Football launch for NW Christian

When Northwest Christian shows up at Ritzville’s jamboree Sept. 6 for their debut appearance in NE 2B football league it will mark the end of a project which started almost two years ago.

Crusader players, coaches, parents and administrators have all worked to launch the new football effort.

The start of Crusader football also came about with the support of coaches and administrators around the league, according to NWC Principal Ray Ricks.

"We have had a lot of support from people all around the league. They have encouraged us and provided a lot of advice when we needed it,” Ricks said.

NWC’s move into football was also the result of requests for students and parents. Over the years, NWC students who wanted to play football traveled to neighboring schools, such as Mead, to play during their high school years.

Ricks said another factor was the increased number of NWC students who played in youth football programs and wanted to continue football during their high school years.

Except for a few possible informal games in the mid 1950s, the Crusaders have never launched a football team. Soccer has been the traditional fall sport at the school, and the Crusaders will continue to field a soccer team.

Ricks said after NWC officials began seeing interest in football among the students and parents the school six years ago conducted a study for a possible launch into the sport, but the project landed on the shelf, possibly when they realized the cost factors involved in launching a team from scratch.

About 20 months ago, NWC decided to again study the program. Ricks said they decided to pursue the goal which they believe contributes to the Christian mission of the school.

"We felt football really was the only sport which can provide that Friday night experience which brings a student body together," Ricks said

The football project received a lot of support from the school’s booster club. Also, the cause was designated as one of the recipients of proceeds from the school’s annual benefit auction. Ricks noted one popular fundraiser was the sale of NWC football T-shirts, an item which figures to appreciate in value because of its unique debut year date.

Ricks declined to put a number on the initial launch cost for outfitting the team and the overall launch of the program.

Despite the fund raising efforts, Crusaders who participate in the program will face a pay-to- play format before the practices start.

Northwest Christian, which has an enrollment of 240 students in the high school grades, expects to have about 35 players turn out for football and about 30 turn out for soccer.

Jim Lendel, a former Whitworth assistant coach who also worked with the Wolf pack program in Spokane, will be the Crusaders’ head coach and lead a staff that will include four assistants. Athletic Director Stephan Fritsch and faculty member Aaron Spuler also had a big part in the team launch.

Crusader football had its pre-season launch when the Crusaders sent 20 players to the football camp at Boise State. Ricks said first-time Crusader players reported Boise was a tough camp experience, but provided some excellent instruction.

NWC will play a round of varsity games in the NE this year and will be looking to pick up jayvee games. The school initially was undecided about how to phase in the program but eventually opted to play varsity ball their first year.

Northwest Christian will play their home games up Highway 2 at Riverside. After the jamboree at Ritzville, they will host Liberty for the first league round the following week.