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Navigators get their money's worth - Northwest Christian High School - The Olympian - ...
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Navigators get their money's worth
Northwest Christian: Two donors paid for the school to start a
football program three years ago
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To get permission to start a football
program at Northwest Christian High
School, Pete Fulton, a long-time coach,
said he’d volunteer.
And, with the help of two anonymous
donors, he’d also write the school a check
for $25,000 to cover startup costs.
“As soon as the check for $25,000 showed up, they were
convinced,” Fulton said. “It was a financial decision.”
Because of Fulton’s dream to bring football to Northwest
Christian, and because of two men willing to write checks to
make that dream a reality, the small Christian school in Lacey
got a football team three years ago.
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GAIL WOOD; The Olympian | • Published September 03, 2009
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Fulton has taught at Northwest Christian since the school opened 11 years ago and wanted to get back into coaching. He
was the head coach at Timberline High School for five years in the 1980s and was an assistant at North Thurston eight
years.
“As a Christian, the Lord confirmed it to me that this was something he wanted me to do,” Fulton said. “Everything just fell
into place.”
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Football both filled a niche in Fulton’s life and gave a school with an enrollment of 210 a chance at having Friday night
lights.
“Part of it’s personal. My wife died. I don’t want to go to Arizona for the winter,” Fulton said about his decision to get back
into coaching. “And I feel young around the players.”
There have been some growing pains. After going 1-18 the first two seasons, Northwest Christian went 2-8 last season,
losing three games in the closing minutes. With no home field, the Navigators play their “home games” at Rainier High
School. However, the team now practices on campus for the first time and doesn’t have to go across the street to practice
on the baseball field at Chinook Middle School.
Coming off a two-win season, Fulton returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. He’s optimistic.
“We’ve got team quickness in the skill positions,” Fulton said. “The potential is there.”
At quarterback, Ben Connor and Gabe Wadsworth are sharing time. Connor, a senior, has started at quarterback since he
was a sophomore. But Fulton wants to move him to fullback to better utilize his running skills.
“Gabe has some things we can’t coach. He’s 6-1,” Fulton said. “Ben has been an excellent runner and we want to get him
the ball more. This year he’ll be running a lot. We hope it’s at fullback.”
The turnout is down this year. Only 24 turned out, about 16 fewer than usual. To compensate, Fulton will start up to six
players both ways.
“We’ve got talent,” Fulton said.
Just not depth.
“We have 15 really talented young men,” Fulton said. “That should convince everyone that we don’t recruit.”
Fulton is impressed with his offensive line, which includes center Michael Heemstra, guards Caleb Fritz and Dan Collins –
all returning starters.
http://www.theolympian.com/2009/09/03/958790/navigators-get-their-moneys-worth.html
8/5/2010
Navigators get their money's worth - Northwest Christian High School - The Olympian - ...
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“We have five pretty good linemen. We need some help with the backups,” Fulton said. “If our line play isn’t too good, we
might put Ron Holmes in there.”
Holmes, one of Fulton’s assistant coaches, was an All-American defensive tackle at the University of Washington in the
1980s. Fulton coached Holmes at Timberline.
All of Fulton’s assistants – Holmes, Terry Shaw, Jeremy Clark, Ben Briggs and Wayne Rankin – are volunteers. Yet they
all share the same goal – to win.
The school has embraced the team. Fans – parents and students – travel to games at South Bend, Willapa Valley and
Naselle.
“Sometimes we have more fans than the home team,” Fulton said. “It’s been a great experience.”
Northwest Christian opens the season against Pe Ell on Friday at Rainier.
Gail Wood: 360-754-5432
gwood@theolympian.com
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN
Navigators
LAST YEAR
2-8 overall, 2-4 league
HEAD COACH
Pete Fulton, fourth year
COORDINATORS, SETS
O: Fulton, Ben Briggs, spread
D: Terry Shaw, 3-5
RETURNING STARTERS: 7 offense, 6 defense
G/DE Dan Collins, 6-2, 180, sr.
C/DT Michael Heemstra, 6-0, 220, sr.
WR/DB Fess Doelman, 5-8, 145, sr.
WR/DB Airick Owens, 5-11, 145, sr.
G Caleb Fritz, 6-1, 190, sr.
QB/RB/FS Ben Connor, 5-11, 175, jr.
RB/LB Steve Dunn, 6-2, 195, jr.
COACH’S OUTLOOK
“With a change in our offense, we should be very entertaining to watch. We have five very quick and strong runners. We
hope to compete for the playoffs. Last year could have been better. We could have been 6-4 instead of 2-8.”
NOTABLE
Team’s homecoming game will be at Rochester or Rainier. The Navigators don’t have a home field.
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http://www.theolympian.com/2009/09/03/958790/navigators-get-their-moneys-worth.html
8/5/2010