The Triple Threat

Niels Getts has the reputation of being the type of guy you call on when you’re in a bind.

The Columbia Falls senior is a starter for the boys soccer team on the field and in net, (sometimes), and kicker for the football team.

“I’ve been playing soccer my whole life, as long as I can remember,” Getts said.

All those skills come in handy.

Getts grew up playing goalkeeper but became a field player once he hit high school since the team already had a keeper.

During playoffs his freshman year, the Wildcats’ starting goaltender got appendicitis and the team was left without a keeper for a quarterfinal playoffs game against Frenchtown.

Not knowing what else to do, coach O’Brien Byrd put in a call to Getts.

“We went down there and lost an incredibly close game, 4-3,” Byrd said. “But ever since that day, he has the joke that he’s the backup keeper.”

Getts subbed for the first time this season in another game against Frenchtown, when the starting keeper was unable to play. Columbia Falls won 3-2.

“He hasn’t touched the ball with gloves on his hands since freshman year and he made 15 saves and we won the game,’” Byrd said.

Columbia Falls has won the last handful of games with Getts in net, except for Whitefish last Saturday. Bryce Dunham has been sidelined with a concussion but is expected to return this week.

As a field player, Getts typically plays forward or defensive midfield. He’s the second leading goal scorer of the well-balanced Wildcats with eight goals.

“Just a guy that is incredibly athletic,” Byrd said. “If he wanted to try out for basketball this winter, he’d probably have a pretty good chance at making the team.”

Getts has scored goals while playing in net, which probably isn’t something most keepers can say they’ve done, and Getts only does goalkeeping as a part-time gig.

In a 5-0 win against Bigfork on Sept. 11, there was a foul at the bottom of the circle, about 40 yards from the goal. Byrd told Getts to take the penalty kick.

“I went and I took it and it went in,” Getts said. “I was very surprised that it did, but I knew I could kick it that far.”

Speaking of kicking things really far — Getts can kick footballs pretty far too. His personal best is 43 yards in a game, but he’s sunk a kick from 60 yards out in practice.

“It was a windy day so that’s probably why I made it,” he said.

Once a week, Getts goes to special teams practice for the football team where he gets a chance to “do my own thing” and work on his kicks.

“He’s one of the best kickers the football team’s seen in many, many years,” Byrd said. “He’s able to help both teams. He’s one of our team captains and just a really exceptional guy.”

Earlier this season Getts was finishing up a home game with the soccer team and had to get to Whitefish where the football team was playing, post haste. He grabbed his gear, said a quick goodbye to the team and raced off. He made it, but there was one catch.

“I actually hit the kickoff without my shoes tied, because I was so close,” he said.

After graduation, Getts plans to go on a two-year mission (he attends a local LDS church) and then attend FVCC while figuring out his next move. Soccer will likely be involved.

“I’ll find some way to play,” he said.