By GARY VAN CLEAVE
Special to Great Bend Post
It didn’t take long for Brodie Crites to experience his first high school passing touchdown.
It came in the 2023 season opener against Ness City as the freshman Central Plains Oiler QB played in his first game.
“It was an amazing feeling. I was excited and it’s what I wanted to do since I saw my brother do it when I was young,” said Crites of his 10-yard scoring strike to Paxton Dody.
Older brother Braedan also starred as an Oiler signal-caller before he played one year at Hutchinson.
“He did a good job of adjusting to the high school game and playing kids three to four years older than him,” said Braedan, who threw for over 5,000 yards and 100 touchdowns as an Oiler. “He learned the playbook quickly and did a good job of knowing where to go with the ball and when to take shots down the field.”
“It was very fun and challenging. I enjoyed it with my teammates and I have learned a lot from last season,” Brodie said.
He threw for 945 yards and 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions as a freshman and notched a nifty 109.8 quarterback rating in Central Plains’ 7-3 season.
“I am happy with those numbers, but I know I can work harder and do better with it,” Brodie said. “With the help of my teammates, I know I can do better.”
“Brodie was a great leader for the football team,” graduated senior center Connor Freis said. “He would come to the huddle and tell the guys how much he trusted and loved us. Also talk to us about what’s going on the field and help fixed it. If the o-line did not let him get touched by the other team he would bring doughnuts for the whole team.”
“Brodie has very good leadership skills, he had a big role that he had to step up to being a starting quarterback as a freshman,” graduated senior tight end Hunter Klima said. “A lot of guys wouldn't be able to do what he did by keeping his cool as well as making sure the rest of us did as well. His play was better, Brodie proved a lot of people wrong this year by doing what he did. The best part is he's got room to improve. Brodie is a solid athlete and also a great leader/teammate.”
“For a freshman, Brodie is quite a bit better than some people his age around here. He knows the game and can put a ball on his targets,” senior fullback Eli Hurley said. “As a freshman there is still lots to learn. Most of our starting eight are seniors so Brodie leads as best as he can. He picks his teammates up and does what a quarterback should.”
Brodie deflected the attention of his 19-TD season to his offensive linemen. They include Landon Daniels, Freis, Aiden Hekele and Logan Stroede.
“I couldn’t have that season without my o-line in front of me,” Brodie said. “They kept me protected and they don’t get thanked enough.”
His progression from Week One to Week 10 was noticed by everyone.
“He’s improved a lot each year he’s played football, so I’d say there’s no limit on what he can achieve,” Braedan said.
“He improved a lot and he built a lot of confidence in himself and the team,” Freis said.
“Very rapid, game one he knew he had some things to improve on and as he progressed throughout the season he just became more fluid with what he did,” Klima said. “Brodie is an all-around athlete and adapted and overcame everything he was up against.”
“He was kinda timid at the start of the year. I mean I’ve been there before and as the year went on he improved in confidence and in the smarts of the game and knew what passes to throw and what not to,” Hurley said. “As the year went on he also was ok with getting hit a little because at the start he didn’t really want to get hit at all, but at the end of the year when he had to scramble he could actually take a hit.”
So how good is he?
“Brodie was a great QB because the way he was very calm for being a freshman in the pocket, knowing what to do and throwing the ball away when he needs to,” Freis said. “The amount of energy he brought on game days was great. I believe over time he’s going to get better and be so good.”
“He has very good potential with the stuff he has,” Klima said. “I think by his senior year, if he keeps developing he’ll be top 10 in 8-man.”
“I’m looking to improve my running game this summer by getting faster, bigger, stronger,” Brodie noted.
He’s excelled in baseball where he plays shortstop and outfield.
“Baseball was fun both high school and summer ball. I mostly play shortstop, but I can play wherever they need me,” said Brodie, a varsity standout in basketball as well. “We made it to state in school baseball and that was fun. Summer baseball was really fun, this was the best year we have had and everyone improved a lot.”
“He was a great outfielder. We could really move him around anywhere in the outfield whenever we needed to,” incoming junior Mason Martin said. “At the start of the year his stick wasn’t the best but he started to come around and was one of our best contact hitters. He’s a great player and has a lot of room to grow throughout his next three years.”
“Coming in as a freshman, he had a really high baseball IQ,” incoming senior Rhen Galla said. “He just knows the game and is one of the more athletic guys we have.”
“Brodie is a great outfielder. He’s always on the ball and always ready,” incoming senior Preston Roat said. “He sees a ball hit in the OF and he’s on it right away doesn’t matter if it’s 20 feet in front or 20 feet behind him. He’s getting that ball. He’s a great batter, always makes good contact and comes in when we really need him to.”
How can he become a better football player?
“By being a better leader and putting the work in the weight room and pushing my teammates to be the best they can be,” Brodie said.
“I’ll give him advice here and there, but honestly he’s figured it out himself mostly so I can’t take too much credit,” Braedan said. “He really likes to compete and I think that drives him to be as good as he possibly can be.”
“Success to me is not only when I do my best at something, but when my teammates are at their best,” Brodie said. “We are all on the same page going for the same ending goal by putting in the work and helping each other up.”