Wilke takes first in regional Punt, Pass, Kick; gets honored at Broncos Game

A few weeks ago, the world was expecting the New England Patriots to defeat the Denver Broncos and add another win to their so far undefeated record. However that would not be the case, as the Broncos, who were led by Kalispell native Brock Osweiler ultimately led Denver to victory.

Being the Phillips County News, we would like to believe that one of our own, six-year-old Tailynn Wilke, daughter of Dawn and Lonny, brought Denver a little luck.

Wilke found herself looking up at Broncos' jumbotron and standing in the end-zone during halftime of that game, which was held Sunday, November 29, at Sports Authority Field (at Mile High Stadium) in Denver Colorado.

Young Tailynn was the first name announced during half-time of the game and her face was shown to all that could see. The honor wasn't given to her because of her charming smile or the fact that Osweiler is indeed her favorite football player.

This honor was earned as she threw and kicked further than anyone in her age group, Girls 6-7 at the Punt, Pass and Kick Denver Broncos Regional hosted by the National Football League (NFL). Her total was 102 feet.

The event was held in Denver Sunday morning, before the game.

As if she knew what was going to happen, Tailynn went to the contest, held at the Broncos Field House in Dove Valley with full confidence.

"I was thinking, I'm going to win," Tailynn said noting that the confidence came from her competitive mother.

Though there were dozens of kids that were lined up to punt, pass and kick, Tailynn was the first to go, which could be intimidating.

"There were too many kids," Wilke said.

In her previous contests at Malta and Lewistown, both of which she has won, kids did each event one at a time. In Denver, each kid did all three actions, without a break and only one time.

The first action was the punt. Stepping up to the line, Wilke left an impressive mark of 29'10."

She admitted that she was less nervous after her punt.

Second was the pass. Her pass was nearly as far out as her kick. The pass flew through the air and landed at 28'6."

Third came her kick. Her kick was strong and nearly doubled her total, as it landed at 43'8."

The damage was done. Wilke was the first to go and ultimately the strongest competitor in her age group.

She credits her brother Treyton Wilke, age 9, for teaching her how to punt, pass and kick. She says that she practiced with her skills every day after school.

"We practice in our backyard," Tailynn said assuring that she didn't break any windows in the process. "Even when it was snowing and cold we still practiced."

Treyton won the Malta PP&K in his age group, Boys 8-9 and placed fourth in Lewistown.

His sister has influenced his choice in football teams, for the better.

"Treyton liked the Packers and then he changed his team," Wilke said noting that the Broncos were her favorite team all along and that her mother is a Peyton Manning fan.

It may be safe to say Denver has become the family team.

Some of the other highlights of her trip included seeing around the Broncos facility. She also had a chance to indulge her sweet-tooth by going to It'Sugar (yes that's the spelling). It'Sugar is a place on Sixteenth Street where a customer can buy multitudes of candy by the pound.

"They had to put my candy in a big-big tin-can," Wilke said with a smile.

She also loved the taxi rides, which were first for Tailynn.

Another huge first for the Wilke family was going to a live NFL game. If her scores are among the top four nationally, the Wilke family will travel to Indianapolis for the National PP&K Championship in January. The family will be notified on December 26.

"We are very proud of her," Dawn said of her daughter's success. "She deserved it. She worked hard and earned it. Going to the game is something we will always remember because she was a big part of it."

The Wilke family would like to thank the Malta Athletic Club for hosting the local PP&K.