User:Supersmasherz

Andrew Peter Zoellner was born on August 9, 1985 in Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA. He is the son of Peter and Jacquelyn Zoellner. He has one sister, Amanda, who is married to Brian Fink. Currently he resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he attends Augsburg College.

Andrew had a normal Midwestern childhood. At an early age he expressed an interest in tractors and farm implements, perhaps stemming from the location of his town, Marshfield, in the center of Wisconsin and the largest of a collection of very agriculturally minded communities, and, with the help of his parents and extended family, amassed a collection of miniatures. He has even been rumored to sleep with these large metal toys in lieu of the more traditional Teddy bear or stuffed animal.

At age five he began his schooling at Pied Piper Preschool. Here he was exposed to Lego® products and quickly grew to explore and utilize this extraordinary product, as the Lego has played a pivotal role in his life since that time. In the sixth year of his life, Andrew began elementary school at Our Lady of Peace Catholic School in Marshfield, Wisconsin, located only half a mile from his house at the time. His attendance at the school was somewhat of an anomaly, as he was not Catholic, having been baptized into his mother’s United Methodist church. However, perhaps the close vicinity to his home in addition to the opportunity for better learning opportunities overshadowed any religious affiliations. He continued schooling here until age twelve, at which time he attended the public Marshfield Junior High School, and later, Marshfield High School. During his time at Our Lady of Peace, Andrew excelled in academics, earning excellent marks in all classes. He also participated in various sports opportunities, finding his niche in the elementary basketball world sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. He was both an avid basketball player and collector, with his favorite athlete being Shaquille O’Neal, or Shaq, as he was called by Andrew. His fanaticism grew to over seven feet tall as Andrew acquired a life-size cardboard cutout of his hero. During this time in his life, many remember his dream was to be seven feet tall and black.

In junior high, Andrew, while maintaining his excellent academic record, became more interested in music and abandoned any aspirations of sports stardom. He became enamored with bands such as The Beatles and more contemporary artists like Phish and Mustard Plug. In school he played percussion in the band and guitar in the jazz band. These interests, along with a strong aptitude for academic success, continued into high school.

In high school Andrew struggled to shed the shadow of his older Sister, Amanda, who, five years his elder, had achieved much success in the high school world, graduating at the top of her class. Despite this stigma, Andrew also followed in his sister’s footsteps, taking all honors and Advanced Placement coursework and also receiving excellent marks in all classes. In addition to his academic work, Andrew held part-time jobs at Blimpie Subs and Salads and New Visions Art Gallery. He also continued his longtime love affair with music, forming the punk and ska influenced band The SuperSmashers in his freshman year of high school with Corey Hilber and Stephen Przybylinski. By the end of his time in high school, Andrew was well known for involvement with the student government, running for class president three times (and losing all three times), and holding the office of treasurer of the student council during his senior year. Additionally he had received a slew of academic rewards, the most notable of which was being named an AP National Scholar and also a Graham Olson Scholar. He finished high school near the top of his class and also spoke at his graduation commencement to a crowd of over 5,000. His speech was extraordinarily well received, with a bizarre range of topics covered from the current political crisis, alphabetical discrimination, and numerous references to food.

Andrew continued his schooling at Musictech College (later renamed the McNally Smith College of Music) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Along with his roommate, longtime friend and drummer of the SuperSmashers, Stephen Przybylinski, he earned an Associates Degree in Music Production. During this period Andrew focused solely on music, honing his skills and advancing his knowledge in recording techniques. Additionally, he, along with Przybylinski continued to maintain The SuperSmashers.

In January of 2006, Andrew, relocated to the Uptown area of Minneapolis and continued his pursuit of a bachelor’s degree at Augsburg College. Currently Andrew plays, records, and tours with The SuperSmashers in addition to doing freelance live sound and recording work.