For multisport star Cade Gehlen of Central Catholic, it’s back to football for Les Schwab Bowl week

By Dan Brood 

Football?

Baseball?

Both?

For Cade Gehlen, it’s an easy decision. 

“I love both sports. I don’t have any problem doing a bunch of baseball and a bunch of football. I love it,” the Central Catholic senior-to-be said. “It’s a little hard to balance them out sometimes, but I make it work. I’ll do double the work for both of them. I love it.”

For this week, at least, it’s all about football for Gehlen, as he’ll be playing safety for Team Columbia in Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl, a high school football all-star game featuring many of the top players from around the state, which will be held at Linfield University in McMinnville.

“It’s great,” Gehlen said after a Team Columbia practice Tuesday. “I feel honored to be here and to represent my school in such a big football event like this. It’s amazing.”

Last year, as a Central Catholic junior, Gehlen, playing receiver and defensive back, helped the Rams football squad win the Mt. Hood Conference title at 7-0. They went 10-2 overall and reached the semifinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs. Gehlen was a first-team all-Mt. Hood Conference pick at safety and earned Class 6A all-state honorable mention accolades.

Gehlen will have 10 of his Central Catholic football teammates playing in Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl, which has him looking forward to the 2023 high school campaign.

“I’m so excited for next year,” he said. “I think there’s eight players on Columbia and three on Willamette (for the Les Schwab Bowl). It’s going to be a really fun season.”

While Gehlen is excited for Saturday’s Les Schwab Bowl, and for the 2023 high school football season, his long-term excitement is for his baseball future, as he has committed to play college ball for the University of Portland.

“I committed probably at around this time last year,” Gehlen said. “I’m excited to get to work with them.”

This past spring, Gehlen helped the Central Catholic baseball team win the Mt. Hood Conference crown at 15-2. They went 17-10 overall with a young squad. Gehlen was a first-team all-conference pick as an outfielder.

So, football or baseball, which is his favorite?

“I’d say I favor baseball a little bit, because I’m going to play baseball collegiality, but I also love football,” Gehlen said.

He was also quick to point out that playing football helps him with baseball.

“It’s the mentality and toughness,” he said. “Football gets me really tough, and that kicks over to baseball, being mentally tough.”

Speaking of football, Gehlen said he wants to help Team Columbia come away with the victory in Saturday’s game.

“Oh, it would be awesome to win it,” he said. “With a bunch of my teammates, we’ve got to win the game.”

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Proceeds from this year’s Les Schwab Bowl, presented by Express Employment Professionals, will benefit the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association general scholarship fund, the Brayden Bafaro Scholarship Fund, and various youth charities.

This is the 75th game in the series, but just the second that won’t be North vs. South. Instead, players were drafted by the Team Columbia coaching staff, with head coach Steve Pyne from Central Catholic, and by the Team Willamette coaching staff, with head coach Josh Line from Sheldon. In last year’s game, the first under this format, Team Columbia posted a 28-9 win over Team Willamette.

Gates will open at 3 p.m. Saturday, with food carts on site. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Tickets for the game can be purchased at lesschwabbowl.com/tickets. The game can also be streamed online, at a cost of $10, at lesschwabbowl.com.