Father and son combo highlights defending 3A SSC champion Yelm’s depth
A father coaching his son is by no means unusual in high school sports.
During the last school year alone, Thurston County saw Josh Kiley wrap up his Olympia basketball career as a member of his dad, John’s, 4A South Puget Sound League championship team. At Tumwater, baseball coach Lyle Overbay and son Alex helped the T-Birds to the 2A Southwest District championship game.
At Yelm, ninth-year coach Jason Ronquillo welcomed his son, Kyler, to varsity just as the Tornados program was reaching a peak and there’s no reason to think more shared accomplishments aren’t in the offing for the pair.
In 2018, Jason, whose older son Jared played wide receiver for him at Hoquiam and earned a scholarship to Central Washington, guided Yelm to its first state playoff appearance since 1987.
The next year, with Kyler a freshman on varsity, the Tornados made it back-to-back appearances.
During the abbreviated spring 2021 season, both Ronquillos made history.
Jason became only the second Yelm coach and the first in 83 years, since Frank Bower in 1938, to record an undefeated season. Kyler, despite being a man without a regular position, shared 3A South Sound Conference MVP honors with Olympia receiver/running back Alfredo Ramirez-Cortes.
The younger Ronquillo’s versatility was undeniable as he rushed 38 times for 296 yards, caught 14 passes for 211 yards and scored seven touchdowns on offense. He also played some quarterback and, defensively, had three interceptions, one for a touchdown, and totaled 21 tackles.
Kyler likes the variety.
“I like being used in a lot of unique ways. I just love having the ball in my hands,” he said.
With only a small number of returning skill position players, including second-team All-SSC sophomore running back Brayden Platt, returning, Kyler’s versatility will be called upon again in Fall 2021.
“The plan is the same. We want to make sure we spread him around,” said Jason. “His primary spot will be slot receiver, but you’ll sometimes see him in the backfield. You’ll see him all over the place.”
That’s been the case since Jason coached Kyler in youth football.
“In fourth or fifth grade we kind of noticed he was one of the better athletes, so, like most youth coaches, we put him at QB so he’d have the ball in his hands,” he remembered.
Once he got onto the field, there was little Kyler wouldn’t do to improve.
“Growing up in a family that plays a lot of sports, I was pretty motivated to outwork everyone else,” he said. “I saw my older brother working hard, so from a young age I wanted to work hard.”
He’s been helped by what he says is a “super motivated” group of friends and teammates.
“We egg each other on, always seeking ways to get better,” he said.
His dad credits Kyler, a team captain this fall, for rounding up groups of as many as 15 or 20 for voluntary off-season workouts. Asked to name frequent attendees, Kyler mentions a few but trails off, saying the list is too long.
Though his 5-foot-10, 170-pound son has speed and strength that enabled him to win the 110-meter hurdles and pole vault at the 3A SSC track championships and finish fourth in the Washington state decathlon, Jason believes his greatest gift lies above his shoulders.
“Kyler’s physically gifted, but his talent is in his mind,” he said. “His football IQ is super high, he’s a 4.0 student. He’s a huge student of the game.”
His work ethic isn’t bad either.
“He’s incredibly self-driven. He’ll work every single day,” Jason said. “As a parent you have to sometimes pull the reins back because he’s working so hard. He’s a great team leader, a team captain this year. All the intangibles are what put him up at the top.”
Kyler gives much of the credit for Yelm’s success to his father and the rest of the Tornado coaching staff.
“Our team chemistry is insanely high. Everything clicks, it’s super smooth,” he said. “The coaches are super motivated and get the kids wanting more and more work. They also know how to set the tone every day, to bring out our intensity every time.”
Though he says he easily sets aside family ties during the heat of games, Jason admits to parental pride.
“I get a lot of joy out of Kyler being successful, whether it’s on the field or in the classroom,” he said.
Kyler enjoys the potentially dicey experience of being the coach’s son.
“I love the feeling of winning and going home to a parent who’s happy that he won,” he said. “It’s always memorable to see him after the game and give him a hug. I love talking football.”
Meanwhile, at least 75 of the Tornados’ current 108-man pre-season roster took part in Yelm’s off-season conditioning programs. Jason Ronquillo says the results are heartening.
“Our team speed looks really good. The kids did a good job of taking care of their bodies this summer. They’re fit, they’re fast,” he said.
The Tornados return a strong linebacking corps with Platt, junior Ray Wright and William Carreto leading the way. Up front seniors Logan Platt and Cooper Cleveringa, a transfer from Capital, give Yelm strength at defensive end.
Kyler Ronquillo and junior Aden Schaler give the Tornados experienced defensive backs.
Offensively, 6-foot, 270-pound senior Kollin Gifford and 6-2, 290-pound sophomore Landen Barger anchor a line still seeking to replace college-bound players Dylan Jemtegaard (Cal) and Slade Edwards (Central Washington).
YELM TORNADOS
Coach: Jason Ronquillo, 9th year at Yelm, 15th as a head coach overall
Spring 2021 record: 6-0, first place in 3A South Sound Conference
Offensive coordinator, base scheme: Bryan Irion, Zone 10
Defensive coordinator, base scheme: Jason Ronquillo, Stack 4
Top players: WR/DB Kyler Ronquillo, 5-10, 170, JR; OL Kollin Gifford, 6-0, 270, SR; OL Landen Barger, 6-2, 290, SO; RB/LB Brayden Platt, 6-2, 235, SO; LB Ray Wright, 5-10, 200, JR; DE Logan Platt, 6-3, 215, SR; DE Cooper Cleveringa, 6-1, 215, SR; LB William Carreto, 5-10, 185, JR; DB Aden Schaler, 5-11, 160, JR.
Outlook: Coming off 3A state tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019, followed by Yelm’s first undefeated season since 1938 during a spring run to the 3A South Sound Conference championship, the Tornados are again deep and fast. Led by SSC overall MVP Kyler Ronquillo and defensive MVP Ray Wright, Yelm can also count on two-way sophomore standout Brayden Platt (RB/LB). Questions remain up front as replacements for college-bound offensive linemen Dylan Jemtegaard (California) and Slade Edwards (Central Washington) are sought.
This story was originally published August 23, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Father and son combo highlights defending 3A SSC champion Yelm’s depth."