Local standout to play football for University of Mary

WASILLA — It didn’t take long for Nick Benshetler to make his presence known within the Palmer High School football program.

Boasting size and strength, even during the early days of high school playing career, Benshetler became a starter as an underclassman. By his senior year, the lineman was one of the more heavily recruited football players in the state. Throughout his youth and prep playing career, Benshetler hoped his work on and off the field would help ensure that football would not end with high school.

Last week, after years of working toward the opportunity to play at the next level, Benshetler signed at National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Mary and play football for the Division II Marauders.

“Ever since I started playing football 13 years ago, I kind of always wanted to go all the way with football,” said Benshetler, who donned the blue and white University of Mary shirt and he celebrated with friends and family during a small ceremony at Mat-Su Central School in Wasilla Feb. 4.

Benshetler’s blue and white Mary attire was fitting for a prospect who made a name for himself wearing the Palmer High School blue and white. The three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines helped the Moose win a Raibelt Conference title 2012 and advance to the playoffs in each of his three seasons as a varsity starter.

Benshetler was named first-team all-state as a junior, and first-team All-Railbelt Conference as an offensive lineman as a junior and senior. He was also named second-team all-conference as a defensive lineman his senior year.

The accolades came as a result of a work ethic praised by longtime Palmer High School head coach Rod Christiansen.

“He’s a really good worker. That helps,” Christiansen said. “I think (the University of Mary) is a really good fit for him. He could probably try a higher level, but I think he has a good chance to be a part of (the Mary) program, and get to play early on.”

A laundry list of schools, at just about every level, had interest in Benshetler, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound lineman, buy Mary became the clear choice.

“Mary just kind of took it,” Benshetler said of the Bismarck, North Dakota, school. “Everything about it.”

Campus, coaching staff, facilities, academic programs and quality of recruits are among the myriad of reasons why Benshetler decided on Mary.

“Definitely the campus. There’s not that many kids. It’s such a small campus, but really big time football program. That was impressive,” Benshetler said. “Their facilities are absolutely amazing.”

Benshetler said he is also excited to be a part of a quality recruiting class.

“The class coming in, all solid recruits,” Benshetler said. “A lot of guys who had (Division I) offers, including myself, who turned those DI offers down.”

Wyoming, North Dakota and Northern Colorado were among the bigger programs with interest.

Benshetler stood out on both offense and defense for the Moose. Benshetler said he would play wherever his team needs him, but his preference for the future is offense.

“I do think I’m a little better on offense, and as I mature more, I’ll be better on offense, I believe, but I’ll play either way,” Benshetler said.

Benshetler said most college coaches projected him as an offensive lineman.

“Nine out of 10 coaches all said offensive guard,” Benshetler said.

As Benshetler celebrated his achievement at the ceremony, he was quick to credit a pair of men who helped him achieve his goal. Former Palmer High football star Junior Aumavae (a Division II standout, former member of the NFL’s New York Jets and a current player for the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Outlaws) and Palmer High line coach Tim Popowski (a standout at Division I North Dakota State) were among Benshetler’s mentors during his high school career.

“I definitely want to thank Junior Aumavae. He helped me a lot with all the training, mentoring me, taking care of me, making sure I did everything right,” Benshetler said. “I want to thank Coach Pop and the Palmer High School coaching staff. Especially Coach Pop, my position coach. He really helped me technique-wise on the (offensive) line. I got really lucky to have those two guys helping me out.”

Benshetler played football for Palmer High, and was homeschooled through Mat-Su Central School. Benshetler’s cumulative grade point average for his four years of high school is 3.94. With the help of Mat-Su Central and advisor Jay Webber, Benshetler took independent learning courses through North Dakota State University.

Benshetler plans to study business at Mary.

University of Mary is a Division II program competing in the 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Mary finished 5-6 overall last season, and four in the NSIC North Division.