Mink plans to play football for D-III team in Lewiston

Weiser High School senior Nathanial Mink plans to play football for the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers this fall.

 A multi-sport athlete at WHS, Mink played football for three years for the Wolverines starting in his sophomore year. Last season, he played tackle and was an anchor on the offensive line for the varsity team.

 After the football season was over, Mink turned to another favorite sport, basketball. He is currently playing on the varsity team as the post-season play begins.

 Mink signed a commitment letter to play for the Loggers on Thursday surrounded by family and coaches at WHS. 

 Among those in attendance at the signing was Weiser High School varsity football coach Tom Harrison, who coached Mink during his senior year. 

 Mink was a highly coachable player and a hard worker, and he had a great attitude, Harrison said. 

 The Loggers were interested in Mink and contacted him about playing for the team. This year, the team’s interest was renewed and Mink received a letter inviting him to join the team.

 Mink said he’s met the coaches and likes the Lewiston area. At 6-foot, 3-inches and 320 pounds he will continue to play the lineman position on both offense and defense. He plans to spend some serious hours in the weight room this summer. 

 “It’s going to be fun. I’m really excited about this opportunity,” said Mink, who is the son of Nicol and Nate.  

 Mink’s mom, Nicol, was also happy that Nate gets to continue playing a sport he loves and is good at.

 “One of the things that makes me happy is just watching my kids do things, watching them play or watching them perform or whatever, and so I get to keep doing that,” she said.

 The Lewis-Clark Valley College Football Association was formed in 2013 due to the absence of NCAA Division III football programs in the state. In 2017, the association became an affiliated member of the NCAA.

 The Loggers football program offers Idaho’s student athlete football players who are not affiliated with any Division I schools the chance to play at the collegiate level, where in many cases they might not have that same chance, while they earn a degree.

 In order to play for the Loggers, a player must be enrolled at either Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston or Walla Walla Community College. The Loggers aren’t affiliated with LCSC, but the majority of their players attend the Lewiston college or take classes at either Walla Walla Community College in Clarkston or Northwest Indian College in Lapwai. LCSC does not have a football program.

 Since the program was granted NCAA Division III affiliation in 2017, the Loggers have played some D-III varsity teams instead of just JV teams, such as Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., and Concordia-Chicago University. That has given the team more recognition.

 A sportswriter for the Lewiston Morning Tribune noted that some of the team recruits in 2018 had chances to play at NCAA D-III or NAIA programs but opted to join the Loggers. One big draw is the fact the newcomers will probably play immediately for LCV.