16.
“We should have a few solid lines,” Eggers said. “We lost one of our goalies and a few seniors, but I’m hoping we can be competitive.”
Spring soccer is scheduled to begin March 22.
De Pere’s head coach is Dusty Rhodes.
“I know Dusty well as a coach,” said Eggers. “He’s been my coach since I was young. He’s a great guy, but he gets on me at times – he knows me well and cares.”
Eggers recently got accepted into the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
“My brother already attends there,” he said. “I’m looking at becoming a finance major. I’ll probably do club soccer and join a hockey league, too.”
Eggers said he’s always had a love for exotic animals.
“I have two pet African tortoises – one is over a foot long,” he said. “They are not very common. My dad is allergic to dogs, so when I was in the fourth grade, I got hooked on tortoises. I got another one in the sixth grade.”
Eggers said he will miss his friends and teachers at De Pere.
“It’s a great school,” he said. “I’ll miss it when I leave. Going to a Big 10 college will be much different.”
Besides watching sports, Eggers said he likes hanging out with friends and family and playing video games.
He also likes the Washington Capitals hockey team and player Alex Ovechkin.