The Lentz family has a rich athletic history at Nooksack Valley High School. Senior running back and linebacker Colton Lentz has recently added to the legacy by breaking family and school records on the football field.
“He has a tremendous impact on this program,” NV head football coach Craig Bartl said. “He is a good football player but he will be the first one to give praise around him. He is a team player but also brings a high standard.”
The Lentz family legacy goes back a couple of generations. Colton’s great-grandfather was a three-sport athlete at the University of Washington, two of his great-uncles played football at the University of Arizona and his father, Britt Lentz, played football at Eastern Washington.
“He has handled it very well,” Britt said of Colton’s reaction to family pressure. “We raised him with the expectation of him playing college football. It has been his dream and his thought process has never been second.”
Britt joined the Eastern Washington football team in 1995 after graduating from Nooksack Valley. Britt was a first-team all-state running back and an all-league linebacker and running back in 1993 and 1994. He had a career 477 carries for 3,188 yards and 42 touchdowns; both second in Nooksack Valley history when he graduated.
Colton’s sister, Taylor Lentz, also attends Eastern Washington after she helped the Pioneers secure the first girls basketball state title in school history in the 2022–23 season.
Although Colton received an offer from the Eagles, he decided he wanted to play football at the University of Montana because of the culture, atmosphere and the fact he could play on the same team as Anacortes’ twin standouts Brady and Brock Beaner.
“I love those guys; they are literally brothers to me,” Colton said. “There is a story where we used to not like each other until we joined the same team in eighth grade. I am excited to play and live with them.”
Britt has played a huge role in Colton’s success on the field. After his collegiate career, Britt returned to NV and has now coached on the Pioneers’ staff for about 25 years.
“It’s crazy how it happened so fast,” Britt said. “It was like yesterday that I would line him up with the high school kids and he would do his reads as a middle linebacker. All these coaches have known him since he was in diapers, and it is really cool.”
Colton has also developed a fierce competitiveness thanks to his namesake.
“Let’s just say family board games have gotten pretty intense ever since we were little,” Colton said. “My dad has built that into my sisters and me. My older sister was always bigger than me and would beat me up. It built me and helped a lot.”
Colton’s competitiveness, vision and hard work ethic have helped Nooksack Valley become a championship contender in recent years. The Pioneers have reached the 1A state semifinals in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons; the third and fourth times in school history. Before that, Nooksack Valley hadn’t reached the state playoffs since 2010.
Colton has also surpassed his father’s records and continues to add to his impressive stats. As of Nov. 26, Colton is first in Nooksack Valley history and fourth in Whatcom County in career rushing yards (4,576) and first in the school and third in Whatcom County in career rushing touchdowns (73).
Colton also broke Nooksack Valley’s single-season rushing touchdowns record last season with 25 and was second in single-season rushing yards with 1,540 in 2022.
As Colton’s prep career is coming to an end, he hopes to finish with a state title and enjoy his last few games with his father as a coach.
“It’s saddening because you get that opportunity to spend time with your son for four months,” Britt said. “I’m excited to be a fan and tailgate games with my wife. His mom and I are so proud of him. Not every kid gets the opportunity but also not every kid puts in the work.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
