Area Standouts Continue Careers in Indoor League

Ed Patino
Daily Telegram Sports Writer
April 7, 2006

The way Dan Musielewicz sees it, he is living a dream with the Fort Wayne Freedom.

The 2000 graduate of Britton High School and former standout at Hillsdale College is a starting wide receiver for the United Indoor Football League franchise.

Musielewicz isn't the only local talent making a name for himself in Fort Wayne. Former Tecumseh High School and Adrian College quarterback Randy Hutchison Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Freedom in early March.

Fort Wayne (2-0) is currently in first place in the East Division of its league. The Freedom began their season March 25 with a 28-23 home win against the Sioux City Bandits, then spoiled the Bloomington Extreme's home debut last Saturday with a 51-28 victory.

“Playing professional football is something many kids dream about, and I'm having the time of my life,” Musielewicz said. “I'm really blessed to be able to do this. Playing indoors, it gets incredibly loud, and it's an experience of a lifetime.”

The team's next game is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at home against the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. Ohio Valley is also in the East Division. The team's game next Saturday is on the road against the Sioux City Bandits of the North Division. The league also includes a Central Division.

The Patriots play their home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, which was built in 1952. The Detroit Pistons played in the building as the Fort Wayne Pistons until the franchise's move to Detroit in 1957. Currently, the Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne basketball teams play home games at the facility.

Musielewicz is in his second season in the league. He played with the Peoria Rough Riders last season and caught seven balls for 41 yards as a reserve. However, he said the chance to reunite with several Hillsdale College products sparked the decision for him to switch to Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne is coached by former Hillsdale assistant Dan Pifer. Other former Chargers on the roster include receiver Keith Recker and quarterback Bill Skelton.

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