Mission first, football second

Casey Secrist signs with Weber State, to play after mission

Casey Secrist played on the offensive line for Moses Lake High School this season.

His efforts pushing defensive lineman around, earned him a spot with the Weber State football team, in Utah.

Casey traveled to Weber State last summer, to briefly introduce himself to the coaching staff and see if he passed what Moses Lake head coach Greg Kittrell called the "eye test" — letting coaches see how he looked up close.

Before the traveling began Casey wanted to look at programs that would allow him to go on his mission while still participating with the football team.

"Being able to go on my mission was very important to me," said Casey. "It's one of my life goals."

Casey looked closer to home but said schools in the area were looking for a player who could begin working out and training with the team immediately.

Casey's recruiting coach, Jake Cookus, said that Casey will have a place on the football team when he returns from his mission, two years after this coming January.

"Kids have time to mature mentally and physically," said Cookus. "We have other kids on the team who've gone on their missions and come back to play for us. As for Casey, he's an LDS kid, a good athlete and he has good feet and tenacious play. As a coach you like to see the way he competes."

Along with the benefits cited by Cookus, Casey says he will have the advantage of being a 21-year-old freshman to give him a little more maturity.

Despite football being two years distant, Casey says he could not imagine himself losing interest in the game while on his mission.

"I'll take one or two classes before I leave on my mission," said Casey. "I'm going to try to take a play book with me so I can study it."

When he returns from his mission, Casey will begin to look toward his future on and off the field.

"I'm not sure what I want to major in yet but I know I want it to somehow be related to athletics," said Casey. "I'm thinking physical therapy or maybe coaching right now."

His efforts on the football field are something Casey hopes will improve the team at Weber State.

"I want to become a starter and make a difference on the team," said Casey.

In the less distant future Casey will work with his father at El Oro feedlot over the summer until heading off to college and then enroll in an abbreviated schedule for his first semester before leaving.

"I'm excited to be with the team and go to college," said Casey.