"So, if you're tired of the same old story," is the first line of the chorus in REO Speedwagon's 1978-hit "Roll with the Changes."

"Senior Nights" can be repetitive to the masses. They're emotional for the parents and maybe a few others, but that's usually about it. There's a short pre-game introduction, a few pictures, and some tears by the moms purposely not wearing mascara to ward off the dreaded racoon eyes. It's one of those moments happening in warp speed faster than it arrives. In as much time as it takes local Legacy In Action photographer Josh Kluge to click three frames, the moment is forgotten by most. That is, unless you were in River Falls for the boys' high school basketball senior night this past Friday night. 

Most fans attending will say it was the best $5 they've spent in that gym, maybe ever. 

It was a trifecta of talent from the three Wildcat seniors, each performing their team's required role of success to perfection. Eli Johnson provided the strength. The "Big Easy" had 20 points, a back-board shaking rim-rattling dunk, and 18 manhandled rebounds. Preston Johnson provided the speed. It was a case of the "calves" versus the "calve nots," as "PJ's" well-defined lower legs propelled him to almost single-handedly overmatching Chippewa Falls with four three-pointers within eight minutes of tip-off. "PJ" finished with 18 points. Lincoln Tremain, the two-year team manager, well, he was the most important "Missing Linc." Lincoln provided the heart.

Lincoln Tremain is the kid who signed up for every Wildcat summer basketball camp. He played youth basketball every year. Preston and Eli were on his teams until youth boards and A-B teams disguised as blue and gold separated them. Lincoln played on the JV team during ninth and 10th grades. He loves talking sports, especially Wildcat sports. Lincoln Tremain is at every single Wildcat game and not just basketball games, all the games. If it's jersey night, Lincoln is in the Cats' Den wearing a jersey. If a black-out is the student theme-night, you guessed it, the Missing Linc looks like a ninja. Every game. Every night.

Whenever Lincoln isn't the first to arrive at a game, River Falls Sports Broadcasting camera man Rob Doerre asks if he should call 911 for a wellness check. As sure as there are poorly parked cars in the River Falls High School parking lot full of novice teenage drivers, Lincoln will be cheering on the Wildcats and his classmates.    

In October 2023, Zac Campbell, the Wildcats' head basketball coach at the time, had to have a tough conversation with Lincoln. As much as Lincoln loved to play basketball, sadly, playing varsity basketball would not be in his future. It crushed him.

"My skills weren't up to the standard," said Lincoln, "but Coach didn't want me to leave, exactly, so Coach found an alternate route."

"Lincoln has tremendous heart and that's contagious," said Campbell. "You always want to be around people who have heart and care about things. Lincoln loved the program so much and we talked about how he could best help the program out and have fun at the same time. We came to the conclusion he should be the student assistant." 

Lincoln’s level of dedication was so high, his family was vacationing in Illinois and it was a five-star alarm for him to be at the Sunday shoot-around. His parents, Jason and Gina Tremain, ended the vacation early and drove him back to the Wildcat gym.

"We'd have weights at 6:30 a.m. on a Tuesday and I'd tell Lincoln he didn't have to be there," said Campbell. "He'd be there."

Lincoln was always there. Running the camera at practice. Scouting opponents on YouTube at night. Jotting down stats to give to the coaches.

"I get to experience the sweat the coaches experience," said Lincoln.  

When Campbell resigned at the end of last season, it was as easy of a transition as possible. Coach Zach Turpin had been the Wildcat assistant for the past five years. Turpin not only had the same first name as Campbell (albeit with an added "h"), he also shared a similar love for Lincoln.

Lincoln has watched and learned. This year, he's taken on the role a senior should. For Lincoln, "reading the room" is a waste of time. There's too much to do, so he just says what's on his mind. Lincoln Tremain's comments are as direct as a toilet handle. He'll tell a teammate exactly what they should be doing if he's heard the coach say it before. Lincoln flushes comments right down the commode. 

"Lincoln is as honest as they come with that stuff," said Coach Turpin smiling. "It's unfiltered and the team knows that and they love it. The energy he brings to the bench on game day, I just love it. It's authentic; it's real; it's just awesome having him on our team."

Being the MERCY-guy is one of Lincoln's team duties on the bench. If the Wildcats have three consecutive "stops" on defense, it's Lincoln's job to yell, "Mercy!"

The picture adjacent to this column is of Lincoln yelling "Mercy!" with every breath of air his lungs can muster.

"Lincoln is there as much as any of us, from start to finish," said Coach Turpin. "He loves every minute of it and looks forward to being around the guys every day. It's senior night and he earned it."

Coach Turpin asked Lincoln if he would like to suit up for senior night, warm-up on the court with his teammates, and have his name called for the starting line-up.

"He was pretty excited, but pretty nervous, too," said Coach Turpin.

Lincoln has ADHD, anxiety issues, and having the spotlight focused directly on him with screaming fans can be compared to volunteering to have knives thrown in your direction.  

"We didn't want to put him under any extra pressure," said Coach Turpin. "We wanted him to enjoy the experience as much as possible."

Lincoln Tremain, the kid whose heart pumps blue and gold blood and loves basketball, said he decided to suit up for one reason: "I love Coach Campbell and Coach Turpin and all my coaches. I love our team. They've done so much for me, so I should give everything back to them."

Lincoln suited up. Wearing #11 and sporting matching 1970's Globetrotter-style blue and gold candy cane-striped warm-up pants, he was in the lay-up line. Even with a solid team and a good record this year, the Cats' Den student section has been a quiet kitten purr so far during hoops season. Friday night, it was ready to growl. There was a buzz in the gym and the anticipation was pure unadulterated high school heart when Lincoln was introduced along with the starters.

"It was an awesome atmosphere and we came out ready to play," said Eli Johnson.

The Wildcats had a 15-point lead at halftime and never looked back. With three-minutes left, and the game well out of the reach for the visiting Cardinals, Coach Turpin marched down to the end of the bench and asked Lincoln if he'd like to go in the game. Lincoln closed his eyes, looked down, and shook his head "no."

"It was loud and I get, like, you know, nervous and stuff," said Lincoln about his thoughts during that moment. "I thought about not doing good and people laughing at me."

Campbell said Lincoln's heart was contagious and Preston Johnson proved it.

"Preston just told me I should go out there," said Lincoln. "Preston is the captain. I just listened to Preston."

Preston's dad, Jeff Johnson, is the public address announcer for the boys' basketball games. When he introduced "#11 Lincoln Tremain," the place erupted. Lincoln quickly fired up two threes and missed both of them. Coach Turpin called a time out with 1:04 left to save time, settle everyone down, and draw up what would likely be one more chance for Lincoln.

Jeff Johnson, known for having one of the more eclectic sound tracks during high school game breaks, cued up Reo Speedwagon's "Roll with the Changes."

The lyrics belted out "I knew it had to happen, felt the tables turnin,'... keep on rolling, keep on rolling..."

Lincoln Tremain came out of the time out and he was rolling. He received the ball on the right-side, turned, and let 'er rip from beyond the three-point line. Lincoln’s right hand lit the fuse. The crowd inhaled a collective gasp as the basketball bottle rocket sailed through the air. A synchronized sudden roar exploded as the twine tickle sounded, “fffftt.” 

Nothing but the bottom of the net.

A synchronized roar erupted as Lincoln made a fist with his left hand in triumph. The Wildcat bench was jumping around like they just won the state title on a last second shot. The Cats' Den students may have broken the bleachers. Heck, the Chippewa Falls Cardinals' bench and coaches were clapping and going crazy.

The game ended seconds later. As the final buzzer sounded, Lincoln, still in shock, put his head in teammate Cal DuMond's chest and hugged him. Preston Johnson and his younger brother, Cullen, hugged both of them. Lincoln was gobbled up by guys a foot taller, but he was the big man on campus Friday night.   

Lincoln Tremain had infected the entire gym with his heart. His three-pointer went viral on social media.

"Lincoln was super nervous," said Preston. "But he loved it and we loved it for him to finally get a chance to take that shot. I can't describe it. It was just awesome."

"I was excited for everyone being excited," said Lincoln, "The Cats' Den has kind of been not that great during basketball season. Preston and the guys try really hard. I wish the Cats' Den was like that every time because it was really cool."

Something tells me the Cats' Den may be "Rolling with the Changes" in the near future, as well. Lincoln Tremain may have infected them, too.

The three seniors, Eli, Preston, and Lincoln received the post-game Swinging Bridge "Ballers of the Game." Lincoln received the t-shirt trophy. During the post-game interview on the River Falls Sports YouTube live stream, play-by-play announcer Kevin Westhuis commented to Lincoln, "Swinging Bridge Baller of the Game, I don't know if you expected that when you got out of bed this morning."

Lincoln replied, "If you just try hard enough, you can do anything."

The next time Lincoln's post-game quote may be heard inside the Wildcat gym, it may be during the Class of 2025's graduation speech.    

Keep on rolling, Lincoln. You're all heart and you infected me, too.