Niemela stays in state, commits to play football at UI

SANDPOINT — Before Christian Niemela began touring the schools that offered him a scholarship, he didn’t have plans on staying in state. Then he visited the quaint town of Moscow, Idaho, and everything changed.

“It was kind of a flip in my mind,” he said.

Something about the University of Idaho campus drew Niemela in and it felt like a second home. So on Tuesday, Niemela officially made it his second home by announcing his commitment to play football at Idaho this fall.

The senior Sandpoint wide receiver garnered offers from nine different schools, including Idaho State and Montana Tech, but ultimately his decision to accept a preferred walk-on offer from the Vandals came after two recent visits to the campus where he got to tour all the facilities they had to offer.

“I have a strong feeling of where they are going as a program,” Niemela said, “and I spent a full day with all their coaches so getting that idea of where their program is heading, it’s looking bright and I want to be apart of that.”

Niemela grew a close bond with the Idaho coaches while he was on campus and really enjoyed the atmosphere of the college town.

Niemela made the announcement in the SHS weight room Tuesday afternoon as friends and family gathered to congratulate him and snap a picture with the college bound athlete. Despite coming to this decision last Thursday, Niemela said the announcement day was filled with a roller coaster of emotions.

“I’ve been nervous even though I knew this entire time,” he said. “It’s just exciting to know where I’m going and it’s like a relief. Now it’s just getting ready for the future and looking to the next chapter in life.”

Niemela certainly left his impact on the Sandpoint program and made contributions in all three phases of the game during his time as a Bulldog. As a junior, Niemela was named an all-league defensive back and returner and this past season was recognized for his play at wide receiver. In 2019, Niemela caught 45 passes for 841 yards and eight touchdowns under first-year offensive coordinator Jeremy Thielbahr.

Thielbahr’s offensive scheme is built on a power running game that looks to take advantage of the play-action pass and the Bulldogs certainly did that with Niemela’s speed and route running ability.

“He was our go-to guy,” Sandpoint head coach Ryan Knowles said about Niemela. “Our offense definitely went as he went.”

Niemela has also been a three-sport athlete throughout his high school career, competing on the basketball and track teams to go along with football.

Knowles said Niemela worked hard in the weight room and during the offseason when nobody was watching to attain this goal.

“That’s what our best athletes should be doing is three sports and helping Sandpoint win in all things and he’s one of those guys,” Knowles said.

Knowles played defensive end at Idaho so he was pretty excited when he heard Niemela was going to be a Vandal.

“I love it,” he said. “Obviously, as an Idaho alum I’m really happy but the other part of it is he’s close to home and we’re going to be able to see him more.”

Knowles is looking forward to watching Niemela play at the Kibbie Dome in-person and said he is welcome to return to his roots at Sandpoint High for a workout.

Knowles also sees Niemela as a role model for players coming up through the Bulldogs program.

“I’ll be happy when the younger kids see him because they’re going to be able to follow him closely now,” Knowles said, “and that to me is what it’s all about. The lasting influence is more important than any game we play so he’s definitely leaving that.”

Deciding where to go to college is a life-changing decision that can be stressful at times, but Niemela said his family supported him the whole way and he’s grateful for that.

“They didn’t really push me any sort of way,” he said. “They let me decide for myself and they said, ‘wherever feels right, that’s where you need to.’”

Niemela said he feels honored that so many schools were willing to take a chance and offer him a scholarship to continue playing the sport he loves.

“It was just great knowing that someone believed in me and that I could do something I’ve always dreamed of,” he said. “Having a school believe in me that strongly is awesome, it’s a great feeling.”

Knowles said Niemela will have to earn his spot on the Vandals and he expects him to do just that.

“I’ve been there first hand,” Knowles said, “and it’s going to be an uphill grind but as I told the recruiters as they came through, he’s a guy that’s going to be up for the challenge ... It’s going to take all he has and he’s going to give it, otherwise, I wouldn’t have stamped my name on him.”