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Russo attends and plays varsity football at Lake Mills High School
- As a junior, Russo plays as both a defensive end and offensive tackle.
- The team posts a 6-3 record for the season, a record-best at the school since 1988.
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Russo completes senior year, graduates
- Russo moves to linebacker and tight end as a senior.
- Establishes contact with UW-Whitewater about ryoung out for their team after graduation.
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Russo enrolls at UW-Whitewater
- Russo never tries out for the football team during his time at Whitewater.
- Decides to join the Wisconsin National Guard, despite knowing the unit was on alert and knew it would mean going to Iraq.
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Russo deployed to Iraq for first time
- Russo serves his first tour of duty from the summer of 2005 until the winter of 2006.
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Period: to
Russo serves first tour of duty in Iraq
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Russo begins second deployment to Iraq
- Russo serves six years in the Wisconsin National Guard, active for four of them.
- Russo spends a little less than three years deployed, and about 21 months in Iraq.
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Period: to
Russo serves second deployment in Iraq
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Russo returns home, works at Hitters SportsPlex
- While employed at the gym in Middelton, Wis., Russo meets trainer Keysha Benzing.
- Benzing used to work at the University of Wisconsin and had connections.
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Benzing puts in recommendation for Russo with Wisconsin Badgers coaching staff
- Russo is put in contact with strength and conditioning coach for the Badgers football team, Ben Herbert
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Russo follows procedures, works with NCAA in attempts to tryout
- Russo follows procedure, filling out considerable paperwork and meeting with NCAA.
- NCAA determines Russo to have one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.
- Finally cleared, Russo is able to join the team and tryout during winter workouts.
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Russo begins extensive tryout process with the Wisconsin football team
- Russo begins working with the team in winter workouts, and is invited to join in on spring practices as well.
- Russo makes enough of an impression in spring practices, that he's invited back to continue working with the team in fall practices
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Wisconsin coaches extend offer for Russo to become member of team
- Wisconsin coaching staff prepares to offer Russo a walk-on spot on their roster.
- Head coach Bret Bielema finds room for Russo as a defensive end on his 120-player roster
- Six games into the 2011-12 season, Russo is cleared to officially suit up on the sidelines, and play in live-game action if/when coaches call on him
