Moses Lake’s Araiza, Bone sign to play college football at Whitworth
Surrounded by teammates and friends, Moses Lake seniors Iden Bone, front row middle left, and David Araiza, front row middle right, smile for photos at Araiza and Bone’s signing ceremony to play college football at Whitworth University.
Ian Bivona
Moses Lake senior Iden Bone, center, signed on to play college football at Whitworth University on Wednesday. Bone is signing as a kicker and punter.
Moses Lake senior Iden Bone, center, signed on to play college football at Whitworth University on Wednesday. Bone is signing as a kicker and punter.
MOSES LAKE — Maverick seniors Iden Bone and David Araiza signed their national letter of intent to play college football at Whitworth University on Tuesday, sending the Moses Lake duo to Spokane.
“I’m happy,” Araiza said. “Here with my family, all the hard work for four years. It’s really exciting going to play at the next level.”
“All the work we put in over the past four years, and even a little bit in middle school, it’s super rewarding to go to the next level,” Bone said. “We just got out workouts for Whitworth, and I’m super excited to start those and get training.”
Araiza is signing with the Pirates as a left guard, though he said he’s also played other positions on the offensive line as well as some defense during his high school career. Upon starting on the field in the eighth grade, Araiza said he’s been in love with it ever since.
“I didn’t know much about (football), one of my friends told me I should play,” Araiza said. “I played and fell in love with it. The physicality of it – I just never want to stop playing.”
Bone, who is signing with Whitworth as a punter and kicker, also started playing when he was in the eighth grade and played wide receiver during his freshman and sophomore seasons. From junior year on, it’s been all about kicking.
“(When I started playing) I didn’t think it was going to pan out, but my mom told me to stick it out,” Bone said. “The next day we had tryouts for kicking, and I had the spot that day.”
Araiza said having Bone there will help alleviate some of the transition process from high school to college football.
“It’s a familiar face, makes it a little less intimidating to have someone you know, someone you’ve worked with before,” Araiza said.
Having a high school teammate at Whitworth also brings some of Moses Lake to Spokane.
“Someone to lean back on,” Bone said. “Someone to bring home with you.”
The Pirates open their 2023 season with a road contest against Eastern Oregon on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
“They’re starting a new chapter,” Moses Lake football Head Coach Brett Jay said. “Closing one – it’s bittersweet – but it’s time for them to go on to the next level and represent us well. I’m really excited for their opportunities to get a college education and get out there in the real world. Filling their voids is tough, but they left a great, great legacy here.”
Ian Bivona can be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
