The Ahos: 12 brothers, 24 years, 'a lot of fun'
The Aho family of Cokato, Minn., has enough sons to field its own football team. With 15 kids — including 12 boys — that’s exactly what happens each time the family gets together for holidays or special events.
And for 24 consecutive seasons, the football family has had a son play on the varsity team at Dassel-Cokato High School.
That impressive streak will soon come to an end, however, as Seth Aho, the youngest of 12 brothers and second-youngest of 15 kids, is a senior wide receiver on a team in the second round of the state playoffs.
"There were a couple of them that graduated before I was born," said Seth, 18.
Back when Seth’s oldest brother, Steve, took his first snaps as the varsity quarterback in 1989, the streak was born. From there, Steve was followed by — in order — James, Carl, Bill, Nate, Joel, Ben, Todd, Doug, Josh, Brian and Seth. The Ahos had no idea back in 1989 that they’d still be watching one of their sons play high school football in 2012.
In fact, it wasn’t until recently that the Ahos realized just how long the streak has lasted. Karen Aho wanted to get all of her sons together for one last Chargers game, with each of her kids donning their jerseys. With several of the brothers having moved out of state or starting families of their own, it was their last chance to get together for a family picture after one of Seth’s games.
"I never even thought about anything like that," Karen said of the streak. "Last year I started thinking about it. I thought, 'It’s going to be our last year.’ Then I started thinking, 'Steve, when did you start playing?’ So he’d start talking about it. We figured it out and thought, 'That’s 24 consecutive seasons for one high school team.’ . . . I was impressed."
It’s no doubt an amazing streak for many reasons. First, simply having 12 sons is uncommon in this day and age — although Tom Aho certainly appreciated the extra help when he was milking cows on his dairy farm until the family left the farm and moved into town in the early ’90s. Also, all 12 sons managed to overlap during their time on the football team, with some brothers playing together for a year or two. From 1989 to 2012, there haven’t been any gaps in the Ahos’ playing days.
Making the team wasn’t an issue for any of the dozen Aho boys. After all, the enrollment from grades 9-12 at Dassel-Cokato — about one hour west of Minneapolis — is just 557 kids, according to the Minnesota State High School League website. But the Ahos weren’t merely spectators on the sideline. They all saw action on the field.
"Obviously, nobody was thinking about, 'Man, we’ve got 12 boys. We could keep having a guy playing for a long time,’" said Steve, who played from 1989-91 and now lives in Hancock, Mich. "Every one of us not only wanted to play football but was capable of playing football and did fairly well."
Many of the Aho brothers played skill positions. It began with Steve, a quarterback, who later had several younger brothers play wide receiver. Nate, the fifth-oldest, was the only one of the 12 Ahos to play offensive line.
"We’re all fairly athletic and Nathan is, too, but he’s the one that chose to play line," said Bill, the fourth-oldest brother, who played defensive end and tight end from 1995-97. "So it’s kind of neat to see each one as we go down the line what position they chose and how they do it."
Several of the brothers continued their football careers after Dassel-Cokato. Most recently, Josh — who also played basketball and ran track in high school — was a wide receiver for Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. He caught seven passes for 85 yards and a touchdown as a senior last season. Bill, who lives in Dassel and works in commercial construction, played one year of college football at the University of Minnesota-Crookston before realizing it wasn’t for him anymore.
But earning a college scholarship was never why the Aho brothers played football. They did it because they loved the sport.
And they did it because, well, that’s just what the Aho boys did.
"To me, none of them are making a career out of this, but they are still thoroughly enjoying the sport and just having a good time with it," Karen Aho said. "I feel, just go out and enjoy what there is right now. They can have that fun of it."
Strong support group
If not for the support of Karen and Tom, it’s possible that not all 12 Aho brothers would have enjoyed the sport as much as they did.
While the boys’ parents never forced the sport on their sons, they were always there to support them and the rest of the Dassel-Cokato team. Karen would arrive for games as soon as the gates opened on Friday night — 5:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
"I told them if they allow it, I’d be there the day before," she said. "They don’t allow it."
In a span of 24 seasons — well over 200 games, including playoffs — Karen estimates that she and her husband have missed "less than a handful" of games. That includes traveling long distances to road games, sitting on cold, metal bleachers during chilly Minnesota nights and everything else that goes along with being a die-hard high school football fan.
But Karen and Tom wouldn’t have it any other way. Their boys loved to play the game of football, and they loved to watch and support each of their 12 sons.
"I think the fact that Mom and Dad enjoying it the way they do and as much as they do, if they didn’t particularly enjoy going to games or if they just dropped us off and never came to watch, there probably would have been some brothers that didn’t play," Bill said. "But they had a passion for the sport, too, and they still do. It’s fun to see them have a good time on Friday night, that’s for sure."
Of course, the Aho brothers have also had the support of their three sisters — Lorna, Melissa and 15-year-old Erin, the youngest of the 15 siblings. In a house filled with 12 brothers, the testosterone could surely become overwhelming.
But Tom Aho said his daughters have held their own amid a family full of brothers.
"They’ve done really well," said Tom, who works at a factory that makes cabinets. "The girls actually have been involved in athletics also, just in a different form. We’ve had some gymnasts and track people and swimmers. Erin, our youngest daughter, she swims and plays basketball. But they’re at all the football games."
End of an era
Dassel-Cokato’s football season was extended Tuesday night when the Chargers beat New Ulm, 53-8, in the first round of the state playoffs. The win allows the Aho family’s streak to live on, at least for one more game.
None of the Ahos wants to envision what it will be like when Seth has taken his last snap.
"That’s really weird to think about," Seth said. "I try not to think about it too much right now, just try to make it last as long as possible."
When Dassel-Cokato’s season does finally come to an end, so, too, will the end of the Aho era of Chargers football. But there are Aho cousins, nephews and grandkids who may one day lace up the cleats and hit the same gridiron their relatives did.
James’ son Jordan would have been the next Aho to take the field for Dassel-Cokato, but his family now lives in northern Minnesota. Bill has a son in fifth grade who is likely next in line to rekindle the Aho flame.
"We’ll take a couple year(s) break, and I’m sure it won’t be very long and they’ll be right back out there," Bill said.
It won’t quite be the same for Karen and Tom Aho, though. No more meeting their son or sons down on the field after a hard-fought game. No more shuttling kids to practice. No more traveling far and wide across western Minnesota to see one of their own children play the sport their family loves.
"I have the feeling I have to pick one or two out on the team for next year that I’m really going to pay attention to, and they’re going to be my boys," Karen said.
So it’s safe to assume the Ahos will continue to support Dassel-Cokato football. It’s been in their blood for decades, and that will never change.
"It’s been a lot of fun," Steve said. "It’s been awesome because we’ve all been affiliated with Dassel-Cokato football, so we’ve had that direct connection all through the years and carrying that Charger pride and just loving that aspect of it. Things come to an end sometimes."
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