Sports Spotlight: Jace Kovash and Jeremiah Jilek

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Growing up playing sports in a place like Dickinson, chances are you’ll spend a lot of time seeing the same faces and playing with the same kids.

That’s just the case for Jace Kovash and Jeremiah Jilek, who have starred for the Titans, Midgets and Roughriders.

”We’ve known each other for a long time, that’s for sure,” said Jeremiah Jilek. “I don’t know exactly how long, but a long time.”

”I mean, we’ve been playing sports together for as long as I can remember,” said Jace Kovash. “In every sport, you know. Always in the field at the same time and making plays together and making a lot of good memories.”

Spending that much time together has created a lot of appreciation for one another.

“Trust is a big thing, just being able to trust each other. So just to know that we can play boost with each other and have fun with each other and not take it so seriously. We play better that way,” said Kovash.

“When I’m pitching, he’s at short usually, so I know I can trust him with everything I’ve got. He usually leads off games so, I know he’ll get on and then I can hit him around. It’s been a special bond between the two of us,” said Jilek.

Ask anyone that they’ve played for and they’ll say the pair are a coach’s dream.

“Jace and Jeremiah are pretty much everything you want as a coach for your players. They’re great kids, great athletes, great players, but they’re even better teammates. They’re always there to support the younger guys, give them tips and teach them. Everything you want in a player, those two represent that and it’s been an honor to coach them the past three and 4 years in Jace’s case,” said Ryan Crossingham, Dickinson Roughriders head coach.

“The thing about Jace and Jeremiah is that any coach that’s ever coached them will tell you that if they could have, in my case, 11 of them on the field, I think we’d have a pretty good team. The thing that made them special as leaders is that they were the guys that led by example first and foremost and they spoke when they needed to speak, and so they kind of let their play, their hustle, their attitude speak for itself,” said John Odermann, Trinity Titans football head coach.

Jace and Jeremiah will both be attending Dickinson State University. Jilek will be playing football for the Blue Hawks, while Kovash has expressed interest in helping coach the Titans’ football team.

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