Football comes first, but Rhodes productive on track, too

Coeur d’Alene senior Jake Rhodes is a football player, with all the eye black, shoulder pads, grass stains, mud and sweat that John Madden can describe.

That’s why he sounds a little surprised when describing his feelings about track.

“I started running track, basically, for football,” said Rhodes, a state qualifier and medal winner in sprints and relays for the Vikings. “I started in my freshman year just because I wanted to stay in shape – somewhere along the line, I guess I started to like it.”

Rhodes said there is a good vibe in the speed section of the CdA track camp.

“It’s going really well, actually,” Rhodes said. “The first part of the season, our relays weren’t doing so great, but we’ve started to pick it up a lot.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, and the coaches have really helped.”

One coach in particular – but not a coach from the guys’ side.

“We have a new girls sprinters coach,” Rhodes said, referring to volunteer Linda Lanker, who was a hurdles coach for the national team. “She really knows what she’s doing – she’s helped us out a lot, for sure, with starts and everything.”

Truth be told, though, no matter how much he likes track, Rhodes LOVES football.

Listening to him reminisce about the highlight of his prep sports career, that love comes to the forefront.

In a freak twist for a defensive back, it turns out that shining moment came on offense, under Friday night lights against crosstown Inland Empire League rival Lake City.

“It was the first time we played them this year, and they were up, like, 21-12,” Rhodes recalled, admitting he oftentimes replays the moment in his mind. “There was about two minutes left in the game and they put me in to go deep. They just threw it up to me and I caught it for a touchdown.

“Yup, it was cool.”

This fall, he’ll continue to pursue that love at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

Rhodes laughs when asked if he’ll play cornerback or wideout for the Mountaineers.

He has no delusions of grandeur, and said he’s looking forward to putting some sweat equity into a spot in the defensive backfield.

“I don’t know if I’ll have a chance at starting next year at cornerback,” Rhodes said. “But there’s a possibility I’ll start the year after that, I think.

“I just have to work hard and prove myself.”