I'd like to first thank everyone who I crossed paths with in my four years at Linfield. I would especially like to thank my Mother and Father who continually supported me and pushed me to execute at my best both on the field and off the field. Without them I would have never had the chance to me part of this amazing program. I'd also like to thank all of our coaches and especially coach Yen and coach Fendall who got me to Linfield in the first place. I would last to like to thank all my teammates who made training, practice, games and meetings the most memorable times in my life. Thank you catdome for the best four years of my life that I will never forget. Roll cats!
Sincerely,
Reid Sullivan
I would first like to thank my Linfield coaches who have me the opportunity to play for one of the greatest teams in the nation. I can truly say that if have never had coaches who cared for me the way our coaching staff did during my four year adventure. I would also like to thank Ryan Carlson for all the incredible work that he has done. Because of him, I can show my children what life was like as a Linfield Wildcat. I would like to thank all of the trainers who kept me going through the season. Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents Todd and Linda for always being there for. Without them, I could not be where I am today. I have a supporting father and mother who have demonstrated for me what it’s like to be a great football player and an even better person.
Over the course of my football career there have been countless people who have helped me become the man I am today and the football player I was able to be for the last 10 years or so. So first and foremost, I'd like to thank every single person who has had an impact on me both from a positive standpoint and a negative standpoint because both have helped immensely.
With that said in particular I would like to thank my high school coaching staff and in particular Craig Whitney and Doug Semler. Whit is a great coach and helped our class of 2010 think about not just the four years we would spend in high school, but the kind of people we wanted to be for the rest of my life. Semler and I had a player coach relationship that not many would understand, but it helped me develop an understanding of the game mentally and he taught me more about the mental and psychological aspect of the game.
I'd like to thank the people who gave me the tools I needed physically to become the player I was during my time at Linfield. First of those people is Drew Buchkoski who over the last 6 years shaped me into a completely functional athlete from head to toe. Butch also served as a mentor and over time a close friend and I'd like to thank him for not only the gains from a strength and conditioning standpoint, but from a mentality standpoint and helping me develop into a complete athlete and person. Also, I'd like Vic Wallace who helped me get everything out of the skills that I had and then more and for teaching me that nothing in life is perfect, but to always strive to try and be.
Next I'd like to thank all the people at Linfield including everyone from the staff to the players who have become brothers to the Linfield community in general. These people and the collective impacts they've had on myself as a person have giving me the opportunity to meet the people who I will be friends with for the rest of my life and to be a part of something as great as Linfield is.
Lastly, but not least I'd like to thank my pops, Mark Funk he's not only my father but he is my best friend and has been there literally since day one. He has always given me the strength and courage to try and do what others said I couldn't. He has been my number one fan for everything from tee ball to the last whistle in Wisconsin marking my last down as a college football player. Without him I would have never gotten the chance to experience the best four years of my life to date here at Linfield so I would like to give him the most thanks.
-Brandon Funk
It has been a very intriguing and exciting career here at the Catdome. Throughout these four years I have drastically grown on and off the field. I've learned so much from the people I was surrounded by; coaches, professors, players, and students. I will cherish all of these moments till I go to the grave.
I’d like to thank the coaching staff, including Coach Yen and Coach Fendall, for teaching, coaching, and molding me into the person I am today. I'd like to thank all the fans and the community for all the support and bringing an uplifting energy to the games. I'd like to thank Carls for all the hard work he has done for this program and helping me get through these years. Most importantly I'd like to thank my family for all the sacrifices they have given for me to have this opportunity.
I want to thank my biggest fan, my mom Dorianne Ricci for all of the support that she has given me during my 16 years of playing football. Without her, I would not be where I am today and I am eternally grateful. I also want to thank the rest of my family for their continued support of my endeavors. Also, I would like to extend my gratitude to my Linfield Wildcat family as well. All of the coaches, fans and players that helped me realize what it means to be a Wildcat.
First and foremost I would like to thank my parents. Dad you've been my biggest supporter on and off the field. I wouldn't have been able to make it at Linfield and I am very appreciative of all you've done for me. Mom, thank you for the countless phone calls me venting about school, phone calls and just emotional checkups. Your support has been crucial to my career at Linfield. Gloria, thank you for being the biggest Linfield fan and supporter. No matter where we were playing I could always hear you and it was good knowing you were there. I love all of you.
Next, I would like to thank my siblings. Brad, thank you for being the reason I went to Linfield. Zach, thanks for the countless texts asking how the games went and games you came to. Alex, thank you for coming to Linfield! The 9 games we played in together are memories I will cherish forever. Continue to work hard and your potential is limitless. Hayley, thank you for helping me pass nutrition and physiology.
Coach Bacus, thank you for pushing me to go to Linfield and teaching me the defensive line technique before I even got to Linfield.
Coach Ryan Carlson, thank you for making the Linfield that much better. The highlight videos allow us to have the memories forever a play button push away.
Coach Haze, thanks for the friendship and foot jokes over the years. You’re a player’s coach, and we all need that. A thank you does not justify all you've done.
Coach Rombach, thank you for the constant energy! I've never seen anyone have the amount of energy you do.
Coach Smith, thank you for recruiting me. Thank you for giving me the experience you promised when you recruited me. You're doing a great job with this program and you do things the right way!!!
Coach Vaughan, thank you for taking a chance on me my freshman year and continuing to give me opportunities to be successful. Thank you for giving us your time when you have a family that rarely sees you during football season. Also, thank you to your wife for allowing you to spend so much time with us to be successful.
Seniors, thank you for the last 4 years. Your class is the most talented group I've seen in my 5 years. There is no doubt you'll all be successful in life. Never forget the fun we've had. I love you all.
Current and future cats thank you for your continual work ethic and passion. Continue the winning ways of Linfield. Do the right things all the time, not just in football but off the field too. You only have 4 years they go by faster than any word can describe. I would go through 5 more ACL surgeries to have one more week with my guys. To watch domo dance pregame, to have Forman blast Bangarang, to watch the defensive backs throw the chairs.
Thank you all!!!
Tyler Steele #59
First off, Thanks WC11 for giving us the opportunity to do this. I know you hear it a a lot, but the 'Catdome would not be the same without you and I personally want to thank you for everything you have done for the program and for me during my time here
Wow! It's weird to look back at my football career and all the great memories I've made and people I've met. Since beginning football in the 3rd grade, I have been in love with the sport. I have learned more about myself as a person through football than I probably would like to admit. However, as my time here at the 'Catdome comes to a close, I have to say my last 4 seasons of football were some of the most fun and memorable I have ever been a part of. The 'Catdome has been the greatest class I have ever taken or probable ever will take in my life. There is no way to fully describe what this program does for you as not only a football player, but as a man. I can honestly say that I have zero regrets about choosing to play football here at Linfield and if I had to do it all over again, I would come here once again in a heartbeat.
There are some people though that I would personally like to thank for everything that they have done for me throughout my football career. I wish I could go through and name each and every person, but there are far too many to name them all
To the 2010 Hilhi Coaching Staff and Team: Thank you all for everything you did, I would not be where I am today without all of your effort and constant support, even after I graduated. You're some of the greatest coaches and friends I have ever been around. Some of you remain my closest friends and often times when things got tough around here, and I had doubts about playing, I thought of you guys and how lucky I was to be where I am.
To the Catdome staff: Thank you for all of your hard work and effort behind the scenes that many don't get to see. You guys work harder than any coaching staff I have ever seen or been around and you coached us in more than just football, and for that I thank you again.
To my Parents: I don't even know where to begin. You have been my rock since the beginning and have supported me through everything I have done. You've been there to wipe my tears after a tough loss and to share a hug filled with tears of joy after winning it all. Through it all, you have always been there and you have sacrificed more than anyone will probably ever know just to see me succeed and be happy. I don't think I can summarize how lucky I am to have both of you in my life in this simple rundown, so all I can say for now is that I love you both and this IS NOT the end of football in our house
Lastly, I want to thank all the guys that were on the teams I was lucky enough to be a part of during my time here. I got to meet some great guys and made some life long friends that I wouldn't trade for the world. It's weird to put a close to this chapter of my life, but looking forward I am excited to stay around the game I love through coaching and to continue to rep the 'Catdome everywhere I go!
'Catdome!
-Zack Hickman
The first people I would like to thank are my parents. They attended every home game and almost every away game over the course of my four years here at school. They supported me every step of the way, and made my career possible.
Second, I would like to thank my teammates. I couldn't have asked for a better group of men to show up to work with every day, whether it was the 6AM workouts, practices, or films, I enjoyed the time I spent with you. And to my fellow O-linemen: I hope to see you absolute dominate next year. Work hard this offseason and come back fighting.
Thanks to all of the coaches on our staff. There is no doubt that we have the best coaches in the nation, and I consider myself lucky to have learned from you. Thank you for all of the time that you put in watching film, and game planning.
And finally thank you to all of the fans. Linfield has the best fans in the Northwest Conference. Thank you to the Linfield faithful who show up and support us every weekend, no matter the weather.
-Jesse Archambault
I would like to begin by first simply saying thank you to the entire Linfield Wildcat program. This includes the coaches, the training staff, the equipment managers and everyone else who had anything to do with the program. The past four years in this family has been the best learning experience that I have ever had. Apart from gaining a more precise understanding of the game of football, I also learned a lot about being a man. The Linfield football team has taught me how to be a better man in every way.
Coach Joseph Smith frequently reminds us of the trials and tribulations of life after football in terms of having a family, paying bills and climbing the employment ladder. I think because of my time with the Linfield football team, I am prepared to face these challenges head on and succeed. Without having learned about the Wildcat culture, I think my future would be much more uncertain. But this team has given me the greatest educational experience that I could have ever asked for because it taught me how to lead a good life as a good man.
The four pillars that our team is built on are team, excellence, attitude and class, and these values have become a part of my life both on and off of the field. On the field, the program trained me to play football with integrity and great effort. Outside of football, the team has given me a great work ethic and accountability which separates all football players from other students. I am excited to face the challenges that the world has for me outside of college because of the tools that the Linfield football team has given me.
Finally, and most important to me, the team introduced me to my best friends. Some of which I know will be truly lifelong friends. This friendship is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life because I know that these friends are men of character.
-Jacob Priester
First and foremost, I would like to thank my wonderful parents Bruce and Sherri, and my sister McKenna. The past eight football seasons have been a wild ride, and I thank you guys for being there every step of the way. I would also like to thank you guys for always supporting me in my endeavors, and always being my number one fan. There is not one group of people I am more indebted to than you guys, as without you guys my four years at Linfield would not have been achieved. Thanks again for everything you have done for me, I love you guys.
I would next like to thank the coaching staff. I really do appreciate the hard work that each coach puts in to ensure that we as a team are prepared on a week-to-week basis. There really isn’t a staff better in the country in my opinion. I would also like to give a special shout out to Coach Smith and Coach Fendall for recruiting me and giving me the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to be a Linfield Wildcat, it’s an honor that means a lot to me, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to wear the purple and red.
I owe a large thank you to my teammates, thank you guys for making these past four seasons the incredible ride that they were. I battled through injury throughout my four years on campus, but knew that you guys always supported me. I met some of my best friends on this team, and that alone has made the journey worth it. Guys like Jacob Priester, Brynnan Hyland, Bobby Nix, Erik Knapp, Josh Repp, and Mike Maierhofer make it fun to be at practice every day, especially through fall camp and the daily mid-season grind. From players past and present, thanks for making Linfield Football the program that it is. Finally I want to congratulate all my fellow seniors on a successful career at Linfield, I wish nothing but the best to you all in the future.
Catdome forever,
Josh Smith
P.S. big thank you to Ryan Carlson and everything he does for the Linfield Football program. You're the best in the business WC11 can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve in the future.
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