by Rick Ramirez
Tyler Genneken, a 14-year-old Center Grove boy, lost his battle with leukemia in 2009, but his memory continues to motivate so many who knew him. His football teammates will tell you how infectious the former running back’s smile and attitude were. Their bond was so great that the Center Grove High School football team carried Tyler’s jersey onto the field for their season opener at Warren Central in August. It would have been Tyler’s first game as a senior. “It meant a lot to have his jersey and spirit out there,” said Lane Morris, a close friend and teammate since third grade.
Starting quarterback Luke Calvert carried the jersey out with the other team captains before the start of the game. “It was a surreal moment in my life that I will never forge
t,” Luke recalled. “Holding that jersey with 12 stitched on the front of it, and right above it (the name ‘Trojans’) showed what Tyler was, a Trojan. We will honor him, but more importantly, we will have him as a teammate on and off the field this year,” said Luke.
While many remember Tyler as a running back who lost his life way too soon, his spirit is helping the lives he touched. “He’s become a huge part of my life. I use him for motivation for most of my daily tasks,” said Lane. “When we have a hard practice, I think of how hard his treatments must have been and use that as motivation. Without him, we wouldn’t be as tight of a class,” Lane added.
Tyler’s memory goes beyond his friends, the football field and even the Center Grove community. Out of an attempt to find a bone marrow match for their son, Tyler’s parents created the Tyler Genneken Foundation. “We held bone marrow registration drives and got thousands of people to sign up,” said Tyler’s father, Drew. “When the window closed, and a match couldn’t be found, Tyler was the one who said, ‘More needed to be done. We have to fix this.’ He didn’t want any other kid to not receive a match,” said Drew.
The fourth annual Tyler Genneken Foundation’s Play it Forward Football Tournament will benefit the Be The Match national marrow donor program. Teams pay an entry fee to compete in the tournament. All proceeds go to fund bone marrow registration drives. This still room for more teams in this year’s tournament and several ways to help make the fundraiser a success including volunteering, donations and sponsorships. “The football tournament and foundation bring hope to kids just like Tyler,” said Lane.
In 2004, Rick launched Thomas Daniel Media. The company, named after his son, offers services in video production, marketing, advertising, public relations, and websites. Thomas Daniel Media currently produces the TV series Indiana Weekend, hosted by former Miss America Katie Stam.
