For the first time in four years, hopeful athletes entered the Nicholson Fieldhouse on Feb. 19 for the chance to join CWU’s award-winning Football team during walk-on tryouts. The walk-on was led by Head Coach Scott Power and Offensive Line Coach Kooper Richardson. Included in the walk-in was stretches, a 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, a long jump and basic football drills. The last time CWU hosted walk-on tryouts was February 2022.
Power told The Observer in a post-tryout interview that the coaching staff was looking for “guys that love football and want to be a part of our program. If there’s someone here that has a chance to make our team better, and there’s a lot of ways to make the team better, but that’s what we’re looking for, an opportunity for us to improve.” The former CWU Defensive Coordinator turned Head Coach led the athletes in stretches before overseeing the rest of the tryouts.
Richardson agreed with Power’s sentiment on what they were searching for. “It was looking for guys who want to be Wildcats, who came out to compete and guys who could help the team,” Richardson said. The coach spoke on the 29-athlete turnout, stating, “we have more guys here, like this was an awesome turnout. We’re super excited and happy with it.”
Power and Richardson both gave their thoughts on the performances of the different positional groups. “I was impressed by some of the defensive line numbers,” Power said. “Normally the bigger people are harder to find. We wound up with a pretty good turnout, linebacker wise.” Richardson gave praise to “all skill guys, between defensive backs and wide receivers.”
Many athletes of different sizes came together from different areas with the common goal of joining the LSC champions. Among the athletes was Kaden Thompson, a freshman majoring in applied mathematics trying out for the Defensive Line. The 6-foot-4 South Hill native tried out “to play football and have a brotherhood.” At the end of the tryouts, Thompson felt confident in his performance. “I think I did all right. Just out here trying to glorify God with my body … But if not, then that’s how it goes,” Thompson said.
Another hopeful athlete was freshman Yesser Arteaga Cruz. A Major in Business, Arteaga Cruz plays forward for the men’s Rugby club and tried out for linebacker and defensive end, but is willing to jump to any position that the team needs. Arteaga Cruz tried out because “my friends and I really want to play on this football team.” On his performance, the 6-foot-tall Bellevue native said he felt nervous, but that he thought he performed well.
Steven Le, a Business Admin Major, also tried out, but on the offensive side of the ball. The Sophomore worked out as a wide receiver, having experience from playing at Renton High School. An athlete in both football and track and field, Le took time between High School and College to train with different athletes. That time gave Le insight and inspiration to show up to tryouts.
“Just being surrounded with great athletes, people from CFL, NFL, it inspired me to just get out there and just play football,” Le said. Speaking on his performance at the tryouts, Le said, “I gave it my all. I could be better, but I gave it my all and let it all out on the field.”
At the end of tryouts, Power gathered all the athletes together, sharing that even if not everyone comes back as an athlete, there are always ways to help the team.