Clayton Ridge proudly displays new trophy case
Clayton Ridge recently installed a new trophy case in the high school commons area to highlight accomplishments from the last 25 years of Eagle athletics. Head football coach Matt Moser organized the effort and hopes it encourages student athletes to work hard for success. (Photo courtesy of Clayton Ridge School)
By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns
Sept. 4 was the first opportunity for the public to see the new trophy case installed in the Clayton Ridge High School commons area over the summer.
The case proudly displays trophies from the last 25 years of Clayton Ridge athletics, highlighting conference, regional and state team accomplishments.
Matt Moser, head football coach for the Clayton Ridge Eagles, spearheaded this project. Visiting other schools and seeing their displays of accomplishments made him recognize the need for Clayton Ridge’s to be highlighted as well.
There are existing trophy cases in various areas of the district, but not in any high-traffic shared spaces. The updates to the gym greatly improved the experience for athletes and spectators, although they did change the foot traffic, which reduced the visibility of the existing cases.
The other cases hold trophies from the Guttenberg Pirates and Garnavillo Hawks. The new one was designed specifically to highlight the achievements of the Clayton Ridge Eagles.
Accomplishments currently on display include:
•Football - 2009 District Champs; 2004, 2006, 2013 and 2016 State Participants; 2009 Quarterfinalist
•Boys Cross Country - 2022 UIC Champs; 2022 State Participants
•Volleyball - 2018 and 2022 UIC Champs
•Boys Basketball - 2002, 2005, 2014 and 2015 UIC Champs; 2004, 2005 and 2017 District Champs; 2005 State Participants
• Girls Basketball - 2015, 2016 and 2017 UIC Champs
•Girls Tack - 2015 UIC Champs; 2015 State Champions
•Boys Golf - 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2017 UIC Champs; 2017 State Participant
•Girls Golf - 2019 and 2022 UIC Champs
•Baseball - 2015 and 2017 UIC Champs
•Softball - 2005 UIC Champs
•Drill Team - 21 First Place Trophies
Individual accomplishments remain on display in the virtual trophy case also housed in the commons.
Many Clayton Ridge alumni have already complimented the installation. Recognizing the athletes of the past, Moser shared, “I also want our alumni who return to be proud of where they came from and be able to show their kids or relatives their accomplishments.”
Moser added, “I hope it motivates our current student athletes to want to have success and have better participation in our sport programs.”
He hopes students see it and think, “I want a trophy in that case someday,” serving as a reminder that “It is possible to have success, and the new case shows that.”
Through putting the case together, Moser noted, “Clayton Ridge has had a lot more success than I knew. The challenge was finding pictures and deciding on a design that would be uniform for all sports. The trophies are different heights, which makes shelf placement difficult and takes up a lot of space, but that is a good thing, as the bigger the trophy, the better the success.”
Moser expressed gratitude for Bruce Thein, who he noted does a lot for the district and is instrumental in promoting student athletes. In this project, he provided input to Moser on the quality of photos and design.
With help from Melissa Spielbauer-Combs at The Guttenberg Press, Thein also took on the task of tracking down missing pictures needed for the projects.
Moser thanked Clayton Ridge Superintendent Shane Wahls for supporting the idea, as well as the school board and athletic director Adam Radcliffe for helping make the project happen.
