Lenoir-Rhyne gets team-first Loethen
Cape Coral High School football coach Mike Goebbel was fully aware of senior Kyle Loethen’s ability at the defensive end position, but prior to last season the Seahawks had a bigger concern on the right side of the offensive line.
They turned to Loethen to anchor right tackle, which limited his playing time on defense. It’s been that team-first attitude, along with the top performance from Loethen, the Seahawks have leaned on for four years.
“He is a great team guy, a great team guy,” Goebbel stressed. “He sacrificed himself for the team moving to right tackle even though he knew defensive end was the position he could play in college.”
Loethen still has that opportunity ahead. After considering four potential schools, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior made his selection official Tuesday, signing a national letter-of-intent scholarship with Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.
Loethen will play defensive end for the Bears. He’s considering either biology or sociology as his college major.
“They have very good biology and environmental science classes,” said Loethen, who was accompanied by his parents, J.D. and Lynda. “The facilities there were the best I’ve seen and the level of academics tops them all.”
Loethen’s three other options were Averett University in Virgina, Maryville College in Tennessee and Waldorf College in Iowa.
He brings plenty of experience to the gridiron, having been a four-year starter for the Seahawks, and at times going both ways. He racked up 70 tackles as a junior, helping the Seahawks make their run to the Class 5A Regional Finals.
As a senior, he solidified the offensive line, and the Seahawks returned to the playoffs.
Though a less glamorous role, Loethen took the position change in stride.
“He never complained,” Goebbel said. “As we tell our guys, we’re not a one or two guy system here. Our team is a team and that’s what we preach.”
Loethen, who also competed in lacrosse and track during his high school career, said he learned a lot, particularly in the four years playing football.
He plans to rely on a strong work ethic at the next level, but also believes Cape’s coaches have prepared him well in other areas.
“The coaching strategies and the way they teach you here are similar to the college level,” he said.