Hulstein is clean shavin’ and record breakin’

MINNEAPOLIS — The most important result of the 36-28 victory for Edgerton/Ellsworth over Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Friday morning at the Metrodome may not have been the fact the Flying Dutchmen put the finishing touches on a perfect season or even the hoisting of the state trophy.

It could be that, after 104 days, E/E running back Devin Hulstein is finally going to shave.

“It was an all-season beard,” Hulstein said, stroking the patchy strands of whiskers he called facial hair with a self-satisfied grin when asked if it was a playoff beard. “I stopped shaving the day before two-a-days.”

Some teammates worried about their own well-being in regards to Hulstein’s beard.

“I thought it was nasty,” E/E wide receiver Casey Schilling said. “He definitely needed to shave.”

Some teammates were worried for Hulstein’s feelings.

“I’m glad he’s going to shave,” E/E quarterback Isaac Heard said. “I know a lot of girls were making fun of him at school, so they can finally get off that topic.”

Some teammates feel Hulstein is in denial over his beard.

“I think he’s more excited than anyone to shave,” E/E running back Blake Jouwstra said.

Even Hulstein’s coach couldn’t stop him.

“That thing is rough,” E/E head coach Andrew Fleischman said. “He says I’m just jealous, but it’s definitely straggly.

“There’s a lot better chance he might get a date after he shaves that thing.”

Like his beard, Hulstein ran wild in the state championship game. His 198 yards receiving set a Prep Bowl record that hadn’t been touched since 1994 when Judge Gisslen had 171 yards receiving on nine catches for Triton. Hulstein broke the record with seven catches, including touchdowns of 45 and 73 yards.

And he didn’t even know it.

“That’s pretty awesome, I didn’t know that,” Hulstein said. “I’m usually not the biggest receiver because I’m a running back.”

Ironically, Hulstein covered the whole field, unlike his beard, which seems to pick and choose what parts of his face it wants to cover.

Just in case Hulstein wants to experiment with looks for next season, his coach is OK with it.

“He can look however he wants if he plays like that,” Fleischman said.

Tags: edgerton ellsworth, sports, prep, football