By Ray Hamill — As Tyler Hinrichs gets set for an exciting new chapter in his academic and athletic careers, he will leave behind a resume of winning that few other H-DNL athletes can match.

On Wednesday evening, in front of large crowd of family, friends, teammates, coaches and teachers at St. Bernard’s, the Crusaders senior signed his letter of intent to continue his football career at Simpson University in Redding.

And to say that the Red Hawks are getting an athlete well used to winning is an understatement.

Hinrichs was named Big 4 co-MVP in football this past fall after leading the Crusaders to a second conference title in three years.

He also has won three Little 4 titles in basketball, two (and counting) in baseball, North Coast Section championships in both baseball and basketball and a NorCal title in basketball.

In addition, he is a five-time all-league selection in multiple sports combined — a number that will surely stretch to six when the dust settles on the 2026 baseball season — and was a three-time honorable mention.

But while he made an impact in multiple ways on multiple teams, it was as a kicker where he excelled the most.

“Tyler Hinrichs had a sensational senior season,” his football and baseball head coach Matt Tomlin said after Hinrichs was named MVP in football in the fall. “He starred at wide receiver, running back, short-yardage quarterback, linebacker, and he was the best kicker in Northern California.”

Remarkably, Hinrichs had never played football before high school, but had an immediate impact when he tried out for the Crusaders as a freshman.

“I walked in my freshman year and Tomlin asked me if I wanted to play football, and I said ‘of course,’” he said. “And I go out there — they were looking for a kicker — stepped up and I got the job, and never looked back since.”

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

The outstanding multi-sport senior will kick for the Red Hawks and is looking forward to the opportunity to continue his playing career and a new exciting chapter in his life.

And despite receiving plenty of interest from other schools — as you would expect from one of the best kickers in the state and a high school player who nailed field goals from more than 50 yards out in both his junior and senior years — Hinrichs was quickly sold on going to Simpson after visiting the campus.

“I chose Simpson because of the great cultural aspect, and I love the coaching,” he said. “When I was there on that official visit I felt their interest in me was out of this world. I feel like it would be a great place for me to develop not just as a player but as a person, and I feel like I can do great things there.”

So too does his high school coach.

“Tyler’s a great student athlete,” Tomlin told the gathering on Wednesday. “He’s been a great captain, he’s won a lot of awards, but he’s just represented what St. Bernard’s is as a student-athlete in the classroom, in the community and on the field for every sport he plays.”

Hinrichs will carry a lot of memories from his time playing at SB, but more than anything it was the time he spent with his teammates that he says he will cherish the most, and one long road trip in particular.

Asked what he will remember the most from his time as a Crusader, the senior standout responded without hesitation.

“Definitely the Tennessee trip,” he said of the two football games the Crusaders played there during his junior season. “Crazy fun time. We got to go to places we never thought we’d go to.”

Hinrichs also spoke briefly to the gathering on Wednesday and thanked his family, teammates and coaches, as well as the staff at St. Bernard’s, among others.

“It was a fun time,” he said of his time at St. Bernard’s. “It was a great experience.”

An avid soccer player when he was younger, Hinrichs switched to football when he got to St. Bernard’s, but he also has had a huge impact with the Crusaders in both basketball and baseball, and he admitted he may not be done with the latter just yet.

“Baseball was always an option,” he said of his college decision. “And I might be able to play baseball there as well. I don’t know yet. That’s always been a card on the table.

“But I feel like I’ve loved football ever since my freshman year.”

Hinrichs says he wants to major in business with a minor in construction, with eyes on flipping houses after college.

In the meantime, he is looking forward to the new challenge and enjoying his time playing football — and perhaps some baseball — for the Red Hawks.

For Hinrichs, it’s a good fit for him for more than just football.

“I felt like with Simpson being a private christian college, it really fit my views spiritually,” he said. “And I feel like it’s a very athletic driven campus as well.”

Simpson is an NAIA program.