Having watched Super Bowl 50 the evening before like most of Colorado, Bayfield's Wyatt Freier couldn't help casually discussing with Wolverine assistant coach Mike Wnorowski Denver Bronco Von Miller's hounding of Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.
"An outside linebacker, just like you," Wnorowski said.
"I know," replied Freier, before commenting on the Broncos' blitzing with safety T.J. Ward and whether the Panthers could have exposed the opened secondary. Wnorowski then reminded him BHS had at times used a similar strategy. They were awaiting senior Noah Loutherback's entry into the BHS Cafetorium Monday afternoon for a dual National Letter-of-Intent signing ceremony saluting two Fort Lewis College-bound student-athletes.
"They are great men with character, and a lot of heart and desire, and I think Coach Rif (Ed Rifilato, husband of former Bayfield Volleyball, current FLC head coach Kelley Rifilato).got a couple of great men who will work really hard and bring a great, positive attitude towards the Skyhawks," said Wolverine boss Gary Heide.
As previously reported in the Times, Freier confirmed that the NCAA Division II crew in Durango does envision using him on the defensive side of the football, hence his interest in the Super Bowl MVP's performance.
"I'm hoping to play outside linebacker for them," Freier said. "But wherever they need me, I'll be more than happy to play! Wide receiver, outside 'backer, line-if I need to-I'll do whatever it takes."
"Love Coach Rifilato.it's nice to know that he's Bayfield," Freier added, noting Fort Lewis' late-December change at the top didn't really affect his decision. "Know him from his daughters who went to school here, were very successful in volleyball, and it's nice to have someone 'from home.' To have a little connection."
Added Heide: "Outside linebacker.oh my goodness that's a great spot for him, you know? Tall, rangy, he's got speed, great instinct, great hands, can play the ball when he goes into pass coverage.use those arms, those hands to shed blockers. I think he weighs around 195, 200 right now.I see him as a great outside linebacker at 225, 230 in college. The Skyhawks got a great find in Wyatt Freier."
Loutherback will be an excellent addition to the Skyhawks, too, predicted their high school mentor.
"What he brings is a motor," Heide said Monday of Loutherback. "I mean, he's got great skill, great feet for a big man-he used to play basketball, he's a multi-sport athlete-and he uses that to be very athletic."
"He's about 235, 240 right now, and I know wherever they want him he'll do a great job at it. I think as far as offensive line, what a great skill set to have going in! And he's got a frame that can hold, easily, a lot of weight and still be real effective and quick."
"They're recruiting me as an offensive lineman, so I see myself on the offensive side of the ball," Loutherback said. "But we'll see what happens! He hinted he might like to study engineering ("something that I can use in the Navy after I get out of college") with Freier presently bent on biology.
"I'm super excited to keep playing the game that I love.in the area that I grew up in, around the people I love and the people that love me," Loutherback said. "This community's been great for me throughout the season and in high school, and I think it will continue to be at the next level."
Loutherback helped clear the way for Wolverine rushers to gain a reported 2,837 yards (236.4 per game) during BHS' 12-0 2015 season.
Fort Lewis amassed 4,456 yards of total offense and ranked fourth in the RMAC in scoring (33.9 points per game) as well during a 7-4 2015-which included six conference wins, the program's most since 2006, when Rifilato-guided 'Hawks defeated Dixie State College of Utah in the 21st Dixie Rotary Bowl.
"He was very adamant about wanting us from Bayfield," Loutherback said of Rifilato's recruiting. "He knew what we stood for and who we were, and he really wanted us where he was. So.it felt like he was 'for us' and not just to run a business at a school."
"Noah's a great guy, and I'm really happy to have him on another team of mine.continuing our friendship and getting to grow as players," said Freier. "I'm super excited, really blessed to have this opportunity. It's a great program, great people-love the head coach-and I just can't wait to get started."
"I'm so proud of those young men," Heide stated, "and I'm so happy for them.and their families, that they can use their skills and all the character they've developed over the years to bring that to the next stage in their life. And hopefully they'll do as well now the next four years as they've done here in the Bayfield School District!"
