By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Its all in a name.

One hundred years ago, just as Northeast High School was opening its doors, coaches for the high school started a club for athletes that lettered in sports. For about six years, the club was called the “N Men.”

In 1920, the name of the club was changed to the “N Men at Northeast.” But that didn’t last long, either. It only lasted one year, actually, before being changed to the “Winners of the N.” The name stuck around for a couple of years before the final change in 1923, when the club simplified and began calling itself the “N Club.”

“It was a high recognized club of athletes who excelled in sports [at Northeast High School],” Sue Ann Erb, president of the The Northeast Vikings N Club Association, said. Earlier this summer, the association joined the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

“We joined to become more active in the community,” Erb said. “We love the Chamber and there’s so much going on in the Northeast.”

At first, the club was for male athletes. It wasn’t until the late 1930s, Erb said, that the club started recognizing female cheerleaders and athletes. Erb has been involved in some matter of the N Club since 1948, when she was the cheerleader mascot. She was also involved with the pep club.

“My interest came from promoting volunteerism within Northeast High School and around the community,” Erb said.

Currently with around 100 members, the club has continued to support Northeast High School athletes throughout the years, awarding the letter N to those who not only succeeded at sports, but to those who also demonstrated good habits off the field or court. In 2009, the association held its first meeting as a way to evolve and become more involved in the community, not just with the high school. The association meets at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month at the Raytown Hy-Vee, E. 350 Hwy. The meetings are open to alumni who participated in sports or have an interest in the athletics at Northeast High School.

“Everything we do, we do for the athletes,” Erb said. “The alumni work with the students because we want to help the athletes preserve the legacy of the Northeast Vikings N Club and promote community involvement.”

At every meeting, the association invites a speaker, either a coach or an athlete, someone who represents that season’s sport. Erb said the association also hosts seasonal award banquets for the athletes. Last fall, she said they were presented with a great opportunity to help restore the Markey-Peters Field House at Northeast High School. Through fundraising, the association helped with the installation of new purple and white tile in the foyer, stripped and varnished graffiti from the bleachers and hung new banners.

“We met with school officials and talked about how we could make things better for the students and the district,” Erb said, adding the association received a lot of support from NEHS principal Douglas Bolden.

Currently, Erb said, the association is continually being active in helping NEHS, the athletic director and the school district with whatever they need. She added that its currently an exciting time for Northeast schools, and she’s proud of the work that the association is able to offer.

“The middle school just re-opened, the high school is excelling and this is Principal Bolden’s second year,” Erb said. “We’ll be around to do anything we can do to help. Go Vikings.”