Colony athletes moving to next level

April 5, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman Sports Editor

PALMER - Randy Magner always thought the Colony High School football program's class of 2005 would be special. Even as the players were just heading into their careers at CHS, Magner, longtime head coach at Colony, saw a bright future for Knight football and even the potential for a player or two to continue their playing careers at the next level.

Now his promising group of athletes has exceeded his expectations, and Magner is watching a half dozen of his prodigies prepare for playing careers at the college level.

Colony seniors Kyle Coffman, Ricky Cunningham and Jon Stratton each signed a National Letter of Intent last week and have earned the opportunity to compete at the next level. Coffman, Cunningham and Stratton join fellow seniors Rhett Magner and Justin Schwartzbauer- who signed their letters in February. Another senior, Dominick Bellotte, is expected to sign his National Letter of Intent in the coming weeks. Magner said there are still a few other players in the talented Knight senior class who also could find themselves on a college roster next fall.

Magner, who retired from coaching following the end of last season, said seeing a large part of the final senior class he coached at CHS fulfill its dream at a shot at the college level is particularly special.

"That's always been one of the driving forces behind what I do (in coaching)," Magner said. "I had the dream, and it consumed me, but I had no help. I thought if I ever (coach), I am going to do what I wished someone else had done for me. We have had guys go, but not this many at once. And the fact that all this came together at the end (of my career) and this number of guys had the dream and now have the opportunity, it's a great feeling of accomplishment."

Coffman and Cunningham will each take the same path, traveling to Bemidji State, a Division II program in Bemidji, Minn. Both were major parts of a Knight defense considered the best in the state, and both will play defense for the Beavers.

"It's a good fit for both of them," Magner said. "They are capable of playing right away."

Both players saw Bemidji State as the best fit, and are excited for the opportunity to travel to the next level with a high school teammate.

"Knowing someone to go with is going to be huge," Coffman said. "It will make the transition a lot easier."

Magner said Cunningham has the potential to make an impact right away for the Beavers.

"He has the ability at Division II Bemidji to stick out like a sore thumb," Magner said.

Cunningham was recruited as a defensive end, while Coffman will play linebacker. During a three-year career at Colony, Coffman played both inside and outside linebacker for the Knights. In just his first varsity season, as a junior, Coffman shattered the team's single season tackle record as an outside linebacker. He moved to the inside for his senior campaign and re-broke his own mark. Coffman could play either position, but Magner said middle linebacker would be the best place for Coffman to prosper.

Stratton is another in a long list of Alaska talent to sign with Valley City State University. He is the ninth player hailing from the 49th state Valley City has signed during the off-season. There are 18 Alaska players already in the Viking football program. Stratton, who played the last two years in the Colony program after moving to Palmer from New Hampshire, could play either defensive back or running back for the NAIA program.

With excellent speed as his primary asset, Stratton said his work in the weight room and performance at football camps helped him earn the opportunity to play at Valley City.

"He's just a tough kid who runs hard," Magner said. "Unfortunately for Jon, we had Shawn Olivera, and Shawn kind of filled the niche we needed. Jon would have started for a lot of teams.

"Jon's worked really hard," Magner added. "He went to a big camp back East and a lot of coaches were impressed by him."

Bellotte, a three-time all-state lineman, is still weighing his options. Valparaiso, a Division I-AA program in Indiana, Grove City College, a Division III program in Pennsylvania, Oberlin College in Ohio, and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, have all recruited Bellotte. Colorado School of the Mines has also sought Bellotte for its wrestling program. But the Knight senior aims to play football.

"Wrestling's a plan B," Bellotte said.

Football is Bellotte's plan A, but education is his greatest concern.

"I realize I'm not going on to play pro ball. The biggest thing for me is getting an education," Bellotte said. "I never know if I'm going to blow out a knee or what's going to happen on the football field. I just want to be secure in that aspect of life."

While he is leaning toward Valparaiso, Bellotte - whose choices are based on find a school with a quality engineering program - is still waiting to see what school can put together the best scholarship package.

"I wish every player knew exactly what he wanted to do after he left high school," Magner said. "He's looking for a good engineering program. A lot of schools have made offers, but didn't offer engineering."

Rhett Magner and Schwartzbauer were the first members of the Knight football program class of 2005 to sign an intent. Magner will join Division I Bowling Green State University, while Schwartzbauer will suit up for Division I-AA Weber State.