Julia Brueggen leads an interesting life.

She has lived on a farm her whole life and milks cows each morning and evening. In her spare time--depending on the season--she rides snowmobiles and four wheelers.

The Westby High School senior even finds time to strap on the goalie gear and stand in net for the Viroqua girls' team.

Now in her ninth year as a player (and goalie), she works extremely hard but still has fun, calling hockey "the best sport ever." 

"I started playing when I started fourth grade," remembers Brueggen. Then someone asked if she wanted to play goalie. "Right away I took up the offer because it looked fun. Needless to say, I was really bad at it, but kept on trying and it has kind of gone from there."

Most kids hate early morning practices, but since Julia was raised on a farm, those did not bother her.

"My first hockey memories would have to be waking up really early on Saturday morning to go to our Mites' practice," says Brueggen. "I thought it was so awesome falling on the ice."

She developed her game and by the eighth grade, played on the boys' bantam team as well as a few games for the U12/U14 team, which did not have many players.

"I had to share a spot with three other goalies," says Brueggen. "I skated out about four times and got two goals. It was very exciting."

Hockey goalies are traditionally known to be crazy, and Julia is no exception.

"I'm definitely not like anyone else," laughs Brueggen. "I love to dress crazy and do crazy things. Like everyone says: to be a goalie you have to be crazy."

But she has faced her share of adversity and has handled it well, and maybe the craziness is some type of defense mechanism.

In the past year, Julia has seen her house burn down and have the family lose everything; had her grandfather die of liver cancer; and had an aunt seemingly beat cancer but had it return.

Plus, she works the farm each morning and evening, goes to school and keeps up her grades (3.2 GPA), and finds time to play hockey.

That is quite a load for a senior in high school, but she handles it well.

"I often get the comment that I seem much older than I really am," says Brueggen. "They say I do more work than a normal teen does, but to me, I think working that hard is normal."

She works hard on the ice as well, and through the first five games of her season, has faced an average of 81 shots per contest. 

"Facing a lot of shots is a lot of fun," says Brueggen. "I would honestly really get bored now if the shot count was to go down. It's definitely an adrenalin rush, but most of the time my legs still hurt after the games."

The pain doesn't slow down Julia or her team, as they seem to have a lot of fun during their season.

Each year, coach Andy Rogers allows the team to have a "dress-up time." The players have 15 minutes to come up with the "craziest outfit possible."

"From using a roll of toilet paper, to cutting up old jerseys, using stuff from the med kit, crutches, clothes hangers, and whatever else there is," says Brueggen. "Dressing up lets us all get some free time and just have some fun."

While Brueggen and her teammates have fun, there is a serious side as well.

Julia hopes to join the Air Force and pursue a career in the mortuary business or something with computers.

"Growing up, I have always looked up to the people in the military and the respect that they receive. I think it is awesome what they do and how they risk their lives for us."

She seems to be leaning toward something in the mortuary field and that seemingly validates her craziness.

"I find dead people very interesting, if that doesn't sound creepy. I have wanted to be a mortician ever since I was in eighth grade and haven't changed my mind yet," Brueggen says. 

Brueggen is a complicated young lady, and family plays a huge part in her life. She remembers her late grandfather every time she steps on the ice.

"Every moment on the ice I play for him," she says. "He would be proud of my accomplishments and I know he's cheering for me up there."

Brueggen also has younger cheerleaders, including three nieces (ages 1-3) who wave and cheer for their aunt every game.

"They think it is so awesome that I play hockey," says Brueggen. "They always tell me they want to play hockey just like Auntie Julia does."

So when you think of Julia Brueggen, think of a hard-working, family-oriented young lady who tries to do her best at everything she does.

Oh, and don't forget, she's a little crazy, too.