New Prague 'Super Fan' Celebrated By Classmates

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It's all about attitude – that's the takeaway when you spend time with Kevin Bastyr. The New Prague senior is the school's "Super Fan," but this winter he found out he's so much more.

When Kevin Bastyr was born, the doctors also delivered shocking news.

"I didn't believe them at first," his father Dave Bastyr said. "He was doing everything a normal baby would do."

The diagnosis: cerebral palsy. Eighteen years later, he's a poster boy for what can be.

At New Prague High School, he's known as the "Super Fan."

"It's just amazing. This school's awesome and I just love supporting them," Kevin said.

His father takes him to almost every game.

"He's very supportive, he's at every game," New Prague goalie Conner Wagner said. "He'll make a couple hour drive out. With a new conference change, we have a lot of driving."

And the team showed its gratitude on senior night, making sure he was introduced to his adoring fans.

It says something about Kevin, and something about the New Prague student body.

"New Prague is a special place," Athletic Director Brad Skogerboe said. "These kids… they get it."

He's the teammate to the entire school.

"He's definitely our biggest fan," defenseman Jake Klein said. "We call him our 'Super Fan' because it's not just hockey. He's at football too, and basketball. He's at every single game. He doesn't miss a game for the world."

He has a reciprocal agreement. He loves this school, these times and the school loves him.

"This school means a lot to me, it's awesome," Kevin said. "It's going to be hard leaving because I love watching all the sports."

This winter inside his school, he got a moment he will never forget – when he was crowned Snowball King.

"I'm very proud of him," his father said. "I can't imagine how he's feeling. I know he's just excited."

A fitting crescendo for the kid the school adores.

"It was awesome," Klein said. "Everybody was rooting for him and pulling for him. There were banners put up around the school. Papers, posters wanting him to win."

He journeys through the hallways for the final few months of his prep days. There is emotion, because he was embraced by the people,

"They see a great kid," Skogerboe said. "They don't necessarily look beyond that."

And he will always remember what it meant to be New Prague's one and only Super Fan.