Start talking receivers these days, and what immediately comes to mind is the image of the brash-talking prima donnas that play the position in the NFL who seem to care more about padding their own personal statistics and getting in the last word than helping their team win football games.
But it turns out a me-first attitude and an outspoken personality are not prerequisites to playing the position successfully.
In fact, the Lynden football team has proven receivers can be some of the most team-oriented players out there.
“The biggest thing about our receivers is their unselfishness,” Lynden coach Curt Kramme said. “I’ve never heard one of them complain that not enough balls are being thrown their way or that they’re not getting enough touches. They’re all very content with doing whatever is asked of them to help our team score more points than the other team.”
Together, seniors Lucas Jacob and Nate Wielenga and juniors Luke Christianson, Dak Shagren and Zach Vis have put up some pretty impressive numbers — 142 catches, 2,413 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
Production like that has earned the receiving corps the nickname “Gang Green,” a name that fits in more ways than just the pain they are capable of inflicting on opposing defenses.
“I think it (the nickname) fits pretty good, because we are a gang,” Wielenga said. “We’re a gang of receivers, and we’re all really close. … We’ve all been the best of friends for a long time, and as long as we’re winning games, it doesn’t matter who gets what.”
It’s an attitude the Lynden receivers have had for years, and they believe it stems from a close friendship on and off the field.
“We’ve all been super close for years,” Jacob said. “Not only do we all play football together, but we all play basketball together. All five of us have played together for years, now, were we’re really good friends. … We like to hang out and go to movies and stuff. These guys are great friends of mine.”
Wielenga said that chemistry is felt throughout the entire roster.
“Our entire team is really close this year,” he said. “Everybody sees the little things that the receivers do, like the back bumps and stuff, but our entire team supports one another. It’s a great atmosphere to be a part of.”
Not only do the receivers complement each other as friends, their individual skill sets also seem to mesh together well for different situations during games. And Lynden quarterbacks Josh Kraght and Jordan Kreider do a good job of spreading the ball around to utilize the unique skills that each receiver brings to the game.
“It’s really neat, because one guy is tall, one guy is fast, one guy runs great routes, one guy has great hands,” Jacob said. “We’re all different in our own ways, but we all know how to help each other become better. I think it’s cool, because whatever Zach and Luke say when they come off the field about what they see out there, the rest of us know what it will take for us to succeed based on our own skill sets. We really help each other to become the best receivers that each of us can be so that we can help this team.”
At the root of it, helping the team win is all that’s important to Lynden’s receivers.
“I think we’re put into a position as high school football players that’s different,” Wielenga said. “We’re playing for the town of Lynden and for our teammates and our coaches and playing for something much more important than money. We’re all focusing on the same goal, and that’s winning football games. That’s what makes playing with these guys so great.”
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