Casual research into the origins of the surname 'MacMenamin,' or any of its varied spellings, reveals it dates from around the 13th century A.D., as an Irish name stemming from an older Gaelic word meaning "high-spirited" or "courageous."
Qualities suitable for any sort of battle, really, and qualities which NCAA Division III Cornell College, located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, found for its rising football program in Bayfield's Colter McMenimen.
Before a small audience of family and friends inside the BHS Cafetorium last Thursday afternoon, the Wolverine senior wide receiver and defensive back put pen to paper and officially signed his National Letter-of-Intent to become a Ram student-athlete this fall.
"It was mostly the coaches," he said, explaining his choice. "I was really impressed with the coaches when I met with them. And then I just like the small-town, small-college kind of feel."
One could probably count a home-state feel in there as well; during the 2014 season there were five Colorado players on CC's roster, including 1A Del Norte two-way star and now 6'1", 220-pound junior-to-be linebacker Austin McDonald. McDonald, like McMenimen, made his initial high-profile prep impact on Colorado's wrestling mats.
"After the state tournament my sophomore year, their wrestling coach sent me a letter that kind of got it all started," recalled McMenimen, son of Todd and Missy and twice a Class 3A state championships placer. "And then this year after football, Coach [Gary] Heide gave the football coach a ring and started talking to him."
"When I took the visit I actually talked to the wrestling coach too," he continued, "and there's some athletes on the football team that do both. And if that's something I decide I want, I could do both."
"Sure enough.now I'm going to school there!"
Posting the program's first consecutive winning seasons since the late 1990's, Cornell went 5-4 overall in 2014 and a third-place 3-2 in the Midwest Conference's South Division under fifth-year boss Vince Brautigam.
"Defensive back, at corner or safety-wherever I kind of fit in there," said McMenimen, discussing his expected Ram role. "They're a little short on defensive backs right now, so that's what they're wanting."
"I've had so many different thoughts on what I want to study," said McMenimen, a First Team All-Western Slope Conference pick in 2014 following Bayfield's 5-5 season and 2A State Playoffs-1st Round appearance.
"Still haven't decided-thought about mathematics-but I'll figure it out soon!"
"I'm pretty excited! Don't know how you couldn't be!" he said. "Never really thought I'd be able to play college football, so it's pretty cool to know I'm doing that. I may also be wrestling, but I'd much rather have the opportunity to play football."
