Five Magicians continuing gridiron careers at next level

One started playing football because his father thought playing it would benefit his son on the soccer field. Another fondly recalled being in third grade and going out to the high school practice field where players could pick from bags and bags of jerseys, and the impression that left on him. Several tripped in the gopher holes on the practice field while doing sprints.

Together, they forged a brotherhood that only strengthened with each season of junior high and high school. Along the way, it survived the disruptions of Covid and the program's split with the construction of Minot North.

This fall, it closed out its season with a Division AAA state championship for Minot High.

Yesterday, five members of the brotherhood began writing its next chapter when they all signed national letters of intent to play college football.

Three will stay together at Minot State.:Linebacker Michael George, center Teagen Nichols and running back Tyson Ruzicka will all be Beavers, and they will play under second-year coach Ian Shields as part of his first full recruiting class.

Fullback Ethan Armstrong signed with North Dakota State College of Science, and defensive lineman Jobe Rystedt will play for the University of Jamestown.

"Those guys set the culture, set the standard for our program," said Minot High football head coach Chauncey Hendershot. "It's no wonder that they're gonna get an opportunity to continue playing this awesome game, but we will be forever grateful for them here."

Hendershot emphasized just how much this past season's senior class will be missed.

"It's the work that they put in and how they competed," said Hendershot. "These guys really showed up every day. And it's not just the guys that are singing today. It was the entire senior class. They showed up and competed. They were able to hold each other to a standard. Now that standard is champion."

That no-frills, no-ego work effort is what caught the attention of college coaches from across the state, including Minot State football head coach Ian Shields.

"It's great to keep some kids local that are talented, that were sought after, that people were looking at. It's a real coup," said Shields.

He praised all three Minot State signees for their work effort and character.

"Collectively, what they've done as a team here under Coach Hendershot, they've been well coached, so that will help to transition to the college game," said Shields.

George and Ruzicka were put on the same team back in third grade, along with teammate Brady Larson.

"We built so many bonds over the last few years playing together," said Ruzicka. "I've been playing with those guys my whole life. It's just been great being able to build these bonds, and to be able to continue them for the next four years."

They will be joined by Nicholes, who will play on the offensive line and will block for Ruzicka. "It was really exciting to hear [that Ruzicka and George signed with MSU]. With Jayden Speraw signing last year, I'll have a quarterback I've played with and then I'll have Tyson."

Nicholes is also looking forward to an offensive scheme that emphasizes running the ball.

"I love running. I love playing with Tyson," said Nicholes. " We trust him with everything. He trusted us. Just to be able to do that again for another four years, it's really exciting."

Both George and Nicholes are looking at going into the medical profession. George is leaning towards a nursing degree, while Nicholes plans on becoming a nurse practitioner. Ruzicka will study finance.

All three spoke of the importance of being close to family in signing with Minot State, as well as the connection they had with the Beavers' coaching staff.

"I really do think they have a good head on their shoulders and everything that they want to do for the program is for the right reasons," said Nicholes.

Ethan Armstrong also started playing football at the YMCA when he was a kid, but left the sport in middle school. He missed being part of the brotherhood, so he started playing again his junior year, but didn't start until he was a senior.

"I just love the sport," said Armstrong. "It was a great opportunity to join a pack of brothers, and just play your favorite sport. I was missing out on a lot, and I just wanted to get back out there and get after it."

Next season, Armstrong will "get after it" for the North Dakota State College of Sciences, in Wahpeton, where he will study software engineering.

"I just think it's better from an academic and athletic standpoint," said Armstrong.

Armstrong's favorite memory was from the state semifinal game against West Fargo Sheyenne, when they came back from down 24-7 in the third quarter to win 47-30 and advance to the Dakota Bowl. After a tough loss earlier in the year, it meant a lot to Armstrong that the team was able to come back against such a good program.

He was also struck by how unselfish the team was.

"Sometimes people would be like, "why not put Tyson in?' or 'why not put Griffin in?'" said Armstrong. "But Griffin or Tyson never argued over who was going to get the ball. They just wanted to get the yardage, get that touchdown. It was definitely a brotherhood. Everyone wasn't selfish. They were all selfless."

Jobe Rystedt will be playing for the University of Jamestown while they transition from the NAIA to Division II, and he is looking forward to possibly lining up against his high school teammate Nicholes.

"I'm really excited for that," said Rystedt. "Keagan's offensive line and I'm defensive line, so it's very possible that we'll be up against each other at some point."

Rystedt will also throw for the University of Jamestown's track and field team.

He will be studying mechanical engineering.

"What made us special was we had almost the same group of guys working together and playing together for years," said Rystedt. "For us, it was way beyond that. It was like elementary school. I've known these guys forever, and we had no selfishness on the team."

Hendershot knows the legacy they left, but he is excited to see the five play on Saturdays now.

"These guys have to go off and chart their own path at college," said Hendershot. "We'll be here for them with anything they need, but we're just grateful for everything they did for us."