Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: 2025 Terry Griffey Award winner Sam Myer with his parents, Chris Myer and Keeley Stromberg. The Griffey Award is given annually to St. Edmond’s top male student-athlete.

Over the last four years, Sam Myer made it his mission to represent St. Edmond to the best of his ability on both the football field and wrestling mat.

Now, the recent SEHS graduate will take on an entirely new challenge.

Myer, the 2025 Terry Griffey Award winner as the top boy Gael student-athlete, is planning on becoming a firefighter right here in his hometown.

“I have a couple of friends that are currently working (at the Fort Dodge Fire Department),” Myer said. “I went and spent a day with them and really enjoyed my time there.

“Helping people like that is fun.”

Myer joins a long list of previous winners, including recent recipents JT Laufersweiler, Aaron Lursen and Hayden Mayer. Myer is the first four-year wrestler to earn the honor since Frankie Harvey in 2007.

“I was awestruck when I heard my name called as the winner of the Griffey,” Myer said. “I was very excited to get recognition and that high of an honor.”

On the wrestling mat, Myer was a two-time state qualifier. More importantly, he helped keep the program afloat alongside classmate Adam Walker.

Myer won 29 matches and punched his state ticket as a junior. He put together a 28-14 mark this past winter, placing third at districts while also taking fourth at the North Central Conference meet.

“Sam was a great leader for our program,” SEHS head wrestling coach Kaden McClintock said. “He was one of the hardest workers I have ever been around and a big part — along with Adam — of us keeping a wrestling program at St. Edmond.”

Myer battled injuries to help the Gaels reach the eight-player playoffs last fall. He was limited to 89 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground, but was fourth on the team with 55 tackles defensively — including three for loss. Myer also recorded two interceptions, with one being returned for a score.

During his junior campaign, Myer rushed for 451 yards and scored four touchdowns, while adding 80 receiving yards and another score to go along with 69 tackles. He had 7.5 stops for loss that season.

“Sam was the type of kid you love to have on your side,” SEHS head football coach Matt Dillon said. “He always showed up no matter how he felt and he gave you everything that he had.”

For Myer, seeing past Gael standouts pushed to their limits helped him understand what it took to succeed once the spotlight reached him.

“My main influences were guys like Tyler Rossmanith and Isaac Landwehr — upperclassmen in the sports I was competing in,” he said. “Coaches like Kaden McClintock also helped influence me along the way.

He cited the “connections I made with my teammates and the Gael community” as one thing that he will miss about high school.

As for a piece of advice he would go back and give, Myer added, “I would tell my freshman self to keep that ’97 Ford and don’t choose money over having fun, unless you can make money while having fun.”

Named for Lt. Terrence Griffey, a 1958 graduate of St. Edmond, this award was first handed out in 1968. Griffey was killed in action over Vietnam in 1966.

Other 2025 finalists for the award were Klay Baker, Dominic McClain, Liam Shannon and Walker.

TIMEOUT WITH SAM MYER

Vacation: Paraguay

Dinner: Both sides of my family

Something surprise people: I gained 30 pounds in 3 days

Sports role mode: Nick Bare

Nickname: Sammy

Rival: Manson NW

Team: New Orleans Saints

Athlete: Justin Gaethje

Movie: Good will hunting

Phone app: Facebook marketplace

TERRY GRIFFEY AWARD WINNERS

2025 Sam Myer

2024 JT Laufersweiler

2023 Aaron Lursen

2022 Hayden Mayer

2021 Grant Heldorfer

2020 Charlie Shelly

2019 Andrew Gibb

2018 Cade Naughton

2017 Charles Doyle

2016 Tate O’Tool

2015 Matthew Bocken

2014 Hank Crimmins

2013 David Flattery

2012 Neil Flattery

2011 Anthony Flattery

2010 Luke Becker

2009 John Engler

2008 Jay Bunte

2007 Frankie Harvey

2006 Ben Becker

2005 Joel Allen

2004 Tim Flattery

2003 Andy Flattery

2002 Josh Koenig

2001 Chris Coleman

2000 Cory Bargfrede

Denny Stucky

1999 Brian Mann

1998 Andy Davidson

1997 Ryan O’Rourke

1996 Craig Schlienz

1995 Matt Janssen

1994 Chad Dressen

1993 Michael Seymour

1992 Kyle Lake

1991 Andy Lang

1990 Greg Sheridan

1989 Jim Bocken

1988 P.J. Goodwine

1987 Bill Stein

1986 Mike Brinkman

1985 Tim Wilson

1984 Rick McCarville

1983, Dave Lang

1982 Dick Bianchi

1981 Pat Condon

1980 Dave Conell

1979 Chris Hoft

1978 Tony Miller

1977 Dave Flattery

Dan Flattery

1976 Mike Lose

1975 Dave Crimmins

Steve Stark

1974 Paul Cahill

1973 Jim O’Connell

1972 Bruce Engler

1971 Neven Mulholland

1970 Rich Schoon

1969 Dick Knudson

1968 Mike Eckerman