New Squadron Dispatched to Rapid City by NIFL
January 4, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Rapid City Flying Aces News Release
Rapid City has been awarded with a new professional football franchise in the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) and the Flying Aces airlift has begun. The NIFL, based out of Lafayette, LA, will begin its sixth year of operation in 2006. The league currently has 21 member teams across the United States and has an affiliation with the NFL. For more information on the NIFL, please visit their website at www.niflfootball.com.
Schedules for the 2006 season have not been released at this time, but the season begins in the middle of March. The Flying Aces are expected to be placed in the Pacific Conference, playing cities such as: Casper, WY, Billings, MT, Bozeman, MT, Kennewick, WA, St. Louis, MO, and Lincoln, NE.
Dan Maciejczak, a local city favorite, lands back in Rapid City to take command of the new squadron, the Rapid City Flying Aces, with a mission to bring a championship to Rapid City. Enlisting elite veterans and raw recruits from all over the country is what Maciejczak says it's going to take to accomplish this task.
A former arena football player himself, Maciejczak spent last season leading former NIFL team, the Everett Hawks, to an undefeated 14-0 regular season record. Earning him "Coach of the Year" honors. Their season came to an end when they were defeated in the Pacific Conference Championship Game by the Tri-Cities Fever, who went on to become the NIFL National Champions. Maciejczak called Billings, MT home in 2004, when he led the Outlaws to an 11-3 regular season record. His football coaching career started here in Rapid City, coaching the former indoor team in 2002 and 2003.
Leading the charge for the Flying Aces will be 2005 NIFL MVP quarterback Albert Higgs. Higgs is a veteran QB from Sonoma State University. He has been playing professional football for 7 seasons, the last two for Maciejczak. He played last season for the Everett Hawks, leading the league in both yards passing with 3,031 yards and touchdowns thrown with 72. Prior to playing in Everett, Higgs played for division rival, the Billings Outlaws, for 3 seasons where he led his team to the Championship in 2002. Higgs also started for former NIFL teams, the Utah Warriors and Myrtle Beach Stingrays.
Tomasi Kongaika, a 6'1, 300 lbs defensive tackle from Washington State University, has also been signed to give Rapid City a bit of interior bulk on the line. Kongaika spent last season playing in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts.
James Jones, who played his college ball at Northern Colorado, is expected to be one of the main attractions for the Flying Aces. With his blazing speed and electric moves, Jones is a show-stopper. He is known as "Mr. Utility" because of his ability to excel at several positions. Jones spent the 2004 season playing for Black Hills, and spent last season with the Sioux Falls Storm. Jones's game blew up last season with Sioux Falls, leading the United Indoor Football League in kick-returning, was second in All-Purpose Yards, and was forth in TDs.
The Flying Aces also signed a couple of local guys, Jesse Ranek and Joshua Martin. Both guys played last year in Rapid City. Ranek hails originally from Tyndall, SD. He 5'11, 235 lbs linebacker from South Dakota State University. Ranek also played in the German Football League and the Show Me Believers, a former NIFL team based out of St. Louis. His brother, Josh, plays in the CFL. Ranek owns a gym in Spearfish, SD called Ranek Gym & Sports Training. Josh Martin is a 5'11, 185 lbs Wide Receiver from Northern State University with tons of speed.
The Rapid City Flying Aces are excited to be part of both the National Indoor Football League and to be part of the Rapid City community. Tickets will be available at the Civic Center box office beginning January 5. Watch our website, www.flyingacesfootball.com, for updates player signings, team news, and to be part of all of the excitement as the Flying Aces raid the NIFL in 2006.
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