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Mersch, Barnes, Simonelli and Faust were seniors.
Kerdiles and McCabe were underclassmen.
Kerdiles had two years of eligibility remaining;
McCabe had one.
Despite scattering all over the map, they are all
still linked by one very important thing. Each is com-
mitted to graduating and getting their degree from
Wisconsin.
That can be unique. There are plenty of stories out
there about hockey players blowing off the spring
semester once they have signed their pro contract;
never looking back or coming back to finish.
Without making any arrangements with their pro-
fessors, they will just take off, disappear. So what if
they fail some, if not all, of their courses? They're
chasing the dream ― without a safety net.
"I've definitely heard stories of that ― it's more
common than you think," Mersch said. "You wonder
why guys would do that when they're so close (to
graduating).
"If you can just bear down for an extra two months,
maybe even just a month, it can make the biggest dif-
ference in your life. Why not do it and finish it out?"
Each player has a little bit different background.
Some are further out from finishing than others.
Mersch will get his degree in consumer science by
completing an online class this summer.
"It's a little bit tougher in my situation," Kerdiles
pointed out, "being there (Wisconsin) for two years
and having two years left (to graduate).
"But I definitely want to get my degree. I don't
know if that's just continually taking classes or going
back to school when I'm done with hockey. I don't
know that answer yet."
Mersch is from Park Ridge, Illinois, 18 miles from
Chicago. Kerdiles is from Irvine, California, 16 miles
from Anaheim. Both are products of the U.S. National
Team Development program in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Hockey has not been the only common denomina-
tor.
As a UW freshman, Mersch said, "I came here to
graduate and have that degree in my hand. I have
people in my family who were pretty successful in
the business world and they had their degrees.
"You need to have some sort of cushion in your
life to gain opportunities, especially after hockey is
done. The University of Wisconsin does a great job
of rounding each individual."
Kerdiles was of a similar mindset when he got to
campus.
"I wanted to get my schooling started," he said,
"regardless if that was for one year, two years, three
FAUST SIMONELLI KERDILES
