4A SPSL Media Day: Yelm’s new rivalry with Graham-Kapowsin already heating up
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High school football preview ’24
The News Tribune will be visiting schools in the area and previewing local leagues as the first week of games approaches.
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New leagues formed for high school sports ahead of the 2024-25 school year in Washington. With them, new rivalries will be formed.
There’s one we’re especially looking forward to in football: Graham-Kapowsin at Yelm in week five of the season on Oct. 4.
Both teams played for state titles last fall: Graham-Kapowsin in 4A (lost to Lake Stevens) and Yelm in 3A (lost to Bellevue). Yelm moves up to 4A this year and joins the 4A South Puget Sound League, widely considered one of the state’s best and deepest leagues.
Bonney Lake and Spanaway Lake, previously members of the 3A Pierce County League, join them in the 4A SPSL.
Yelm’s coaches and players are excited for a new challenge, buzzing at the 4A SPSL Media Day on Wednesday afternoon at The Ram on Ruston Way. Alongside the other 11 teams in the 4A SPSL, Yelm’s players took part in interviews next to the waterfront. The event was organized by new Rogers coach Shawn Yohn.
In nearly every game the Tornados played in in the 3A South Sound Conference the past two seasons, the starters were pulled by halftime. That won’t be the case most weeks in the 4A SPSL.
“It’s time to play some actual teams,” said Jacob Tracy, who is transitioning from tight end to left tackle this season.
Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo, who led the Tornados to the Class 3A state title in 2022, was a bit more measured.
“I’m excited for the challenge and to earn the respect of the league we’re entering,” he said. “We don’t know them. It’s exciting to be able to play teams we don’t know a lot about. … They’ve welcomed us with open arms.”
Those warm, fuzzy vibes may dissipate by Oct. 4, when Yelm welcomes G-K to town. The new 4A SPSL format moves the league to divisions. Graham-Kapowsin avoids Sumner in league play this year — unless the two teams meet in the league championship game in Week 9 — but Eagles’ coach Jeff Logan expects Yelm to be every bit of a Sumner replacement.
“They’re Sumner South,” Logan said. “Good defense, they run the football and try to beat you up. We always like to welcome good competition. … It’s gonna be fun. There’s weeks as a coach where you’re like, ‘OK, how do we get our kids to go? How do we bring the energy?’
“It’s a game you’re not gonna have to do that for. Everyone knows what’s at stake.”
Under Ronquillo, Yelm’s players never lack confidence. Neither do G-K’s.
“They’re some talkers,” said Eagles’ tight end Noah Flores.
“Can’t wait to beat them, for sure,” said linebacker Caleb Braithwaite.
QUOTABLES FROM 4A SPSL MEDIA DAY
Here are a few quotes that stood out to me from every team during the 4A SPSL media day. Looking for more? Don’t worry, we’ll have a ton of content coming — a preseason practice tour, league previews, top players lists, predictions and more — as practices begin next week. TNT subscribers receive unlimited digital access to all of our coverage.
BETHEL BISON
Coach Travis Domser on trying to move the ball more effectively this season: “You kind of like at your personnel and say, ‘What can we do to get more 3rd and 5’s taken care of? Advance some of the second-half first downs. You just kind of adapt to them. I think our skill kids are a lot better, we have more depth.”
Linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale: “Our defense is probably the best that it’s ever been. With our DC, his gameplan, it’s simple but once you learn it, it’s very effective. We scrimmaged Puyallup and Mount Tahoma, they couldn’t do anything against us.”
BONNEY LAKE PANTHERS
Lineman Jack Martin on the new competition in the 4A SPSL. “They’re faster, stronger.”
First-year coach Javid Shoemaker: “I learned from a lot of really good coaches who had helped build my philosophy. … The expectations are to go in and play our style of ball. It’s going to be a learning curve for these guys, but football is football. Our expectations, we’re never afraid to say we need to be in the playoffs year in and year out.”
CURTIS VIKINGS
Defensive back Jayden Rice-Claiborne on life without QB Rocco Koch: “Rocco’s a great leader, but we’ve all been here for four years. We’ll miss him but we’ve got the talent.”
Coach Darren McKay: “It’s the most athletic team we’ve had since we’ve been here. They’re a confident group. … We have a lot of confidence. They’re really intelligent, too.”
EMERALD RIDGE JAGUARS
Lineman JJ Nguyen: “This year, it’s a big moment for us to shine. I have the most confidence in this season for us. We have a bunch of kids who are willing to step up. We have a bunch of talent on this team.”
First-year coach Torey Donovan: “The thing I don’t think most people realize is this group has won so many games. When they were sophomores, they were undefeated in JV.”
Running back Josh Moultrie on lower expectations after losing large senior class: “They shouldn’t doubt us either way. But it’s good that they doubt us and we’re just gonna come out there and shock everybody.”
GRAHAM-KAPOWSIN EAGLES
Tight end Noah Flores on 14-year-old freshman starting QB AJ Tuivaiave: “He might be a five-star (recruit) when it’s all said and done. … He’s been working and I’m excited to see what he can do.”
Coach Jeff Logan on naming Tuivaiave the starter: “We think he gives us the best shot. We have to be able to run the football. In order to run the football, you have to be able to throw the ball downfield on play action. His accuracy, strength and velocity down the field stood out.”
OLYMPIA BEARS
Quarterback Cam Downing on relationship with older brother Gabe, former Bears QB: “The offense is a little different now. He’s still helping me. I work with him, talk to him. It’s the biggest head start. … It’s a little more structured than when he was here. We’re gonna run the ball effectively, get myself moving.”
Coach Nick Mullen: “We want to be able to control the ball, consistently. You win the game 3-0, it’s still a win. … We have a lot of weapons. We just want to be dirty dawgs up front.”
PUYALLUP VIKINGS
Coach Brian Grout on the team’s skill position talent: “I think we’re gonna be blessed with a lot of guys that want to touch (the football).”
Corner Seanje Finister: “We have so many weapons. You try to take out one guy, we have another one. I think this is the most loaded roster we’ve had since the semifinal run.”
Running back Kyson Douglas: “This is the first time going into the season knowing our identity, knowing what we are, having that full momentum.”
ROGERS RAMS
Coach Shawn Yohn on building a winner at Rogers: “You look at everything from the bottom to the top. Winning here is everything. We haven’t done that well as a team over the past 12 years. … These guys bought in. They’re lifting four days a week.”
Quarterback Rashard Boone on no-huddle, spread offense: “I’m very happy, I love it. I love it a lot. I’m able to express my athletic abilities, run the ball a little bit, throw the ball, too.”
Lineman Jurrien Hollingsworth: “I do believe it’s our chance. We’re looked at as an underdog. I think it’s our time for us to shine.”
SOUTH KITSAP WOLVES
Coach Sean Banks on changing the culture: “The kids work hard, they do what we ask. We set a clear expectation. I made it very clear what it would be like if I were hired and the kids were on board. The first day in the weight room, we had 17 kids. That’s not a good number. Now we average 85 in the summer.”
Running back Brycen Clay: “I think the culture’s turned around a lot. Going into the program freshmen to sophomore year, kids had a habit of now showing up, not being held accountable. That was a big thing for the leaders on the team.”
Receiver Boden Harvey: “We definitely want to win. Coach Banks has us working hard, harder than I’ve ever worked in a football program. He has us going in the right direction.”
SPANAWAY LAKE SENTINELS
Corner D’Aryhian Clemons on facing passing offenses in 4A SPSL: “I’ve been waiting for that. I wanted to go up because 4A passes more and as a corner, I want the ball. … I can really be a lockdown corner, teammates that are lockdown corners. This team is gonna be underrated. We’ve really got dawgs.”
Coach Cameron Robak: “It’s time for these guys to shine now. The SPSL usually gets more love. It’s their chance to ball out and show what they really have.”
SUMNER SPARTANS
Tight end Carter Cocke on Sumner’s difficult non-league schedule: “I like that. Competition is what we want. We’re not afraid of anyone. We don’t duck the smoke. We’re ready.”
Keith Ross on Sumner’s offensive weapons: “This is the deepest receiver room I’ve ever had in 27 years. … I told the offense they can throw it 50 times a game. They can throw the ball any time, anywhere on any play.”
Receiver Braylon Pope on the non-league schedule: “I don’t feel like we prepare for any team no different. If it’s the bottom team in our league, we’re going to prepare the same as if you’re the top team. The sense of urgency might be different.”
YELM TORNADOS
Lineman Shane Creegan on joining 4A SPSL: “It’s time to get in a real league.”
Lineman Chris Hauss on joining the 4A SPSL: “I love the competition. The best play the best.”
Lineman Jacob Tracy on expectations: “The standard is the standard at Yelm. It’s been set for years. We’re still gonna get the job done.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 11:15 AM.
