Former President Jimmy Carter, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld, rapper Hoodie Allen and Jake Bodenchak have something in common.
Sprint football.
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Formerly known as lightweight football, it’s a college sport played under traditional NCAA rules with one exception — players have to weigh 178 pounds or less.
It’s been on the East Coast since 1934 but has finally hit the Midwest. And the 5-foot-7, 170-pound Bodenchak is on the ground floor as a freshman nose tackle and snapper on special teams for Calumet College of St. Joseph.
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It was a year ago that Bodenchak, a New Lenox native and Lincoln-Way Central graduate, heard of the sport when he was contacted by the coaches.
“It was definitely a surprise because I never thought anything like this existed,” he said. “I always have been what you would call an undersized linebacker against people who were double my weight.
“In the offseason, I would get down to 150 for wrestling and I would be playing against 300-pound linemen. The thought of playing against people my own size really intrigued me.”
The Crimson Wave opened the inaugural Midwest Sprint Football League season on Sept. 18 with a 34-28 overtime loss at home to St. Mary of the Woods, followed by a 35-0 victory Saturday at home over Midway.
“It’s a much faster pace, and oddly enough, it’s a more physical game,” said Bodenchak, who has two tackles and nine assists. “You get some very good athletes in some positions they might not normally play.
“Guys who played running backs who can move well are now on the line and they hit people. You have to be on top of it every play.”
Bellarmine, Fontbonne and Quincy are the other MSFL teams. Calumet travels Saturday to Fontbonne.
The Crimson Wave are coached by Jason Novak, who was coming off a Class 2A state championship as an assistant at Andrean. He also was a head coach at East Chicago Central and Clark.
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Calumet players on the roster from North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, Florida, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Novak and his staff felt Bodenchak, a powerlifter, could come in and make a difference right away.
“Jake was intriguing to us,” Novak said. “We love his work on defense, but we think he can also be an offensive lineman. We’re always looking for backups and depth at that position.”
Novak said he enjoys the newness of the program.
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“Literally every game we’re making history,” he said. “The first week we had our first touchdown ever, our first extra point, our first interception … everything is a first. It’s cool to be writing history.”
Bodenchak believes in four years, when many of the Calumet players will be seniors, this team will be dangerous and the sport could grow in popularity.
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“I’m friends with a lot of smaller football players,” he said. “I think that sprint football has the opportunity to draw in a lot of great athletes.”
“We’re smaller people, but we’re very good athletes. A lot of kids from my high school could fit in with this weight class and would probably do very well.”
A year ago, the kinesiology major was not only looking at colleges to play, but he had to figure out if he wanted to go sprint football or the traditional route.
“I think I could have made an impact playing for a traditional team, but it might have taken a little longer,” Bodenchak said. “I’m overly thrilled and thankful for this opportunity I got and that I can help my team out in the ways I do.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
