Salina Liberty

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Salina Liberty
AmericanFootball current event.svg Current season
Established 2015
Play in Tony’s Pizza Events Center
in Salina, Kansas
www.salinaliberty.com
Salina Liberty AF1.png
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.

Contents

History

Team logo from 2018-2023 Salina Liberty 2018.png
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. Salina Liberty.png
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

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

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

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsPlayoff berthLeague leader
Season League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2016 CIF Northern6th2100
2017 CIFNorth7th1110
2018 CIFNorth1st930Won Conference Semifinal (Bismarck) 81–51
Lost Conference Championship (Sioux City) 39–45
2019 CIFNorth1st840Won Conference Championship (Omaha) 44–42
Lost Champions Bowl (Duke City) 29–35
2020CIFNorthSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021CIF1st910Won Semifinal (Dodge City) 55–31
Lost Champions Bowl (Omaha) 39–40
2022CIF2nd730Won Semifinal (Billings) 26–14
Won Champions Bowl (Omaha) 38–34
2023CIF2nd820Won Semifinal (Gillette) 37–30
Lost Champions Bowl (Omaha) 30–50
Totals44340All-time regular season record (2016–2023)
64All-time postseason record (2016–2023)
50380All-time regular season and postseason record (2016–2023)

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References

  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.