By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - It was a $20 bill that first brought senior guard Dan Greenheck and senior tackle Ben Bartch together soon after both members of the Saint John's University football team arrived on campus in the fall of 2016.

"It's actually a really funny story," Greenheck said. "We were having a freshman meeting and my parents were with me. We were sitting in the very back row. And directly in front of us was this tall, red-headed kid without any family there.

"My Mom slipped me $20 and told me to give it to the kid because he was on his own. So I basically attempted to buy his friendship."

Bartch declined the money, but the seeds of friendship were planted. And the duo – one from Dayton, Ore., the other from St. Paul – soon found they had much in common.

Including, it turns out, acquaintances.



"A lot of my family members went to Cretin-Derham Hall, which is where Dan went to high school," said Bartch, whose father Jon is originally from St. Paul and met his mother Jennifer in Portland, Ore.

"I had two second cousins in our class (at Cretin-Derham Hall). And Danny knows them really well."

The pair have remained close throughout their time at Saint John's. And last year, Bartch moved from tight end to left tackle to join Greenheck on the Johnnies' starting offensive line.

The pair were part of a group opening holes for an offense that averaged 491.8 yards per game in 2018, the second-highest total in school history.

"We've gotten to know each other pretty well over the years," said Greenheck, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound two-time All-America guard who has started 24 straight games.

That bond was strengthened this past offseason when the two were part of a group of 32 Saint John's and College of Saint Benedict students who spent four months studying abroad in South Africa.

The group – which also included senior tight end Jack Kemper – lived in an apartment complex in Port Elizabeth and attended classes at Nelson Mandela University.

"One of the purposes of a study-abroad program, especially the one in South Africa, is to give students a chance to live in an environment that's different than their own," said Matt Lindstrom, a professor of political science at CSB/SJU and Director of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement, who was the faculty representative on the program.

"These students are ambassadors, not only for themselves and their school, but for their country. That can be a high standard, but all three of those guys (Greenheck, Bartch and Kemper) really embraced it. It was great having them along."

Part of the ambassador aspect of the program meant that twice a week, for four hours a day, the group volunteered in local schools. 

And Bartch and Greenheck said the students they worked with seemed fascinated by American football players.

"They'd ask me a lot of questions about the U.S.," Greenheck said. "During recess, I was always outside either playing soccer with the kids or they'd be asking me to throw them up in the air."

"I allowed them to dogpile on me," Bartch added with a smile. "Then I'd get up and pretend I was the Hulk."

The group was also able to travel and experience South African culture, including braais, the South African version of a barbecue.

It was at these gatherings that Bartch showed off how successfully he moves for a big man.

"Dancing is a very big part of the culture there, and when music was played, moves got busted out," he said grinning. 

"I like to think I had moves they just couldn't handle."

Of course, football was never far from their minds – even far from home.

"I knew I needed to gain weight this offseason if I wanted to play at a high level this year," Bartch said. "So Danny, Jack and I bought our own gym membership and worked out four days a week.

"We'd get up at 5 a.m., walk a mile-and-a-half to the gym and work out before class. It actually turned out to be the best offseason I've ever had."

"I think that shows you can do a study-abroad program and still remain dedicated to your sport," Lindstrom added. "Those guys were really dedicated. They were up every morning to work out."

The results bear that out. The 6-foot-6 Bartch is currently listed at 305 pounds, up 30 pounds from a year ago.

He will be playing this season directly alongside Greenheck, who has been moved from right guard to left.

"I'm excited," Greenheck said. "I've never played it before. But (offensive line coach Mike Magnuson '90) shot me a text last spring saying they were possibly going to move me over.

"So I did a lot of work over the summer to get ready. It's going to be a lot of fun playing right next to Ben."

"We're going to be the Smash Brothers," Bartch added.

The duo will also be roommates during the upcoming school year.

And, after finishing 12-1 a year ago and advancing to the national quarterfinals, they have even bigger goals for their senior season.

"It's been a long time coming," Bartch said. "We've been waiting for this for four years now. It's finally our time … our last dance.

"We want to make the most of it."