BEFORE UMD: Started for four seasons on both the La Crescent High School offensive and defensive lines ... was voted the La Crosse Tribune's Lineman of the Year as a senior in addition to receiving All-Hiawatha Valley League honors for the third time in as many years ... received honorable mention notice on both the Associated Press and St. Pioneer Press all-state teams that year as well while captaining the Lancers ... played under head coach Brett Vesel and with fellow 2012 Bulldog recruit, Isaac Vesel ... has lettered twice in baseball (first base and catcher) as a prep ... is the son of Gordon and Penny Bateman.