Kayla Canfield

My name is Kayla Canfield. I have been cheering as a Columbus Crusader Cheerleader for two years now and I can't believe this is my last. The Crusaders program has blessed me in so many ways. Ever since I started cheering for the Crusaders I have been warmly welcomed and accepted by every coach, cheerleader, and football player I have met. This program has given me an amazing chance to create new strong friendships, strengthen my cheering abilities, and most importantly grow closer to God. One of the biggest lessons I've learned during my journey with the Crusader Cheerleading Program is the importance of serving others. As a cheerleader I have learned from the coaches that cheerleading is a great opportunity God has given us to witness His name by humbly serving others and each other. I would just like to give thanks to everyone participating in this program for making my experience with the Columbus Crusaders possible.

Chris Rivers

This is my 3rd year as a crusader. When I first came here as a freshman my mind set was to be the best out there and play the game of football. But I quickly found out that there’s more to being the best out there and it was to honor the lord Jesus Christ. This program really teaches you about the game of football but really to be a man of Christ and honor the lord in your walk of faith. There’s those days where you feel like you’re alone and nobody understands well you’re not alone because being a Crusader is about brotherhood and walking in faith. I enjoyed this program a lot every moment I didn’t take lightly I took it serious and I played like it was my last chance to honor our lord Jesus Christ. I would like to thank the coaches and players for making this a true test in my life and I will always be a Crusader.

Dan Brown

I have been a part of the crusader program since i was in the 7th grade. At first i thought of it as just another football team. I found out that over the years that is was more than that. The Crusaders program teaches you about becoming a man of Christ. It was also such a great opportunity for me to play for the coaches I played for. They weren’t just coaches, but great men who if anyone met, they would learn a lot just as I have. The Crusaders has become like a second family to me growing so close to all my brothers there. The Crusaders has definitely been a life changing experience to me and i am so happy to be a part of this amazing program.

Joshua Gingerich

Since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to play football but since I went to a small school I never got the chance to. So when I heard about the Crusaders from I thought it would be an amazing opportunity for me. When I first joined the Crusaders one of the first things I noticed was the environment, everyone was so nice and encouraging, both coaches and players. Even though I’ve only been in the crusader program for a short time I feel I have learned a lot, not only about being a football player but also about being a better man of God and a better man in general.

I would like to thank the coaches for putting in all that time in getting us ready for the season, it has been a great experience for me and I would recommend it to anyone.

David Kirkbride

When I was in the sixth grade I had a passion for football. At my school the passion was not felt the same way. So my friends and I wrote a petition to the school administration asking to start our very first football team. The feelings we had towards the game was passionate, but not the focus at our school. So one day while my mom was talking to the Hazlip’s she found out about the Crusader program. Then she decided to attend a meeting with my friends. The night was storming and the drive was so long especially coming from Lancaster, so all of our parents were already saying, “No way”! Even though they were saying no, I felt that this is where God wanted me. I Played all kinds of sports from baseball, basketball, golf, to even riding motocross, but nothing compared to the experience I have had with my Crusader family.

It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I felt the grass may be greener on the other side, so I decided to join my school team which I had always wanted to play for. They were starting their very first team for high school and I wanted to be a part of it. Just as an extra incentive I would no longer have to make the drive, practices would be shorter and so much easier. So I decided to join them and leave the Crusaders. I soon figured out that it wasn’t all I made it out to be team comradery just wasn’t there and the competition was not near the same level. I was thinking to myself what have I done. So for my junior year I prayed about it and decided to rejoin the Crusaders. I didn’t know how everyone would take me back in, but they took me back in like I had never even left in the first place. The feeling I had was amazing and nothing felt better. That year I was a part of winning two sword games and most importantly becoming baptized at the Crusader picnic. At the end of the year banquet I came to find out I was nominated Captain, this came as a surprise to me. That is when I knew that God truly wanted me here with the Crusaders all along.

I have enjoyed playing with all my teammates on the field and I am glad that all my coaches took the time to coach me not into just a football player but a man of God. I want to thank Coach Stanley, Coach Stier and all the other coaches who were a huge part of my Crusader experience. I also, want to individually thank Coach Jones for his devotion to the game, the leadership, the support, and the encouragement I needed from day one.

Go Crusaders! Honor Jesus!

MiKyle Bowie

This is my third year playing Crusader football. I came to the Crusaders after a friend and I decided that we wanted to play high school football. I was unsure this year if I would be able to play because of internships that I would be doing my senior year, I felt that I would not be able to fulfill both commitments. I was struggling with not being able to play when minicamp began. I missed the Crusaders and it was all that I could think about. After serious pray and some encouragement from one of the seniors on the team I decided that I belong on the field with my brother’s on the team and with the coaches. I want to thank all of the coaches from past years and present. I want to thank the Crusader seniors of 2007, they truly showed me what honoring Jesus on and off the field looks like. I want to thank my parents for their support and encouragement, as well as Mrs. Hayes and the many Crusader moms and volunteers that make this program possible.

Nathan Williams

I have played for other programs over the years and tried other sports, but nothing compares to the Crusaders. I have played for the Crusaders ever since seventh grade, and over the years the coaches have taught me so much more than how to play football. They have taught me how to be a man and live my life in a way that honors Jesus. Playing for them was the best decision I have ever made. The coaches are a true example of biblical men; and I just want to thank them for this program. I am home schooled. Without this program I wouldn’t have been able to play football at the high school level. I will never forget what I have been taught in this program or all the friends I have made over the years.

Caleb Penner

I have been privileged to play for the Crusaders for the past three years. I have enjoyed every moment of it. I found the Crusader football program would give me the opportunity to play football, even though I was home schooled. Crusader football has been something I will never forget: the 2-a-days, the big games, and the friends I have made. Each of the coaches gives so much of their time to work with us. I appreciate that so much. They want us to succeed in football, but they want us to have a personal relationship with Jesus first and foremost. They always put Jesus first. No matter if we lose or win a game, the coaches always put Jesus first, and that has made a big impact on me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a tremendous program that will definitely impact me for life.

Kayla Houser

This is my second year with the Columbus Crusader Program. I started my junior year. My school doesn’t have football, but I’ve always wanted to cheer for it. The Crusaders gave me the opportunity to do that. Through this program I have met some awesome people and made friends. One of the things I like about the Crusaders cheerleading is that the coaches didn’t just care about making us better cheerleaders, but making us better women of God. They truly cared about our spirituality and relationship with God. They always encouraged us in our walk and gave us good life tips. The coaches always had cool ways of showing God’s love to the other team. I really enjoyed my time with the Crusaders. Thank you for everything.

Brooks Hooley

I have been a part of Crusader Football since my 7th grade year, and it has greatly impacted my walk with God over the past several years. These past four years especially have been a blessing to me. My faith has been challenged time and again and Crusaders football has been there with me every step of the way. The thing that puts this program head and shoulders above the rest is that Christ is the main focus, and football is secondary. It has been awesome to have great coaches who not only coach football, but also come alongside anyone who needs support through a difficult life situation.

I can’t put a price on the friendships I have made here, or the memories I have had with the team. From surviving freshman year and all the way through the last game we may ever play—they have been some of the best times of my life. These guys are like brothers to me, and I wouldn’t trade their comradeship for the world.

I didn’t just get to play football; I got to play with my best friends, and at the same time, HONOR JESUS. And for that, I would like to thank the coaches, my teammates, our A.D. Kim Hayes, and especially my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with the ability to play this great game of football.

Alyssa Moore

This is my fifth year cheering for the Crusaders. The program has been such a big part of my life these past five years and I'm going to miss cheering very much!! I still can't believe what a blessing it was my first year cheering with Coach Nann and the program has continued to be a tremendous blessing ever since. I am so thankful for everything I've learned from Crusaders. This is so much more than just an ordinary cheerleading squad, it’s about serving and glorifying God in everything we do. Being a Crusader cheerleader has pushed me out of my comfort zone and given me so many opportunities to be a servant to others. I feel like I have grown as a Christian with the help of the coaches and the other girls on the squad. I want to say thank you to Coach Christy, Coach Erin, Coach Marty, and Coach Megan. You are amazing coaches and thank you so much for everything you do for the squad. I know it is hard work, but I'm so thankful that you do it! I would like to thank my parents for the money and the time they spent in order for me to cheer. Thank you for coming to the games (pouring) rain or shine. Thank you, Grandma, for coming to the games and supporting me. And Mom – thanks for driving about 489,000 miles over the years to get me to the practices and games! I enjoyed all the time that we got to spend together in the car. J And I would also like to thank all the girls on the squad – let’s go honor Jesus!!

Sarah Lawson

I can hardly believe this is my last year. When I was little, I told my mother that I wanted to be a cheerleader, and it was she who discovered Crusaders during my fourth grade year. Now I attend Tree of Life and we do not have a football team, so this program has given me the opportunity to cheer also for football. Crusaders have impacted my life in so many ways. The program has allowed me to cheer and fellowship with other Christian young women who desire to serve and glorify the Lord. It has also allowed me to meet many new friends and taught me how to serve others better. I have grown not only as a cheerleader, but also as a believer. I am so thankful to have been a part of this program, there is no other like it.

Calvin Shaw

Although I have never played football for another program, I know that playing football with the Columbus Crusaders is a unique experience because its Christ-centered focus brings an entirely different perspective to the game. It shows up in the way practices are held, the way we approach the game, our opponents, our coaches and each other. It is a perspective that makes our relationship with Christ and the relationships with teammates and coaches the first priority....with winning games a close second. I became a Christian when I was very young, and I am grateful that God has continually placed me in situations with people that have helped me grow and mature in my faith. I will always remember the example that the coaches set on and off the field. I feel blessed to have had so many excellent role models who dedicate their time and talent to coaching, but who are concerned about our spiritual well being first. I feel like the experience of playing in a tough but edifying environment with great leadership has helped prepare me in many ways for the ups and downs of life. I am also thankful for friendships that have been built over the past four years. Nothing brings people closer than having to spend nine hours a day together during two-a-days, and practicing under grueling conditions for weeks upon weeks...these guys are like brothers to me. Three things that I know will be etched in my mind forever are the Christ Acrostic, The Crusader Hymn and playing under the lights at home games. Once a Crusader always a Crusader!

Danielle Hobbs

As a Christian, I have been called to be set apart. I believe, however, as a Crusader cheerleader that I am required to stand out from the crowd and shine my light boldly for Christ in all that I do. I have been taught to go out week after week and lovingly represent Christ on the football field. My main focus is to point others to Christ and give God ALL the glory.

I have been a Crusader cheerleader for four years now and I have enjoyed every moment of it. My life has been greatly blessed by the Columbus Crusader family. I am so very thankful that I have been given the opportunity to serve my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through such a wonderful program. Being able to cheer for a team as inspiring as the Crusaders has positively touched my life in so many ways. The values that I have acquired here throughout the years have all been biblically based and honoring towards God. The many things I have learned here have helped me grow deeper in my walk with Christ and I am so thankful for that.

The Crusader program is centered on the body of Christ, one united family. Crusaders stress the importance and the true value of family. Football games, for me, have truly become a family affair. Every week I look up into those stands and I see my family sitting there cheering me on! I am so thankful for having a family that comes to week after week. All of their love and support means the world to me and I am so grateful that I have been able to share all of these wonderful Crusader memories with them.

Another incredible blessing that has come out of all this is the amazing friendships that have been formed. I have met so many awesome girls throughout the years and some of which have become my best friends. I just want to thank all of the many wonderful girls I have had the privilege of cheering with. You all have greatly touched my life in a special and unique way. I love you all so much and I thank God for you and the time we have had together.

The difference Columbus Crusaders has made in my life is not something that I can easily describe in words. It puts a smile on my face to say that I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about the Crusader program. Although there have been some hard times, we have gotten through it all with God’s guidance, and the love we have for one another!

I am so thankful for every Crusader moment God has blessed me with. I believe in this program and all that it stands for. It is my heart’s true desire to see God’s wonderful blessings continue to pour down on our Crusader family.

God Bless!!!

Chris Bayless

I have played for the Columbus Crusaders since the 5th grade and have loved it. I especially remember my 6th grade year when my brother David and I played on the Crusader Green Team. We lost every game in the regular season (we were 0-6), but we won the “Championship Game” on the final weekend in dramatic style…we stopped the extra point try in overtime! On paper, the season was a disaster, but with the encouragement of Coach Botts, we left it all on the field that day and the Lord honored our efforts!

Thankfully, the Crusader Football Experience is more than just wins and losses. It is an opportunity to interact with Godly men who love the Lord, and the game. Their passion for football and their love of Jesus Christ helped mold me into the person I am today.

Every week, we’d talk about one of the letters in the word C-H-R-I-S-T. Commitment, Honor, Responsibility, Initiative, Service, and Truth. Those words became very meaningful to me and by the time I was in 7th grade, I became more of a leader than a follower. If I had a question about God or the Bible, I could go to any coach and they could answer it. And over the past several years, thanks to this program, I’ve grown stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I’m looking forward to this Senior Year. After sitting out last season with some nagging injuries, I’m ready to strap it on and get back to business. And during two-a-days in the August heat, or when the game is on the line late in the 4th quarter, I’ll cling to one of my life verses, below. My Lord led by example…so I can only pray that I can honor Him with my hard work and effort as well.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (LUKE 9:23)

Paul Torrie

I’ve played for the Crusaders since my 8th grade year, back in the days when I played center and D-line. Before my 8th grade year, I played in the Delaware Optimist League for a team called the Barons. The transition of going from a non-Christian to a Christian football program was extremely noticeable right away. In every way; the players, the coaches, and even the parents and fans, it was a more positive atmosphere. We learned about more than just how to catch the football and how to run man coverage, we learned how to be a man of God. One thing that I had the privilege of experiencing my freshman year that I know I wouldn’t have gotten in any other program was the way that the upperclassmen treated me and my fellow freshman. They treated us the same way they treated anyone else on the team, and they did this on their own not on orders from the coaches. Brad Stawicki, a senior that year, and I grew closer than I have seen a freshman and senior grow since, and I was blessed to know him then and am blessed to know him today. Brad and others like him are exactly the kind of godly men this program helps shape. Through and through, the Crusader program has been a positive experience for me. Looking back now I know that I’ve grown and changed not only from a physical standpoint, but also from a spiritual standpoint. Football is such a great sport to illustrate real life; you get knocked down and you either stay there or you get back up. Learning these concepts along with the godly messages the Crusader coaches always delivered is something you are not likely to find anywhere else. For me, knowing that you are playing alongside of other Christians is a priceless gift that the Crusader ministry has given to not only me, but every young man to ever wear the Crusader colors. The coaches always say, “Once a Crusader, always a Crusader,” a phrase that is truer in this program than in any other I have seen. Everywhere, from alumni returning to help coach to seeing former players lifting in the offseason, it is evident that a former face of a Crusader player is not only remembered by the Crusader family, it is also always welcome. I am truly blessed to have been a part of this amazing program. Thanks to all the coaches and people behind the scenes who keep this program going, and it is my prayer that this program will continue to be a blessing to others for many years to come.

Michael Yoder

I decided to come play for the Crusaders because a couple of friends from my school were on the team and my school didn't have a football program. Although this is my first year with the Crusader program, I have been blessed to be able to get to know all the staff and players. It has really been a privilege for me to say that I am a Crusader and to have such Godly coaches and players by my side. Even though I have only been able to be with the Crusaders for my senior year, I have already come to realize that this program doesn't just make you a better football player, but also a better man and have learned that the most important thing is playing for an audience of one, Jesus Christ. I would also like to thank all the men and women who have spent so much time making this program happen and would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in becoming a better person and player, it's worth every second.

Patrick Walsh

When I first heard about the crusaders I got so excited. I had wanted to play but my school didn’t have football. I joined when I was in eighth grade and I have never regretted that decision. What stuck out the most was that the coaches were not only really passionate about the game but also about how your walk with Jesus is. They have taught me to be a man of commitment, honor, responsibility, initiative, service, and truth. I have made so many friends and so many good memories. I would like to thank all the coaches including Coach Stanley for teaching me to be a biblical man. I wish the crusaders nothing but the best of luck.