For the past two decades, Gary and Janet Purlee have hosted 15 foreign-exchange students in their home.
The Purlees, who are both retired, have entertained five from Spain, four from Germany and one each from Switzerland, Belgium, France, Austria, Denmark and Columbia. The couple began hosting foreign-exchange students, all of whom have attended and played sports at Jeffersonville High School, in 2006.
“ We had a good initial experience, but had our kids home at the time,” Purlee said.“ We had a great time and we have continued to do it as we have become empty-nesters. If our health remains good, then we’ re definitely going to continue to host. It’ s a wonderful experience. I mean how often do get to make a kid’ s dream come true?”
Mikail Cetiner is the benefactor of a dream. The Purlees chose Cetiner through the International Student Exchange program. The new Red Devil got a chance to play organized boys’ soccer and tennis for the first time this school year.
“ I never played tennis in Europe, as I have mainly played soccer,” Cetiner said.“ It was my first time playing for a school than playing for a small team. It was fun and it was competitive. At first playing tennis was really boring and I needed to get used to it. I had a lot of fun, mostly because it was for the school.”
Cetiner was ecstatic to come to the United States after the urging of his mother.
“ I was excited to try different things, learn the language and learn about the interesting things I have seen from the Internet, like the food,” he said. His first impression of the U. S. was that everything was big.“ Denmark is such a small country and Indiana is twice the size, population-wise,” Purlee said.“ Jeff High is five times the size of his Danish school and his school would be the size of Borden. I have been amazed that all of the students have adjusted very quickly to Jeff High and they just fit in real well.”
Cetiner played junior varsity and some varsity matches for the tennis team. On the court, he won around 65 to 70 percent of his matches for the Red Devils. He continues to work with legendary JHS coach Mark Reilly.
“ He was a complete novice, but he listens well to the coaches and that’ s what has helped,” Purlee said.“ He had the second- to third-most wins of any of the players, which I thought it was remarkable considering he was starting to learn tennis. That’ s not typical.”
Along with playing sports, Cetiner also got two opportunities to fly an airplane at the Clark County Regional Airport. His adventure with flying was under the guidance of a co-pilot.
“ It was kind of scary flying the plane the first time,” Cetiner said.“ There’ s a co-pilot next to me, so I was kind of nervous.”
The nerves faded away from Cetiner, like the Atlantic Ocean waves under the airplane that carried him to the U. S.
However, Cetiner is not the lone Dane in Southern Indiana this school year, as Silver Creek’ s Magnus Melcher and New Albany’ s Bertrand Eske-Lund are here too.
Melcher played soccer this past fall, dawning the blue-andgold of the Dragons. The 6-foot-1 forward led the team in goals( 38) and points( 89) while ranking second in assists( 13).
“ It’ s different playing soccer compared to Denmark, as it’ s for a school team, so it’ s more of a family vibe with it cause you’ re with the same people all day,” Melcher said.
Melcher has enjoyed his time in America and at Silver Creek.
Mikail Centiner
Denmark
Magnus Melcher
Denmark
Jeffersonville’ s Mikail Centiner serves to an opponent during the boys’ tennis season. Centiner played organized tennis for the first time during the fall season for the Red Devils. Photo provided | Gary Purlee
Silver Creek forward Magnus Melcher dribbles past a Clarksville defender during a Sept. 2 match. Melcher scored two goals against the Generals. Photo by Josh Cook.
PAGE NO. 8 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2026