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{{Infobox indoor American football team
{{Short description|American indoor football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Salina Liberty
| name = Salina Liberty
| current = 2024 Arena Football League season
| current = 2024 Arena Football League season
| logo = Salina Liberty.png
| logo = Salina Liberty AF1.png
| helmet =
| helmet =
| founded = 2015
| founded = 2015
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| misc = {{url|http://www.salinaliberty.com}}
| misc = {{url|http://www.salinaliberty.com}}
| colors = Navy, blue, red, silver, white<br/>{{color box|#002244}} {{color box|#4B92DB}} {{color box|#C60C30}} {{color box|#A5ACAF}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| colors = Navy, blue, red, silver, white<br/>{{color box|#002244}} {{color box|#4B92DB}} {{color box|#C60C30}} {{color box|#A5ACAF}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| owner = Precision Sports, LLC<br>Roy Lawrence<br>Dan and Linda Mendicina<br>Tom Perez<br>Josh Perez<br>Jimmy and Robyne Sponder<br>Dan Kieborz and Jennifer Main
| owner = Precision Sports, LLC.
| general manager = Francis Flax
| general manager = Sam Sellers
| coach = Heron O'Neal
| coach = Heron O'Neal
| cheerleaders =
| cheerleaders =
| mascot = Sideline Sam
| mascot = Sideline Sam
| league =
| league =
'''[[Champions Indoor Football]] ({{CIF Year|2016}}–2023)'''
*'''[[Champions Indoor Football]] ({{CIF Year|2016}}–2023)'''
*Northern Division (2016)
**Northern Division (2016)
*North Conference (2017–2019)
**North Conference (2017–2019)
'''[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|2024}}-present)'''
*[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|2024}})
*'''[[Arena Football One (2025)|Arena Football One]]''' (2025-future)
**Central Division (2025-present)
| team_history =
| team_history =
*'''Salina Liberty (2016–present)'''
*'''Salina Liberty (2016–present)'''
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}}
}}


The '''Salina Liberty''' are a professional [[indoor American football|indoor football]] team based in [[Salina, Kansas]]. They began play in 2016 as members of the [[Champions Indoor Football]] (CIF) and currently play in the [[Arena Football League]]. The team plays their home games at the [[Tony’s Pizza Events Center]].
The '''Salina Liberty''' are a professional [[indoor American football|indoor football]] team based in [[Salina, Kansas]]. They began play in 2016 as members of the [[Champions Indoor Football]] (CIF) and played in the [[Arena Football League (2024)|Arena Football League]] in 2024. In 2025, they will become inaugural members of the newly-formed [[Arena Football One (2025)|Arena Football One]]. The team plays their home games at the [[Tony’s Pizza Events Center]].


==History==
==History==
[[File:Salina_Liberty_2018.png|150px|right|thumb|Team logo from 2018-2023]]
[[File:Salina_Liberty_2018.png|150px|right|thumb|Team logo from 2018-2023]]
Indoor football in Salina started in 2012 as the [[Salina Bombers]], an expansion franchise for the [[Champions Professional Indoor Football League]] (CPIFL), were announced for the [[2013 Salina Bombers season|2013 season]]. The Bombers then joined [[Champions Indoor Football]] (CIF) due to a merger between the CPIFL and the [[Lone Star Football League]] for 2015. However, during their first season in the CIF, the league ejected the Bombers for a "business violation" on May 28<ref name="kwch150528">{{cite news |first=Jake |last=Copp |publisher=[[KWCH-DT]] |location=[[Salina, KS]] |title=Salina Bombers dissolving football team |url=http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/salina-bombers-dissolving-football-team/33268516 |date=May 28, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529003019/http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/salina-bombers-dissolving-football-team/33268516 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 }}</ref> and they would cease operations later that month.<ref name="cif150528">{{cite web |publisher=[[Champions Indoor Football]] |via=''Our Sports Central'' |title=Salina Bombers Suspended from CIF |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4977520 |date=May 28, 2015 |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, the CIF announced it had replaced the Bombers with a new expansion team in Salina called the Salina Liberty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlocalmedia.com/sports/indoor-football-salina-liberty-announced-as-latest-cif-franchise/article_d11c7f10-3228-11e5-8c66-d379a696a7e3.html |title=Indoor football: Salina Liberty announced as latest CIF franchise |publisher=Star Local Media |date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
Indoor football in Salina started in 2012 as the [[Salina Bombers]], an expansion franchise for the [[Champions Professional Indoor Football League]] (CPIFL), were announced for the [[2013 Salina Bombers season|2013 season]]. The Bombers then joined [[Champions Indoor Football]] (CIF) due to a merger between the CPIFL and the [[Lone Star Football League]] for 2015. However, during their first season in the CIF, the league ejected the Bombers for a "business violation" on May 28<ref name="kwch150528">{{cite news |first=Jake |last=Copp |publisher=[[KWCH-DT]] |location=[[Salina, KS]] |title=Salina Bombers dissolving football team |url=http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/salina-bombers-dissolving-football-team/33268516 |date=May 28, 2015 |access-date=June 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529003019/http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/salina-bombers-dissolving-football-team/33268516 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 }}</ref> and they would cease operations later that month.<ref name="cif150528">{{cite web |publisher=[[Champions Indoor Football]] |via=Our Sports Central |title=Salina Bombers Suspended from CIF |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4977520 |date=May 28, 2015 |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, the CIF announced it had replaced the Bombers with a new expansion team in Salina called the Salina Liberty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlocalmedia.com/sports/indoor-football-salina-liberty-announced-as-latest-cif-franchise/article_d11c7f10-3228-11e5-8c66-d379a696a7e3.html |title=Indoor football: Salina Liberty announced as latest CIF franchise |publisher=Star Local Media |date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>


The Liberty began play in the Champions Indoor Football League in 2016 finishing last in the Northern Division and failing to qualify for the playoffs. In 2017 Salina Liberty received their first win on the road against Bloomington Edge 47-34 after promoting Offensive Coordinator Mike Bonner to Head Coach. The team finished 1-4 under Coach Bonner.
The Liberty began play in the Champions Indoor Football League in 2016 finishing last in the Northern Division and failing to qualify for the playoffs. In 2017 Salina Liberty received their first win on the road against Bloomington Edge 47-34 after promoting Offensive Coordinator Mike Bonner to Head Coach. The team finished 1-4 under Coach Bonner.
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General Manager Ricky Bertz decided to go in another direction after the 2017 season. After hiring Herron O’Neal The Liberty finished first in the CIF's North Conference regular season in 2018 and 2019. They won the conference playoff championship in 2019 and played in the Champions Bowl for the league title, but lost to the [[Duke City Gladiators]] 29–35.
General Manager Ricky Bertz decided to go in another direction after the 2017 season. After hiring Herron O’Neal The Liberty finished first in the CIF's North Conference regular season in 2018 and 2019. They won the conference playoff championship in 2019 and played in the Champions Bowl for the league title, but lost to the [[Duke City Gladiators]] 29–35.


[[File:Salina Liberty.png|150px|right|thumb|Logo used in the [[Arena Football League (2024)|AFL]] in 2024.]]
On September 25, 2023, the Liberty were implicitly announced to be joining the [[Arena Football League]] after the AFL announced it would be absorbing CIF's remaining franchises.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://county17.com/2023/09/25/mustangs-football-will-not-play-in-gillette-in-2024/ |title=Mustangs football will not play in Gillette in 2024 |website=county17.com |date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>
On September 25, 2023, the Liberty were implicitly announced to be joining the [[Arena Football League]] after the AFL announced it would be absorbing CIF's remaining franchises.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://county17.com/2023/09/25/mustangs-football-will-not-play-in-gillette-in-2024/ |title=Mustangs football will not play in Gillette in 2024 |website=county17.com |date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> Then nearly one year later on September 4, 2024, the Liberty announced their move to the new [[Arena Football One (2025)|Arena Football One]] following the collapse of the AFL. They will play in the league's new Central Division along with the [[Corpus Christi Tritons]], [[Southwest Kansas Storm]] and [[Wichita Regulators]].


==Roster==
==Current roster==
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
⚫
|+ colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Salina Liberty|border=2}};text-align:center;"| '''Salina Liberty roster'''
⚫
|-
⚫
! colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Salina Liberty|border=2}};text-align:center;" | Salina Liberty roster
|-
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Quarterbacks'''
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Quarterbacks'''
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'''Running backs'''
'''Running backs'''
{{NFLplayer|--|Luis Gonzalez|link=no}}
*''Currently vacant''


'''Wide receivers'''
'''Wide receivers'''
{{NFLplayer|--|Tyler Cargill|link=no}}
*''Currently vacant''
{{NFLplayer|--|Dallas Dixon|link=no}}


| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Offensive linemen'''
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | '''Offensive linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|--|Dallas Reins|link=no}}
*''Currently vacant''


'''Defensive linemen'''
'''Defensive linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|--|Jordan Harris|link=no}}
*''Currently vacant''
{{NFLplayer|--|Denaz Ross|link=no}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Bryson Kelly|link=no}}


| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="width: 25px;" |
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'''Defensive backs'''
'''Defensive backs'''
{{NFLplayer|--|Tyler Cargill|link=no}}
*''Currently vacant''
{{NFLplayer|--|Shaquez Bond|link=no}}


'''Special teams'''
'''Special teams'''
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{{ubl
{{ubl
|''Rookies in italics''
|''Rookies in italics''
| updated December 7, 2023
|Roster updated November 27, 2024
|0 Active, 0 Inactive
|8 Active, 0 Inactive
}}
⚫
|-
|}

== Staff ==
{{NFL final staff
|Year=
|TeamName=Salina Liberty
|Front Office=
* Co-Owner - Roy Lawrence
* Co-Owners - Dan and Linda Mendicina
* Co-Owner - Tom Perez
* Co-Owner - Josh Perez
* Co-Owners - Jimmy and Robyne Sponder
* Co-Owners - Dan Kieborz and Jennifer Main
* General manager - Sam Sellers
* Director of player personnel - Brandon Davis
* Marketing - Katie Junk
* Equipment manager - Jimmy Stevens
* Equipment manager - Cameron Pflaum

|Head Coaches=
* Head coach - Heron O'Neal
* Assistant coach - Jorge Martinez
* Assistant coach - Dylan Mendicina

|Offensive Coaches=
* Offensive coordinator - TBA
* Offensive line coach - Matt Wells

|Defensive Coaches=
* Defensive coordinator – LJ Jackson
* Defensive line coach - Matt Wells
}}
}}
|}<section end=roster />


==Season-by-season results==
==Season-by-season results==
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|-
|-
! 2022
! 2022
| CIF || ||
|bgcolor=#fcc| CIF || ||
| bgcolor=#96cdcd| 2nd || 7 || 3 || 0 || style="text-align:left" |'''Won''' Semifinal ([[Billings Outlaws (CIF)|Billings]]) 26–14<br/>'''Won''' Champions Bowl ([[Omaha Beef|Omaha]]) 38–34
| bgcolor=#96cdcd| 2nd || 7 || 3 || 0 || style="text-align:left" |'''Won''' Semifinal ([[Billings Outlaws (CIF)|Billings]]) 26–14<br/>'''Won''' Champions Bowl ([[Omaha Beef|Omaha]]) 38–34
|-
|-
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* [http://salinaliberty.com Salina Liberty official website]
* [http://salinaliberty.com Salina Liberty official website]


{{Arena Football League}}
{{Arena Football One (2025)}}
{{Arena Football League (2024)}}
{{Kansas Sports}}
{{Kansas Sports}}


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[[Category:American football teams established in 2015]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 2015]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Arena Football One (2025)]]
[[Category:Arena Football League (2024)]]

Latest revision as of 18:00, 27 November 2024

Salina Liberty
Current season
Established 2015
Play in Tony’s Pizza Events Center
in Salina, Kansas
www.salinaliberty.com
League/conference affiliations
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, blue, red, silver, white
         
MascotSideline Sam
Personnel
Owner(s)Precision Sports, LLC
Roy Lawrence
Dan and Linda Mendicina
Tom Perez
Josh Perez
Jimmy and Robyne Sponder
Dan Kieborz and Jennifer Main
General managerSam Sellers
Head coachHeron O'Neal
Team history
  • Salina Liberty (2016–present)
Championships
League championships (1)
  • 2022
Conference championships (1)
  • 2019
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (5)
  • 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Home arena(s)

The Salina Liberty are a professional indoor football team based in Salina, Kansas. They began play in 2016 as members of the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) and played in the Arena Football League in 2024. In 2025, they will become inaugural members of the newly-formed Arena Football One. The team plays their home games at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

History

[edit]
Team logo from 2018-2023

Indoor football in Salina started in 2012 as the Salina Bombers, an expansion franchise for the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), were announced for the 2013 season. The Bombers then joined Champions Indoor Football (CIF) due to a merger between the CPIFL and the Lone Star Football League for 2015. However, during their first season in the CIF, the league ejected the Bombers for a "business violation" on May 28[1] and they would cease operations later that month.[2] In July 2015, the CIF announced it had replaced the Bombers with a new expansion team in Salina called the Salina Liberty.[3]

The Liberty began play in the Champions Indoor Football League in 2016 finishing last in the Northern Division and failing to qualify for the playoffs. In 2017 Salina Liberty received their first win on the road against Bloomington Edge 47-34 after promoting Offensive Coordinator Mike Bonner to Head Coach. The team finished 1-4 under Coach Bonner.

General Manager Ricky Bertz decided to go in another direction after the 2017 season. After hiring Herron O’Neal The Liberty finished first in the CIF's North Conference regular season in 2018 and 2019. They won the conference playoff championship in 2019 and played in the Champions Bowl for the league title, but lost to the Duke City Gladiators 29–35.

Logo used in the AFL in 2024.

On September 25, 2023, the Liberty were implicitly announced to be joining the Arena Football League after the AFL announced it would be absorbing CIF's remaining franchises.[4] Then nearly one year later on September 4, 2024, the Liberty announced their move to the new Arena Football One following the collapse of the AFL. They will play in the league's new Central Division along with the Corpus Christi Tritons, Southwest Kansas Storm and Wichita Regulators.

Current roster

[edit]
Salina Liberty roster
Quarterbacks
  • Currently vacant

Running backs

  • -- Luis Gonzalez


Wide receivers

  • -- Tyler Cargill
  • -- Dallas Dixon


 Offensive linemen
  • -- Dallas Reins


Defensive linemen

  • -- Jordan Harris
  • -- Denaz Ross
  • -- Bryson Kelly


 Linebackers
  • Currently vacant

Defensive backs

  • -- Tyler Cargill
  • -- Shaquez Bond


Special teams

  • Currently vacant
 Reserve lists
  • Currently vacant
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated November 27, 2024
  • 8 Active, 0 Inactive

Staff

[edit]
Salina Liberty staff

Front office

  • Co-Owner - Roy Lawrence
  • Co-Owners - Dan and Linda Mendicina
  • Co-Owner - Tom Perez
  • Co-Owner - Josh Perez
  • Co-Owners - Jimmy and Robyne Sponder
  • Co-Owners - Dan Kieborz and Jennifer Main
  • General manager - Sam Sellers
  • Director of player personnel - Brandon Davis
  • Marketing - Katie Junk
  • Equipment manager - Jimmy Stevens
  • Equipment manager - Cameron Pflaum

Head coaches

  • Head coach - Heron O'Neal
  • Assistant coach - Jorge Martinez
  • Assistant coach - Dylan Mendicina

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator - TBA
  • Offensive line coach - Matt Wells
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – LJ Jackson
  • Defensive line coach - Matt Wells




Season-by-season results

[edit]
League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Playoff berth League leader
Season League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2016 CIF Northern 6th 2 10 0
2017 CIF North 7th 1 11 0
2018 CIF North 1st 9 3 0 Won Conference Semifinal (Bismarck) 81–51
Lost Conference Championship (Sioux City) 39–45
2019 CIF North 1st 8 4 0 Won Conference Championship (Omaha) 44–42
Lost Champions Bowl (Duke City) 29–35
2020 CIF North Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 CIF 1st 9 1 0 Won Semifinal (Dodge City) 55–31
Lost Champions Bowl (Omaha) 39–40
2022 CIF 2nd 7 3 0 Won Semifinal (Billings) 26–14
Won Champions Bowl (Omaha) 38–34
2023 CIF 2nd 8 2 0 Won Semifinal (Gillette) 37–30
Lost Champions Bowl (Omaha) 30–50
Totals 44 34 0 All-time regular season record (2016–2023)
6 4 — All-time postseason record (2016–2023)
50 38 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2016–2023)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Copp, Jake (May 28, 2015). "Salina Bombers dissolving football team". Salina, KS: KWCH-DT. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "Salina Bombers Suspended from CIF". Champions Indoor Football. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
  3. ^ "Indoor football: Salina Liberty announced as latest CIF franchise". Star Local Media. July 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "Mustangs football will not play in Gillette in 2024". county17.com. September 25, 2023.
[edit]
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