Arena Veterans Assigned to Riptide
January 13, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO - The Riptide are proud to announce the assignment of OL/DL Chris Enneking and Kicker Kimo Naehu. Enneking, a monster lineman, spent parts of the 2004 season with the Grand Rapids Rampage and reunites with Coach Ponder on San Diegos pursuit of an ArenaCup Chamionship. Naehu is a consistent kicker that will add support to Ponders relentless offensive game plan.
(Enneking) is a proven veteran, said Ponder. Hes a good pass protector and rusher. There is no doubt in my mind that I have the top three centers in this league.
Enneking, a 1999 All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention out of Kansas, spouts four years of arena league experience, playing two seasons in both the AFL and the af2. This 64, 290-lb workhorse is touted as one of the best centers to grace the arena turf. In 2001, he made his debut for the Oklahoma Wranglers. After the team folded the following season, Enneking made the move back to Kansas where he played for Coach Ponder and the Wichita Stealth. While with the team for two years, he played in 14 games, recorded 20 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a safety, and two forced fumbles. The Stealth also went to the playoffs in both of those seasons. In 2004, he made his return to the AFL with the Grand Rapids Rampage. Enneking joins Rico Ochoa, Noah Drucker, Chris Lawrence, and James Parham on the line.
You rate a kicker by his stats. Naehu has been very efficient and we look forward to bringing more Hawaii players out here.
Most Riptide fans may remember Naehu from Week Six of the 2004 season when the team played the Hawaiian Islanders at home. His PAT sent the game into overtime and a 55-54 Islanders win,. Scoring 98 points and successfully kicking 78% of his PATs secured his place on the All-af2 roster last season. Naehu played in three seasons with the Islanders before making the move to San Diego. Playing just five games in his first season with the Islanders, he connected on 20 of 25 PATs, made a career long 52-yard field goal, and even forced a fumble. The following season, he scored a career high 99 points and made 11 field goals. A consistent and reliable kicker, Naehu has made 77% of all PATs and has never played a full season without scoring over 90 points.
"I just concentrate on my steps, make sure I take the same steps every time and just swing," said Naehu in a past interview with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. "I don't really pay attention to the goal posts. If I have the same swing, hit the ball the same way, it'll go in."
Prior to his af2 career, Naehu played soccer and football at Waipahu High School in Hawaii and tied an Oahu Interscholastic Association record with a 51-yard field goal. He went on to Bethel College in Kansas and earned all-conference honors as both a punter and linebacker.
The Riptide has filled nearly half of its training camp roster and will be hosting its next open tryout on February 5. Thus far, Coach Ponder has brought talent from the Wichita Stealth, the Hawaiian Islanders, and top college talent. At the same time, he has been able to retain San Diegos core personnel. Look for the Tide to light up the scoreboard in 2005.
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