Vernon Stevens (Oneida) walks his path high and tall as a multi-athlete at Oneida Nation HS

By Dan Ninham, contributing writer

Vernon Stevens is a member of the Oneida Nation and is a senior at the Oneida Nation High School in Wisconsin. 

When talking about his major accomplishment he thinks team first. He said, “I would say one of my biggest team accomplishments would be helping lead this previous season of football. We went from a team not winning a single game in years to a 6-3 record. Gave hope to a team that hasn’t seen much in a while.”

“Overall team accomplishments would be going to every game and showing that Native Americans can play ball too,” added Stevens.

Stevens was named first team All Conference on the defensive and offensive lines. He was also selected to play in the Indigenous Bowl in December in Soboba, California. 

“My values would be lead with example and give your heart,” said Stevens. “As an indigenous person you must show a respect for others and yourself. I display that on the field the best I can. By being humble, keeping my head down and pushing forward to the whistle.”

“I made sure at the end of the game no matter the outcome I maintain respect for others and myself. Also being indigenous I would say I can be very expressive on the field. You will know that I’m out there at all times,” added Stevens.

The football team is a cooperative with three schools: Oneida Nation HS, NEW Lutheran and Providence and the team name was “United.” Richard Hasseler was the head varsity football coach. 

“My connection with Vernon is simply to start out as a player/coach relationship,” said Coach Hasseler. “Vernon started playing his sophomore year and quickly earned a starting spot. I saw throughout that year that this kid had some leadership skills. During his junior year he came in more mature and starting leading his team and earned a captains spot on the team. It was a challenging season being that our team was really young. Vernon stayed positive and continued to encourage his team.”

During Vernon’s senior year he went to a different level. He knew the team he was leading wasn’t the young team anymore and it was time to have more success. “And we did with a 6 win 3 loss season,” added Coach Hasseler.

Coach Hasseler continued to talk about his star athlete. He said, “It has been really cool watching Vernon go from a 10th grader working hard to earn a starting spot to a leader helping out the young guys in the drills and with our plays. Vernon’s leadership was amazing bringing three schools together with different backgrounds and building a football team.”

Stevens is a three sport athlete. He also plays lacrosse in the spring. His coaches are Curt Summers and Byran Halona. Summers is the head coach of the Oneida Nation Thunder Hawks Varsity Lacrosse team. 

“Vernon has been our quiet leader on the defensive side of the team, and you know the one who shows by action and not by words,” said Coach Summers. “He was our enforcer on the defensive side and the other teams knew it. So his presence was felt before and during the game and very seldom did he say anything. He would speak up to the under-classmen if there was some action that needed to be taken.” 

“During the lacrosse season Vernon played extremely hard in-between the lines for us as a long stick midfielder,” said Coach Byran Halona. ”We asked him to switch positions to a long stick midfielder which he was open to and continued to constantly improve. He is an extremely hard worker, good teammate, and even better person.”

Stevens had a number of mentors among his coaches. He also had a significant member of the Oneida tribal community step forward to lead him to doing things right.

“One of my mentors is Daniel Guzman,” said Stevens. “A man I highly look up to and someone who showed me values and increased my values. I went through a rites of passage ceremony in the summer. He helped me understand the ceremony and helped me through it. I give credit to Daniel for the shaping of myself by giving me my strong values and how to be a man.”

“He was one of the people who showed me the path so I could walk it high and tall,” added Stevens.

Daniel Guzman introduced himself: “My Oneida name is Lol^nyoste and my English name is Daniel Guzman. I’ve known of Vernon since he was younger but I got to know Vernon through the Rites of Passage program. We re-started a Rites of Passage program in Oneida (WI) back in 2017. Vernon chose to participate and commit to going through four years of cultural lessons and fasting in a lodge.”

Guzman continued to talk about his mentee and said, “I saw Vernon as a quiet and thoughtful person who didn’t like to speak much. But he had this strong spirit and continued to show up and participate. Because of Covid-19 we had to shut down the Rites of Passage program for a few years in which a number of youth were not able to complete their four years of fasting.”

“Vernon waited until we were able to start back up and wanted to finish what he started and complete a four day/four night fast in his lodge that he built. I was impressed by his commitment and dedication towards his goal. He didn’t give up when he easily could have and just continued on with his life after Covid.”

“He had vision and a goal and he did what it took to see it through. The preparation and the actual fast is no easy task. He was tested but he held on to his prayer and didn’t give up. He came out of his lodge a new man. He gained understanding, confidence, and found his voice. When he spoke to us, he was able to clearly articulate his thoughts, feelings, desires, and what he wants for his life,” added Guzman.

“This experience gained permeates throughout all facets of his life both on and off the field,” said Guzman. “I don’t have any experience with him playing sports but I know what he has accomplished translates into success in each and every thing he puts his mind to. Whether that is helping lead his team or being willing to give back to his family and community. He now has been willing to assist with the Rites of Passage program and give back to the next generation coming up. We are all very proud of him and look forward to seeing him do great things.”

Stevens chose to be a three sport athlete and has excelled in each one to the best of his abilities.

“Vernon has been a solid contributor on the varsity basketball team and we’re looking forward to him having an even bigger role going into his senior year,” said Jamison King, head varsity boys’ basketball coach at the Oneida Nation HS. “More importantly Vernon has always displayed a positive attitude on and off the court. He has set a great example for all those who know him by the way he carries himself. A very respectful guy, active in the community with rites of passage, and being a star in football and Oneida lacrosse.”

Artley Skenandore is the Oneida Nation High School Principal and Athletic Director. He watches the school athletes in the classroom, in the athletic arenas and in the communities. He said, “At the end of last season, I made mention that Vernon will put in the work to make sure that everyone notices his effort and that he most certainly would be all conference in football this season. Vernon did exactly what I had predicted; put in the work thru the summer and excelled with being named all-conference on both sides of the ball – offense and defense.  Most importantly, Vernon has his own goals that he sets and works toward them daily as a student athlete and leads by doing!”

“Vernon has set his own expectations and determination that will lead to academic and athletic success in college. The first chapter in Vernon’s book is his senior year and he will write chapter two and beyond as his journey of learning continues. A good mind and strong spirit will keep his fire bright to envision his future accomplishments and they all start with putting in the work,” added Principal and AD Skenandore.

“My athletic plans after high school is to continue playing football at the college level,” said Stevens. “I would love to continue expressing myself on the field and playing the game I love. I will bring my traditions with me no matter where I end up, expressing them in my own way.”

“A moment I’m proud of is in my last football game,” said Stevens. “A player on the other team who had difficulty playing due to a disability got to run it in for a touchdown. He then went down and prayed in the end zone. This moment shows that it’s bigger than just a sport. It’s bigger than football.”