By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, ORE.—  Chris Feskens Jr, the sophomore offensive lineman for the Willamette University Football team, has been working his tail off to work his way into the starting line-up.

Having converted from center to left tackle and other offensive line positions, Feskens Jr. started all nine games for the Bearcats after a freshman year that saw him playing some special teams.

In his spare time when he’s not juggling practice, a heavy Willamette University course load and a part-time job, you can find the six-foot 270-pound Bearcat helping and supporting his Alma Mater, North Salem High School.

“The spirit of being a Viking is to have to work to obtain anything,” he said.  “We come from a lower economic background where you might not get to make every practice because you have to work to support your family at home.

“I don’t want peoples’ sympathy and I know there are people in this situation in most schools.  North just seems to be built on these kind of families and that gives our community a reputation to be fighters or hard workers.”

The love for his alma mater started back when his father, Chris Feskens Sr., who is also a Viking Alumni, took the young Feskens to North Salem Football games on a regular basis.

“We took him to North Salem football games when he was an infant in a car seat and he kind of grew up around in the environment,” said Feskens Sr.  “It’s been an extension of his family and it became part of his family so I think that’s where the love comes in.”

When he got to high school, Feskens Jr. was an outstanding student-athlete, picking up awards in the classroom and on the sports field.

For Feskens Jr., he doesn’t focus on the moral victories he received during his time but acknowledges that his hard work has helped him become successful in life outside of sports.

Now, two years after his graduation from the high school, he’s on the sidelines again.  But this time as a football coach.

Viking Head Coach Jeff Flood has noticed that Feskens Jr. had a significant impact on the program since he came back.

“He embodies the attributes we stress daily: commitment, dedication, hard-work and a deep appreciation for the history of this school,” said Flood.  “As well as a respect for those who have been here before us.

“By continuing to work with our players in the offseason and while he can when he is in-season playing for Willamette; he continues to pass down those characteristics to our present athletes.”

Assistant Football Coach, and North Salem Head Girl Basketball coach, Brent Turner knows the importance of having Feskens Jr. out there at practice and games to show the kids that hard work pays off.

“He’s going to college, he’s doing good things.  He’s playing and he’s able to bring down some knowledge and let the guys know that there’s more than high school football,” said Turner.  “There’s more than just being good on this team because he didn’t start playing his freshman year.

“He sat on the bench.  (He) played some special teams. But he kept working hard and never gave up, and that perseverance, with him getting skills at the upper level, allows him to play now and now is a key person on their offensive line.”

Feskens Jr. added to that, for the athletes he’s coaching, college coaches are more concerned about your personal performance and work ethic more so if your team wins the State Champions or goes winless.

“I just try to make sure the current athletes at North are reminded if you work hard you are able to go on and continue to play,” he said.  “It is important to realize that college coaches look at the team’s success, but rarely make a decision on an athlete because of the team’s success.

“They look at the film and if you are working hard and doing your job are assets that they want in college.”

For Feskens Sr., who is the chef mentor for the culinary team at the High School, is proud that his son is taking the same steps as he did to give back to their Alma Mater.

“It’s kind of full circle for what we as Feskens have done for the school.  For me it makes me proud to know that (there’s) somebody like him back their influencing those young kids.”

With kids transferring to other schools from the North Salem area to the West Salem’s and the South Salem’s, continued Feskens Sr., speaks volumes to what his son is doing.

“North has fallen on hard times as far as it comes to athletics with new schools opening in West and different things going on,” Feskens Sr said.  “The fact that Chris is there, played there at a high level, is playing college football and he went to North.

“The fact that he can actually be in there on the sideline and with those kids is great for the opportunity for other kids to take a stand and say, ‘I don’t have to transfer to South (Salem) or transfer to West.  I can be right here and be the best athlete that I can be.  Best student I can be and I can go on to play football’.

Turner added to that the kids look up to Feskens Jr and see that he made it out of North to play collegiately because he’s there wanting to see his fellow Vikings succeed.

“It shows that he’s grown older than what his age is.  He has more wisdom than what his age is and it shows that he really cares about his roots.  He wants to see his fellow Vikings do really good.  He wants to see them succeed.  Not only at the high school level, but succeed and inspire them to be better.

“And to be like, ‘You know what.  I should be playing college ball, I’m good enough to be playing college ball.  Feskens’ playing college ball.  Someone from North is playing College ball, and there’s a few of them out there.”

One of them Turner mentions is Dylan Young, who contributed 90 catches and 22 touchdowns for the Southern Oregon University Raiders NAIA Championship winning team in 2014 as a senior receiver.

Feskens Jr explained being a student-athlete at Willamette University as an eye-opening experience.  But the experience has helped him get everything out of every opportunity as he moves into his final two years of school.

“Being a student athlete at the next level was an eye opening experience you have to become good at managing your time or either one of your responsibilities will be affected,” he said.  “Being a college athlete has taught me how to get everything out of every opportunity.

“While you are at practice be at practice for that three hours its football if you focus on other things you did not get everything out of the opportunity and vice versa with studying.”

By the end of the day, with him supporting his Alma Mater whenever he has a moment and majoring in History, Feskens Jr. hopes one day to be teaching and coaching at North Salem High School to continue to give back to future Vikings.

“It would be a really great blessing from God,” Feskens Jr. said about the possibility.

 

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81!

Like us on Facebook at Jmcdonaldmedia!