Minnewaska coach Trevor Solem to receive MFH Courage Award
Sports | Published on July 18, 2022 at 12:05pm CDT
The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation is incredibly proud to present Minnewaska coach Trevor Solem with this year’s Minnesota Football Honors Courage Award. Solem will be honored during this summer’s Minnesota Football Honors broadcast.
Football has always been a major part of Trevor Solem’s life. His father, Steve Solem, the eighth-winningest coach in Minnesota football history, shaped Trevor’s love for the game. Each year, Trevor soaked in strategies and techniques while watching his father run BOLD High School’s program. Solem developed a deep passion for the game and eventually pursued his own career in coaching. Over the years, nothing has kept Trevor away from football, including cancer.
In March of 2021, Trevor was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. Solem beat Ewing’s Sarcoma when he was 13 years old and is now tackling urothelial carcinoma at the age of 35. Doctors believe the latest form of cancer is a long-term side effect of his first treatment cycle. However, even while undergoing new treatments, Solem has not stopped coaching. He continues to coach varsity football and boys golf at Minnewaska.
“Trevor has always had a deep passion for football and that will never change. He is not letting cancer stand in the way of his passions – football, family and serving others,” said Todd Fultz, President of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and 2011 Courage Award winner. “Trevor’s perseverance, courage and kindness are all things that we can learn from and apply to our lives. We are honored to tell his story this year.”
While facing his own battle, Solem continues giving back to his community on and off the field. He impacts the lives of countless students by serving as a positive mentor and role model. In 2021, Solem made weekly trips to the Mayo Clinic, but was still there for his players. Trevor attended every practice and game he could while undergoing treatment. Each day, Solem’s passion, determination and courage inspire the entire Minnesota football community.
Minnesota Football Honors is hosting a show later this summer to honor its high school, college and Minnesota Vikings award winners. Full broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks on www.minnesotafootballhonors.com.
About the Minnesota Chapter
of the National Football Foundation:
The Minnesota Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote amateur football’s ability to develop leadership, sportsmanship, competitive spirit and academic excellence in Minnesota’s young people. The Minnesota Chapter recognizes legendary football icons, college football Hall of Famers and Minnesota’s top high school and college football scholar athletes. For more information, visit www.nffmn.org, or Facebook (@MNFootballHonors) and Twitter (@NFFMN).
