Sports

Photo by Devin Fulton Defensive Coaching Assistants Ryan Wood and Deandre Barthwell discuss plays in the huddle during red zone drills between the Eagles’ offense and defense during practice, Tuesday, at Elliott Field.

From defensive backs to coaching staff

u By Devin Fulton Sports Editor

Chadron State’s football team welcomed two previous players to its coaching staff as former defensive backs Deandre Barthwell and Ryan Wood joined the Eagles as defensive coaching assistants in the summer.

Wood, of Stockton, California, came to Chadron in 2012 when he redshirted as a freshman. By the end of his first season in 2013, Wood was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year after recording 53 tackles, 10 passes defensed and three interceptions. Through the remainder of his time as a safety for the Eagles, Wood added 265 tackles, four fumble recoveries and four interceptions.

Upon graduating at CSC in 2017, Wood saw time in the Canadian Football League after trying out for multiple teams during training camp. However, Wood took his talents south and played in the International Arena Football League in Mexico City where his team won a championship.

Following that success, Wood signed with the Australian Footcare about this program and I ball League, but the season folded due to COVID-19. He also signed with the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL, but that league “ I’m not just here for coaching, I’m here because I care about this want them to win as well.” Wood also credits his experiences on special teams under Jersild as a bridge toward playing safety, where he went on to rank as CSC’s sixth also found the same reprogram and I want all-time leading tackler. Desult as the AFL. Now, Wood is them to win as well. spite his achievements, Wood instead stresses off-the-field coaching the defensive backs and assists with - Ryan Wood fundamentals toward the Ea gle’s secondary. special teams at Chad“Playing as a defensive ron State, where he back is not all about how grew as a player and person under then Special talented you are, it’s about mastering things Teams Coordinator, now Defensive Coordinathat require no talent because you have to be tor Craig Jersild. really disciplined as a defensive back,” Wood

“It’s been amazing, Coach Jersey has been said. “You have to be a student of the game, I like a father figure to me,” Wood said about his learned early in my career that I can’t just rely return to CSC. “When I first got here, I was a on my athletic ability, I had to really get down wild-child man, but he straightened me up. I and study the playbook and learn offenses.” feel like I owe a lot to him, so I always told myAlong with Wood, Barthwell, of Westland, self when I was done playing ball I’d come back Michigan, brings his experience as a renown and help here and try to win a championship. Eagle defensive back to CSC’s coaching staff as This football program means a lot to me. I’m an assistant for the team’s defense. not just here for coaching, I’m here because I Starting 35 games for the Eagles since 2015, Barthwell logged 116 tackles, eight interceptions and one defensive touchdown through four seasons at Chadron State. Barthwell was an All-RMAC and All-Nebraska Div. II First Team selection in 2019.

“First off, coaching as a whole is just a lot different,” Barthwell said. “It’s a lot more time being put in and I’d say it’s a lot more work. With the players, I just finished up last year so I can relate to them a little more. I give them advice where I see it fit and just make sure they’re doing OK, make sure they’re where they’re supposed to be and know what to do.”

Having played corner, Barthwell understands the mindset defenders must have to succeed at the collegiate level and hopes to pass his knowledge to current Eagle defensive backs.

“As a defensive back, you just want to see a competitor, a guy with a short memory who competes no matter the caliber of a receiver he’s up against. It’s really just the competitive nature of a person and their mindset out there on the field because sometimes you’ll go against somebody that’s better than you, but you rely on what you did in practice.”

Sports

CSC runners face uphill battle at UCCS

u By Devin Fulton Sports Editor

Chadron State’s men and women’s cross country teams battled elevation and smokey air quality en route to placing fourth against three other conference opponents, Saturday, at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I think we can get everyone within 20-30 seconds within one another, but we didn’t execute that this past weekend,” Head Cross Country Coach Luke Karamitros said about the meet.

The women’s team ran five kilometers against 47 participants while the men’s team ran eight against 58 participants as all participants competed on a lap-based course which featured steep changes in elevation. According to many CSC runners, the race was one of the most challenging to start a season.

“The meet was one of the most difficult races I’ve ever competed in,” Logan Moravec, sophomore of Gering, said about the race. “The combination of the elevation, smoke in the air and the crazy hills made it one race to always remember.”

Emma Willadsen, senior of Eaton, Colorado, led the women’s team by placing 22nd of 47 with a 21:09.2 finish time while senior Madison Watson, of Mitchell, finished roughly five seconds after to place 24th.

Jesse Jaramillo, sophomore of Scottsbluff, led the men’s squad by placing 37th of 58 with a 28:48.7 finish time.

The remainder of the women’s team ranked in the bottom 17 of 47 participants as Hannah Wilkie, freshman of Rangely, Colorado, Sydney Settles, junior of Lincoln, Tukker Romey, freshman of Gering, and Kassyl Gunwall, freshman of Gordon, placed 34-37th respectively.

For the men’s team, sophomores Moravec and Noah Burtis, of Berthoud, Colorado, placed 40th and 41st while Garrett Avery, of Sheridan, Wyoming, placed 43rd. Freshmen Ethan Roberts, of Rapid City, South Dakota, placed 49th, Treyvin Schlueter, of Wood Lake, placed 51st, while Cale Shafer, of Lasalle, Colorado, Jayson Caudell, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Joaquin Venzor, of Greeley, Colorado, placed 53-55th respectively.

Following the meet, Karamitros stressed the importance of mental toughness and keeping focus for the men’s team as multiple freshmen adjusted to 8K distances in contrast to high school distances.

“These men, they have to race for 25- plus minutes typically and by the end of the year as we jump up to the 10K, that’s 30- plus minutes,” Karamitros said. “Whether you’re a regular student or an adult, sitting and staying focused for that amount of time is already difficult, much less when you’re in the heat of a battle and things aren’t going your way, it’s easy to lose focus. One of the biggest things I like to tell my kids is to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Sometimes you have to shake off that negativity and just

Photo courtesy of University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Emma Willadsen, senior of Eaton, Colorado, runs through elevated terrain during Chadron State’s first cross country meet of 2020, Saturday, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

start thinking of the positives.”

Chadron State is planning to host South Dakota Mines and potentially three other schools in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Oct. 3.

“I am excited to race on our home turf,”

Willadsen said. “It’s a course the upperclassmen and I are familiar with and I hope to make the most of the race because of our shortened season. I think the home course will be a great experience for our freshmen on the team as well.”