Mount Si linemen Brad Christensen and Jack Nordby have played football together since their elementary-school days.

The duo get a rare chance to continue that tradition, as they head to Monmouth, Ore., this fall to play for the Western Oregon Wolves.

Nordby and Christensen were both key parts of the Wildcat’s hard-hitting and award-winning line this season. Christensen, in particular, a third-generation Valley football player, picked up first-team Kingco honors for his role on the offensive line, second-team for defensive line, and an all-state nomination. Nordby was right there with him.

It was Nordby who picked Western Oregon University first, with its education department and its chance to further his ambition as a future history teacher weighing in, as well as the vibe he got from the coaches and players in the Division 2 program.

“I just felt very welcome there,” said Nordby, who visited a couple of weeks ago. Christensen visited later.

“Their coach had called to ask about Brad,” Nordby said. “I told him Brad is a great guy, a hard worker.”

Western is going to feel a little bit like home.

“Their uniform is the same,” red and black just like Mount Si, Nordby said. “They have the same helmet! It’s going to feel like ‘high school part 2,’ only better.”

Family members watched as the two linemen joined other athletes, signing their official commitment documents early Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Nordby and Christensen sat at a table in the Mount Si Commons, posters of Western’s stylized wolf in front of them.

“I’ve followed these boys for years,” said Brad’s grandma, Jeann Christensen. Now, she’ll just have to follow them a little further.

Also signing Wednesday was Lauren Solene, a past Mount Si soccer player, goalkeeper and club player. She did not play for the Wildcats this fall, but played for Cascade, on the field, dad Eric Solene said. She committed to St. Peter’s University, a private, Jesuit school in New Jersey. Solene will play for the Peacocks.

Last but not least, Class of 2014 quarterback Nick Mitchell made his verbal decision to play football for the Oregon State Beavers official.

He actually committed last spring to play for Oregon State University, making the decision prior to senior year.

Mitchell led the Mount Si team to the state semi-finals in 2012 and to the second round of the state playoffs last fall. He was named offensive player of the year for the Kingco conference, and to the first team.

Mitchell joins his older brother Josh, class of 2012, on the gridiron at Corvallis. Josh is a lineman.

Follow Mount Si athletics at http://www.svsd410.org/domain/241.

Mount Si’s new generation of college football players are backed by Wildcat football coach Charlie Kinnune and assistants Chris Jackson and Brian Tawney.

QB Nick Mitchell has made his OSU Beavers commitment official. Linemen Jack Nordby and Brad Christensen will play for Western Oregon University at Monmouth. Lauren Solene, a soccer player and goalkeeper, will head to St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, N.J., just a short drive from New York City.

Future college soccer player Lauren Solene, signed to the St. Peters Peacocks in New Jersey.