​On July 12, it was announced that the Timberline Spartans of Weippe will not field a standalone football team this fall. Instead, players from Timberline will compete under the Orofino Maniacs banner through a cooperative arrangement. Timberline athletic director Cori Pinque explained that after reviewing the number of returning players and their ages, it became clear that assembling a full squad for the entire season would be highly unlikely. To protect the safety of the athletes and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play, the decision was made to form a co-op with Orofino rather than attempting to field a team with insufficient numbers.
Timberline and Orofino have previously partnered in other sports, and Pinque noted that the two schools collaborate effectively during those sports seasons. Timberline coach Pat Christopherson echoed the sentiment, saying he and his staff are confident in the arrangement and that fielding a standalone Spartan team this year simply wouldn’t be feasible given the current enrollment.
The timing of the move aligns with Orofino’s plans as well. Madison Melton, recently named the incoming athletic director for Orofino, described a joint discussion between the two administrations in which both districts agreed the co-op would benefit the students and the schools alike as Melton prepares to assume her new duties this fall. With Orofino entering the season coming off a winless year, the coaching staff—headed by Seth Melton, who is also the head coach, and his half-brother Sean Diffin, the assistant—expressed optimism that adding Timberline players could provide the spark the Maniacs need.
Seth Melton conveyed a positive outlook, saying the two programs will benefit from the shared talent and that the move represents a strong opportunity for both schools. He added that the added players from Timberline could help balance the roster and contribute to a more competitive season. Diffin echoed that sentiment, noting that Orofino has faced numbers challenges in the past, so welcoming a few extra athletes from Timberline should not hurt the program and could lend a much-needed boost.
Christopherson expressed particular gratitude that his son, Korbin Christopherson, a first-team All-Class 1A Whitepine League quarterback, will be able to play his senior season. Diffin acknowledged that Pat Christopherson will miss the head coaching role, as his son will be coached by others, but Diffin emphasized that Pat’s experience and leadership will remain invaluable as he assists in any capacity he’s comfortable with. He described Christopherson as a coach whom players and staff genuinely respect—a key factor in jumpstarting the program after several challenging years.
The Orofino co-op will officially begin when the Maniacs host the Marsing Huskies on August 21 at 7 p.m., marking the debut of the new roster under the shared banner. The collaboration aims to provide a stable path for student-athletes to compete, while preserving safety and maximizing opportunities for playing time and development.
For further details, Wendt can be reached at 208-848-2268 or via email at cwendt@lmtribune.com.