‘It’s family for us’: Fieldcrest seniors set tone at summer camp

If you ask Fieldcrest head coach Nick Meyer how it feels to lead the football program he grew up knowing so well, he’d have an answer that speaks to his emotions.

“It’s amazing. I always tell these guys I grew up just a block away from the practice field. I was in the same hallways, wore the same helmets, sweat in the same weight room they do now,” Meyer said during Fieldcrest’s joint practice with Prairie Central. “The players know that this is not just a job for me. This is Fieldcrest football, and it’s family for us.”

Coming off the heels of a tough 1-8 season, Meyer is leaning on a cast of returning upperclassmen to lead a sizable class of freshmen this year.

“We brought back a lot of senior leadership we’re excited about, a big freshman class we’re excited about with some talented kids coming up,” Meyer said. “We’re progressing this summer, and they’re all working together, picking each other up.”

Among those upperclassmen are senior offensive tackle and nose guard Tony Stalter. And while he isn’t the loudest on the team, Stalter carries a lot of influence in the Knights’ locker room.

When asked who his captains are heading into the season, Meyer didn’t hesitate to shout him out.

“The first guy that comes to mind is Tony Stalter. He’s really growing as a football player and, more importantly, as a young man. He leads by action, not by his voice,” Meyer said. “I think as Tony goes, we all go. The kids look to him when things get tough.”

It’s a role Stalter embraces and that comes naturally to him, even if he doesn’t say much about it.

“I’m not really a big talker. I think it’s better to lead by example; it’s just the way I was taught,” Stalter said.

Stalter said he’s spent much of the offseason in the weight room, focused not only on the team’s ultimate goal of winning state, but also on achieving personal milestones.

“I’m trying to earn All-conference - first team, second team, it doesn’t matter,” Stalter said. “And hopefully, get a scholarship offer.”

Another senior who’s stepping into a leadership role is quarterback and defensive back Kash Klendworth.

Klendworth explained that summer has been a reset for the team, with a renewed sense of energy and togetherness.

“It’s been going well. I’ve been having a lot of fun. The team’s been having a lot of fun,” Klendworth said of the summer. “Everyone likes each other, and we all want to get better. We know last year was rough, but we realize we have to look forward and make the most of this year.”

Klendworth said being able to face outside competition in joint practices and scrimmages has helped fuel the team’s energy during preseason workouts.

“It kind of gives us something to look forward to, practice a little harder for and just have more fun,” he said.

As a returning senior and starting quarterback, Klendworth said he’s embraced his role as a tone-setter for the program.

“Just being a leader, helping encourage, teach the younger guys,” he said. “Coach preaches it all the time - just try to get better every single day.”

Looking ahead to Week 1, the Knights host Tri-Valley on Friday, Aug. 29.