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Jul. 12—The Timberline Spartans of Weippe will not do battle as a football team this fall, but players from the school will march under the banner of the Orofino Maniacs in a co-op arrangement, it was recently announced.
"Basically, the coach (Pat Christopherson) and I evaluated our numbers and the ages of the players that we had coming out, and knew it was highly unlikely we would be able to field a full team for a full season," Timberline athletic director Cori Pinque said. "In order to keep everybody safe, we decided it would be best to co-op with Orofino rather than try to put a team together with barely enough kids to get onto the field."
Timberline and Orofino have co-oped in other sports in the past, and Pinque said the schools "come together very well at those times."
"We're just excited to have a school right next to us that will take these guys," said Timberline coach Pat Christopherson, who explained that fielding a Spartan team this year "just wasn't going to work" due to low numbers.
Madison Melton, who was recently hired to become Orofino's next AD, described a discussion taking place among the two administrations in which it was agreed the planned arrangement will "benefit both kids and schools" as she has prepared to officially start the job this fall semester.
With the Orofino program coming off a winless season, its coaching staff of half-brothers Seth Melton (head coach) and Sean Diffin (assistant) expressed optimism that the added talent from the co-op could provide just the sort of spark the Maniacs need.
"We're still trying to iron out some things, but I think those kids will benefit from being down here, and I think we benefit from getting those kids," Seth Melton said. "I think it's a great opportunity for both schools."
Diffin added that the Maniacs themselves have "struggled with numbers in the past, so to pick up a few extra kids from up there is not going to be a detriment."
Christopherson expressed gratitude in particular that his son Korbin, a first-team All-Class 1A Whitepine League quarterback, will get to play a senior season. Diffin noted that Pat Christopherson will be "missing the dream" of being his son's head coach, but will still have the opportunity to be involved.
"I personally invited (Pat Christopherson) down to help us in any capacity that he feels comfortable with," Diffin said. "He's one of those coaches that people truly follow; that's what we need here to jumpstart it, as much as we've struggled here in the last few years."
Orofino will debut its new co-op roster when it opens its season playing host to the Marsing Huskies on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.
Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or [email protected].
Continue reading...
"Basically, the coach (Pat Christopherson) and I evaluated our numbers and the ages of the players that we had coming out, and knew it was highly unlikely we would be able to field a full team for a full season," Timberline athletic director Cori Pinque said. "In order to keep everybody safe, we decided it would be best to co-op with Orofino rather than try to put a team together with barely enough kids to get onto the field."
Timberline and Orofino have co-oped in other sports in the past, and Pinque said the schools "come together very well at those times."
"We're just excited to have a school right next to us that will take these guys," said Timberline coach Pat Christopherson, who explained that fielding a Spartan team this year "just wasn't going to work" due to low numbers.
Madison Melton, who was recently hired to become Orofino's next AD, described a discussion taking place among the two administrations in which it was agreed the planned arrangement will "benefit both kids and schools" as she has prepared to officially start the job this fall semester.
With the Orofino program coming off a winless season, its coaching staff of half-brothers Seth Melton (head coach) and Sean Diffin (assistant) expressed optimism that the added talent from the co-op could provide just the sort of spark the Maniacs need.
"We're still trying to iron out some things, but I think those kids will benefit from being down here, and I think we benefit from getting those kids," Seth Melton said. "I think it's a great opportunity for both schools."
Diffin added that the Maniacs themselves have "struggled with numbers in the past, so to pick up a few extra kids from up there is not going to be a detriment."
Christopherson expressed gratitude in particular that his son Korbin, a first-team All-Class 1A Whitepine League quarterback, will get to play a senior season. Diffin noted that Pat Christopherson will be "missing the dream" of being his son's head coach, but will still have the opportunity to be involved.
"I personally invited (Pat Christopherson) down to help us in any capacity that he feels comfortable with," Diffin said. "He's one of those coaches that people truly follow; that's what we need here to jumpstart it, as much as we've struggled here in the last few years."
Orofino will debut its new co-op roster when it opens its season playing host to the Marsing Huskies on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.
Wendt may be contacted at (208) 848-2268, or [email protected].
Continue reading...
