by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Let’s just say Sam Wylie’s Crusader on the horse at the football game Friday night was “cool” beyond words.

Wylie said he has been thinking about it for years. He was an art student at Wellington High School before graduating in 1997. He loves history especially concerning the Crusader Knights era around the 1100s.

“And I wanted to give something back to the school,” Wylie said.

On Friday night, Wylie, dressed as a Crusader Knight took his horse “Thunder Smoke” to Sellers Park, greeted the varsity players crossing the bridge and escorted them to the football field before the Wichita Collegiate game. Wylie was perched on a white horse dressed in chrome silver knee and shin armor, with a red “W” tunic, black undergarment and holding a red “W” flag.

Sam Wylie is the Crusader who rode in on Thunder to escort the football team onto the field.

It was cool. Have we said that before?

“I didn’t want to get on the field because Thunder is a pretty heavy horse,” Wylie said about the escort. “But if people want me to I’ll do it.”

A lot of things had to happen before Friday night. Wylie said he never played football in high school. His fascination was with art. And after being guided by Justin Hill, the WHS art teacher in his years, he would go on to major in art in college.

He also loved horses, and has two of them. Thunder is the laziest of the two – a 21-year-old gelding who doesn’t really give a flip about anything. His only source of motivation is herding cattle. It’s this laid back nature that Wylie felt comfortable bringing him on stage at Sellers Stadium.

Wylie has taken Thunder on rides during special events while hoisting the U.S. Flag in his Sumner County Sheriff Deputies uniform. But Wylie said he didn’t want to interfere with the U.S. Veterans who hoist the flag during football Friday nights in Wellington.

So he decided to be a Crusader instead. Wylie worked quietly on his project. He first got permission from athletic director Brian Buchanan, who loved the idea. He then approached his friend Bobby Wilson.

“I knew his son used to be a catcher and had some old knee guards,” Wylie said. “I came up with the idea of spray painting the guards chrome to make them look like armor.”

He then asked Valeta Brown, the wife of the late Ed Brown, if she could make him a tunic.

As far as the helmet, well Wylie punted on that one.

“I bought it off E-bay for $60,” Wylie laughed. “I think making a helmet from scratch would be lot of work.”

He then procured a Wisconsin W flag (stands for Wellington here in these parts).

Wylie had black undergarment. And he was ready to go.

“I still need to get some bracers (arm guards) to look like a genuine Knight,” Wylie said.

Wylie admits to being a little late to the party. He and Thunder were supposed to make their debut at the home opener. It just didn’t get done in time.

But Friday night they made their debut

“Thunder was a little nervous,” Wylie said. “I think all those people spooked him a bit.”

But the ride was made to the delight of the crowd bringing the football team in segments. Wellington.cc webmaster Steve Sturgis made an excellent video that can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=560125234055468&set=vb.100001739889582&type=2&theater. The Crusader and Thunder stayed throughout the first half before going home.

The Crusader and Thunder will be in this Thursday’s homecoming parade downtown and look for another escort again this Friday night when Wellington takes on Circle. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Crusader and Thunder will be there at 6:45.

“Maybe we can make it a tradition,” Wylie said.