By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ
PENDLETON — Mike Somis and his seventh grade football team put their 3-0 record on the line against Richland Green on Saturday, Sept. 28. When the final horn sounded, their record improved to 4-0.
Somnis’ team is one of five Pendleton teams in the Columbia Basin Youth Football league, which includes teams from the Tri-Cities, Hermiston, Yakima, Baker, Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater.
While the younger teams were in the CBYF last year, it’s the first year for the two middle school teams.
“It’s going great,” said Roy Schuening, president of the Pendleton Youth Football program. “The kids are seeing a high level of competition. It’s producing a lot of growth in the program and our numbers have increased. There is a lot of excitement right now.”
Pendleton has teams at the third-fourth grade level, fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade and eighth grade, with quite a few tribal kids on the rosters.
“The competition is vast,” Schuening said. “The draw for me was the level of competition for the kids. As a whole, it’s a great opportunity for the kids. It will help them get better, and help them battle through adversity. It’s exciting, for sure.”
Schuening coaches the third-fourth grade team, and the fifth grade team. His son, Shad, plays on the offensive and defensive lines for the third-fourth grade team.
The five Pendleton teams bring together players from all the grade schools and Sunridge Middle School. The number of tribal kids last year numbered less than 10. This season, that number is more than 40 spread throughout the teams.
“After last season, my big focus was to get the word out, especially with the Native kids,” Schuening said. “Last year, we had four or five Native kids. We saw it as a big opportunity. This year, we have way more. We are excited and looking forward to continued growth. It’s a potential opportunity for the kids down the road to possibly continue to play in high school and college.”
Somnis, who is the athletic director at Pendleton High School, said the CBYF program is a good connection for tribal and Pendleton students, who all attend Sunridge Middle School.
“What’s great is this benefits our co-op for football with Nixyáawii,” Somnis said. “That will be around for a long time. All of these kids, when they get to high school whether it be Nixyáawii or Pendleton, will have played together. They also play basketball and baseball together.”
Somnis is assisted by Ryan Sams and Karl Farber, and all three have sons on the team.
Clay Somnis is an offensive guard and middle linebacker, Quincy Sams is the team’s quarterback and a defensive end, and Ryan Farber is an offensive guard and defensive tackle.
One tribal member playing his first year of football for the seventh grade team is running back Michael Manta, who has been turning heads this season.
“He’s going to be a good one,” Somnis said.
Adding to the size on the line is Calvin Van Pelt, a nephew to Nixyáawii senior Landon Van Pelt, who is a standout two-way lineman for the Bucks.
“We have some good-sized Native kids,” Sams said. “It’s good for them to play more than one sport.”
Somnis and Sams have players on their team that have played everything from football to basketball to baseball together.
“We have a group of kids and parents. A lot of these kids have been playing together on basketball, baseball and wrestling teams. They all know each other really well. It’s a lot of fun.”
While football is predominantly a sport for boys, Schuening said girls are welcome to play.
Fallon Jones is on Schuening’s fifth grade team.
“She is awesome,” he said. “She is probably our best defensive player. This is her second year playing. She was on our fourth-grade team last year. She plays fast and physical and is fun to watch. Some of the boys are afraid of her. She is definitely leaving her mark.”
While it’s too late to sign up to play football this fall, next season will be here before you know it.
Registration is $100 per player and Schuening said there is help for those who need it.
“The Pendleton Youth Football board is raising money so hopefully in the future that will be less,” he said. “We have some partners in the community that help cover costs for kids who can’t afford it. We want kids to have the opportunity to play.”
-Find this story in the October issue of the CUJ on page B1-
