Wasilla teammates making the move to Minot State University

WASILLA — When Derek Cottle-Bosch looks back to his freshman year at Wasilla High School, he recalls memories of an eager group of ninth-graders hungry to stay on the football field long after their time is done at WHS.

“We all always said we are all going to play somewhere in college,” Cottle-Bosch said on Wednesday after he and teammate Kris Firey signed National Letters of Intent to join the Minot State football program.

Now, Cottle-Bosch and Firey are part of a group of five Wasilla seniors with the opportunity to play football on the next level.

Cottle-Bosch, a 5-foot-9 and 174 pound senior, will kick for the North Dakota NAIA program. Firey, a 5-foot-11 and 240-pound offensive lineman, will suit up at center for the Beavers.

Both players had the chance to visit the school in Minot, N.D., during a recent trip in which the student-athletes saw three different universities.

Cottle-Bosch and Firey also visited Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, and Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisc.

But Minot proved to be the choice for both.

“It was an awesome visit,” Cottle-Bosch said, noting Minot’s $100,000 weight room and plans to build a turf field and an indoor sports

dome.

Cottle-Bosch had pretty much decided on Minot before the visit, and the coaching staff already had a workout program ready for the young kicker.

Cottle-Bosch said he is now the third kicker on the Beaver roster, and he is still unsure whether he will be declared as a redshirt next season.

“I’m hoping if I don’t have a clear shot I do redshirt so I can get better and develop” Cottle-Bosch said.

Cottle-Bosch was Wasilla’s top kicker for just one season, his senior year, but made the most of his short time in the starting position. Cottle-Bosch, who was named second-team All-Railbelt Conference at kicker, had a few key moments during his senior campaign. But arguably his biggest moments as a kicker came in the final game of the regular season.

Cottle-Bosch kicked a 32-yard field goal into the wind as the second quarter expired and added the game-winning extra point with 25 seconds left in regulation in Wasilla’s 36-35 win over rival Palmer in the 2007 Potato Bowl.

Cottle-Bosch, who plans to study computer science at Minot State, said motivation from parents and coaches, and a 13-year background in soccer has helped him achieve his goal.

“My mom and coaches have said, you need to work hard and become a good kicker because everyone wants a good kicker,” Cottle-Bosch said.

Wasilla head coach Jim Shetter feels Cottle-Bosch has the tools to become a reliable kicker in the college game.

“He has the size, he’s athletic and he’s got a good head on his shoulders so he can make those clutch kicks for them,” Shetter said.

Like Cottle-Bosch, Firey is making the jump to the college level after just one season at his position.

Prior to his senior year, Firey made the move from defensive end to center.

“I played defensive end since I was in the eighth grade,” Firey said. “Up to my junior year.”

The move proved to be a smooth transition for Firey, who earned second-team all-conference honors at the position.

“He did a great job,” Shetter said. “For having no experience at the varsity level at that position I was really impressed. He was the quarterback of our line of scrimmage.”

Firey said Minot State’s academic programs, most importantly its criminal justice department, also proved to be a deciding factor.

“They showed me their criminal justice program at Minot and I totally fell for that place,” Firey said.

With the college commitments of Cottle-Bosch and Firey, there are now five Wasilla seniors who are slated to be on college football rosters next year.

“Five students going on to the next level, getting an education,” Shetter said. “We’re heading in the right direction.”

Zach Orr was the first to sign, inking a letter of intent to join Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn. Shane Green and Beebo Russell are both headed to Valley City State in Valley City, N.D.

Before the beginning of the season, Cottle-Bosch said he wouldn’t have thought five Wasilla seniors would be preparing for college football.

“I knew a couple were obviously going to go, because they were just studs,” Cottle-Bosch said. “But I didn’t think I was going to go.

“It was nice getting Shetter and the staff,” Cottle-Bosch said. “He said as long as I worked hard, he’d get me into college. He’d make sure it happened.”

Firey said there are a few more Wasilla seniors with the ability to play somewhere on the college level.

“There’s many people capable of playing on the next level,” Firey said.

The five Wasilla seniors will also have a connection at the college level.

During the first week of the college season, Minot State will host Bemidji State. Minot State will also host Valley City State on Sept. 27.

Minot State and Valley City State are both in the Dakota 10 Athletic Conference.

“It’s exciting,” Cottle-Bosch said. “They’ve always been good friends of mine. It’ll be cool to still be able to meet up with them every once in a while.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.