Eatonville’s road back to state starts with learning each other’s names

Last season was so successful, the Eatonville High School football team won the 1A Evergreen Conference title and went on to play in the state semifinals for the first time since 1997, only losing to eventual state champion Cascade Christian.

This year, the Cruisers are just trying to learn everybody’s names.

"We start with little things, like learn everyone’s name," head coach George Fairhart said. "We have to come together as a team. The upperclassmen have to learn the freshmen’s names."

Some of the easiest names so far have been Jacob McCormick, Josh Miller and Logan Moose. McCormick was a first-team all-league quarterback as a junior last season, Miller a first-team offensive lineman and Moose a first-team all-league linebacker.

Eatonville enters the season ranked seventh in the 1A classification despite losing league MVP George Tomal and co-defensive players of the year Justin Kaelin and John Warner to graduation. But this group isn’t thinking too far ahead.

"We start with little goals to build up to our bigger goals," Moose, a running back and defensive end said. "One of those little goals is learning everyone’s names."

McCormick and Moose say that they can name everyone. Which is saying something, considering names on the roster such as Teddie Bushey, Zach Vandersluis and Trevor Rangamar. Or how about Wade Wikander, Rulon Enwiller or Tristan Schoepf?

"We spend 15 to 20 minutes each practice on learning names," McCormick said. "It’s really important at this point."

McCormick, who enters his third year as the Cruisers’ starter, threw for 1,147 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

"Of course we want to win the league and go to state," McCormick said while Moose nodded in agreement. "But we want to take it one game at a time and finish games as strong as we can."

Last season Moose was one of three running backs in Eatonville’s stable with at least 550 rushing yards, gaining 582 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’ll be a featured back again on this year’s team, but not the only one.

"We don’t have big stats," Fairhart said. "Moose will be a standout, but we’ll rotate guys at running back."

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Eatonville’s road back to state starts with learning each other’s names."