For as long as they can
remember, Austin Richard and
Ethan Beck have been teammates
on the football field.
Richard and Beck were teammates
in youth football, and
at both Royster Middle School
and Chanute High School.
Now they’ll be teammates
again.
The two Chanute High School
seniors signed with Friends
University on Thursday, where
they’ll play football for the Falcons.
“I think Ethan and I have
been playing football together
since youth flag football,” Richard
said. “We’ll be teammates
again, and I can’t wait.”
“It’s definitely going to be
weird playing without our other
classmates, but having Austin
with me will be nice,” Beck
said. “We’ve played together
probably every year we’ve ever
played football.”
Chanute Coach Don Simmons
attended the signing and
said he feels the pair are making
a good choice.
“I think it’s a great level for
them to play at,” Simmons said.
“I think both can be productive
there. I know they’re excited.
The NAIA level is a good level
of football, so we’re real excited
for them.”
Friends Head Coach Monty
Lewis attended the signing
on Thursday and said he was
pleased to get both Richard and
Beck.
“They’re winners and they
exemplify everything we
want in a recruit,” Lewis said.
“They’re serious about getting
an education and they’re
strong in their family units. And
they’re tremendous football
players. They’ve won a lot of
games in high school. I feel like
we’re getting two of the best
athletes they have here in the
entire school.”
Richard (6-3, 205) was one
of the team’s leaders in tackles
from the linebacker position.
He also had three sacks, with
one safety.
In another CHS twist, former
Blue Comet Kevin Richard will
be playing for Friends, as well.
Kevin Richard spent the last
couple of years at Fort Scott
Community College. Austin
and Kevin are brothers.
“My brother’s going to play
there and he was a senior when
I was a freshman, so we never
got the chance to play together
in high school,” Richard said.
“It will be nice for us to step on
the field together.”
Richard said another factor
in his decision was the fact he
should be able to earn playing
time at Friends.
“I think it’s a good level
for me,” Richard said. “I’m
pumped. Football’s always been
my favorite sport. I couldn’t
give it up just yet.”
Beck (5-8, 148) caught 16
passes for 256 yards as a senior.
On the other side of the ball he
had two interceptions and took
one back for a touchdown.
“What sold me is the great
people there, especially the
coaches,” Beck said. “They
have great facilities. Everything
was great about Friends. I’m
going to be focused on academics
and they have great academics,
too.”
Beck is thinking of majoring
in business and marketing.
Richard is unsure of a major.
Chanute went 8-3 and won
district and bi-district titles
under Coach Simmons.
Coach Lewis said Richard
and Beck are versatile players
who have played in a winning
program.
“The thing that’s exciting
about them is they can both
play several positions,” Lewis
said. “Austin could play defensive
end, outside linebacker or
even tight end. Ethan can play
in the secondary, as a receiver
or a running back. And I think
both young men could fill big
spots on our special teams, too.
We want starter-caliber kids in
those spots. I think the sky’s the
limit for them.”
Friends went 6-4 overall last
season under Lewis.
“That was a step back for us,”
Lewis said, mentioning the program
has gone 33-9 in the last
four years.
“I think we became too enamored
with numbers when looking
at kids. You know, stats,
and how tall, how fast. We’re
going back to looking for kids
with heart who have a love for
the game.”
Located in Wichita, Friends
University is a member of the
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
(KCAC) and is affiliated
with the NAIA (National
Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics).
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