More than teammates

CEDAR RAPIDS - Nic Ekland and Jay Kortemeyer met in kindergarten, started playing football in first grade and have been friends ever since.

They ended their football careers together on Nov. 3 at Saints Field when both were injured in a Class 3A second-round win over Waverly-Shell Rock. The Saints' season ended the next week in a quarterfinal loss to Pella.

'We were always with each other on and off the field, but when Nic came into my hospital room and told me what had happened, we both agreed we had no regrets about how our football career ended,” Kortemeyer said.

Ekland and Kortemeyer, both injured last in the season, started their football era in flag football for Metro Youth Football Association and YMCA teams. They moved on to flag football for LaSalle when they were in fifth grade and have continued playing together every year through this past season.

'Playing with Jay is definitely special,” Ekland said. 'It feels like we are kids again playing in my backyard.”

Ekland and Kortemeyer played football all four years at Xavier and will graduate this spring.

'We have been friends since we were 6,” Kortemeyer said. 'I have been non-stop thinking about the day since the beginning of this school year. I am sure it will be a bittersweet moment.”

When Kortemeyer and Ekland got hurt, Ekland thought it was really unique how they went into football together and ended their football era together during the same game.

'I believe it is easier to have him as a teammate, along with having him as a friend, because we could get on each other a little more than we would another teammate,” Kortemeyer said.

The two had the tradition of Kortemeyer putting on Ekland's jersey over his shoulder pads before every game. During their senior year, when both got injured, Kortemeyer said he would not have wanted to go out with any other person, because Ekland is the most selfless person he knows.

Their season may be over but the memories are not.