The Wenatchee Valley Venom were a professional indoor football team based in Wenatchee, Washington. The team was most recently a member of the Pacific Division of the Intense Conference of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Venom were founded in 2009 as an expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). The Venom played their home games at Town Toyota Center.

Wenatchee Valley Venom
Established 2009
Folded 2011
Played in Town Toyota Center
in Wenatchee, Washington
League/conference affiliations
American Indoor Football Association (2010)
  • West Division (2010)

Indoor Football League (2011)

  • Intense Conference (2011)
    • Pacific Division (2011)
Current uniform
Team colorsBlack, red, silver
     
CheerleadersWenatchee Valley Venom Dance Team
Personnel
Owner(s)Daryn Klinginsmith
Rob Tidd
PresidentKyle Skalisky
Head coachBrian Smith
Team history
  • Wenatchee Valley Venom (2010–2011)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)

History

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On June 15, 2009, co-owner and general manager Mark Helm announced that the Wenatchee Valley Venom would become an expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) for the 2010 season.[1] The ownership named Keith Evans the franchise's first head coach and assistant general manager.[2] In January, 2010, the Venom adding Kyle Skalisky to the ownership group and named him team president.[3] After a 2–5 start, the team fired Keith Evans and named defensive coordinator Brian Smith as the team's interim head coach.[4] On May 28, 2010, ownership removed the interim tag from Smith and he took over as the full-time head coach.[5] Smith guided the Venom to a 6–1 record during the remainder of the season, but the team missed the playoffs.[6] The ownership group announced that the team would be returning for the 2011 season, but were unsure what league the franchise would play in.[7]

On September 11, 2010, the Venom joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) for the 2011 season.[8] The Venom won their IFL debut 45–37 over the Fairbanks Grizzlies.[9] The Venom started 2–0,[10] but followed with a seven-game losing streak.[11] Recently added rookie quarterback Charles Dowdell ended the Venom's losing streak by leading them to a 41–36 victory over the Wyoming Cavalry.[12] The Venom then lost the final four games of the season.[13]

On June 21, 2011 The Venom announced they had ceased operations citing low ticket sales since their debut season in 2010 despite the 8–6 season. Though they moved to the more financially stable IFL for the 2011 season, the team posted a 3–11 record and continued to have issues drawing fans.[14]

Season-by-season results

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League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth League leader
Season League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2010 AIFA Western 3rd 8 6 0 Did not qualify
2011 IFL Intense Pacific 4th 3 11 0 Did not qualify
Totals 11 17 0

Personnel

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Final roster

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Wenatchee Valley Venom roster
Quarterbacks
  • 15 Devin Hollins
  •  2 Josh Powell

Running backs

  • 20 Cortes Rice
  • 21 Clinton Taylor

Wide receivers

  • 18 Shane Hoffman
  • 11 Everett Roberts
  •  1 Timothy Simmons
  • 10 Justin Williams
Offensive linemen
  • 62 Cody Dwyer
  • 50 Aaron Gilbert
  • 50 Jason Townson

Defensive linemen

  • 44 Corey Clark
  •  4 Michael Graise
  • 99 Jason Jones
Linebackers
  • 17 Bobby Daly

Defensive backs

  •  8 Joshua Anderson
  •  6 George Kelly
  •  9 Austin Smith
  •  5 Anthony Wiseman

Kickers

  •  7 Scott Thomsen
Injured reserve
  • vacant

Exempt List

  • vacant

Practice squad

  • vacant
  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated March 28, 2011
  • 27 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

All-IFL players

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The following Venom players have been named to All-IFL Teams:

  • WR Timothy Simmons (1)

Head coaches

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Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Keith Evans 2010 2 5 0 .286 0 0
Brian Smith 20102011 9 12 0 .429 0 0

2011 season

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2011 Wenatchee Valley Venom season
OwnerDaryn Klinginsmith
Rob Tidd
Head coachBrian Smith
Home fieldTown Toyota Center
1300 Walla Walla Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98802
Results
Record3–11
Division place4th Pacific
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Results
Score Record
February 17 @Tri-Cities Fever L 14–53

Regular season

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Week Date Opponent Results
Score Record
1 February 27 @Fairbanks Grizzlies W 45–37 1–0
2 March 5 Tri-Cities Fever W 59–52 2–0
3 March 14 @Sioux Falls Storm L 19–80 2–1
4 March 19 @Colorado Ice L 24–52 2–2
5 March 26 Fairbanks Grizzlies L 43–50 2–3
6 Bye
7 April 9 Nebraska Danger L 63–84 2–4
8 April 17 @Seattle Timberwolves L 12–51 2–5
9 April 22 Green Bay Blizzard L 6–60 2–6
10 April 29 @Fairbanks Grizzlies L 33–78 2–7
11 May 7 Wyoming Cavalry W 41–36 3–7
12 May 14 @Tri-Cities Fever L 10–80 3–8
13 May 21 Seattle Timberwolves L 56–66 3–9
14 May 27 @Seattle Timberwolves L 45–61 3–10
15 June 4 Tri-Cities Fever L 52–58 3–11
16 Bye

Standings

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2011 Pacific Division
W L T PCT PF PA DIV GB STK
y Fairbanks Grizzlies 10 4 0 0.714 723 545 6–3 W2
x Tri-Cities Fever 10 4 0 0.714 816 575 6–3 W2
Seattle Timberwolves 5 9 0 0.357 678 796 4–5 5.0 L2
Wenatchee Valley Venom 3 11 0 0.214 508 845 2–7 7.0 L4

References

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  1. ^ "Wenatchee gets indoor football team". www.seattletimes.com. The Seattle Times. June 15, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  2. ^ Brian Adamowsky (June 11, 2013). "Venom coach gets his wide receiver". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  3. ^ "Wenatchee Valley Venom Announce Addition of New Co-owner, Team President". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 14, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "Venom Announce Brian Smith as Interim Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. May 10, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Brent Stecker (June 9, 2013). "Interim guy no longer". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Brent Stecker (June 9, 2013). "Venom end first year on a good note". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Brent Stecker (June 9, 2013). "Venom coming back for second season". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Brian Adamowsky (September 11, 2010). "Venom officially make jump to Indoor Football League". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Renee Thony (February 28, 2011). "Grizzlies have costly turnovers in open loss to Wenatchee". www.newsminer.com. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "Venom stuns Fever". www.tri-cityherald.com. Tri-City Herald. March 6, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Brent Stecker (June 8, 2013). "Venom skid hits seven". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Brent Stecker (June 8, 2013). "Venom finally snap seven-game skid". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  13. ^ Corey Voegele (June 8, 2013). "A tough way to finish". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatachee World. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  14. ^ Brent Stecker (June 8, 2013). "Venom to sit out 2012 season". www.wenatcheeworld.com. The Wenatchee World. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
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