High school football season preview: Olympia Bears
The high school football season begins in early September and The News Tribune has been all over the South Sound, visiting local programs at practices before games begin. Up next, we’re previewing a handful of teams individually before the season kicks off.
Here’s how things are shaping up for the Olympia Bears this fall.
Editor’s note: The “outlook” section for each program is pulled from the TNT’s preseason practice tour. Find the full practice tour story here, complete with insight on over 20 teams in the area, quotes, photos, videos and more.
OLYMPIA BEARS
Head coach: Nick Mullen, sixth year
2024 results: 5-5, Class 4A district playoffs
Offensive coordinator & base scheme: Paul Riley, Spread
Defensive coordinator & base scheme: Steve Schultz, Multiple
OUTLOOK
The Bears rolled to five straight wins to begin the 2024 campaign, looking the part of a 4A contender when adversity struck. Olympia lost their starting quarterback to a season-ending injury in Week 6, putting the remaining starters to the test: How would they respond?
“We’re going to pick each other up and keep going,” defensive back Sam Rigg said Friday. “You can’t stop right there. That’s quitting.
“And we don’t quit here.”
A rough patch followed, but Olympia (5-5) won a 4A SPSL tiebreaker to clinch their trip to the postseason. And head coach Nick Mullen says that grit and toughness has carried over, placing these Bears in the playoff mix once again.
“I tell the kids every day… Football is easy. Life is going to be the hard part,” Mullen said. “If you can get through the hard stuff in football, you can accomplish a lot of things in life. I’m trying to teach these guys just how to be great members of society, the community.
“We don’t want to be mediocre. We don’t want to take orders from anybody else. We want to be the boss at our jobs, the CEOs. We want to own the companies.”
The Bears are proudly wearing chips on their shoulders and daring opponents to knock it off. You could say they’re flying under the radar — and it’s right where they want to be.
Mullen has the most experienced offensive line in his six Olympia seasons at his disposal, a cohesive group with a growing football IQ. Tackle Parker Otheim is an early standout, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound senior earning college interest despite picking up the sport just three years ago.
Tucker Downing (junior) and Nicholas Nutu (sophomore) remain entrenched in a quarterback battle. Whoever wins will throw plenty to senior WR Canon Betts, a natural slot receiver with crisp route-running skills. Mullen has yet to name a Week 1 starter.
“They’re competing hard,” he said. “It’s a good battle. We haven’t really had a quarterback competition since I’ve been here, and it’s good for both (of them). Iron sharpens iron, and they both get better each day.
“It’s going to be a very tough decision for me.”
After a preseason jamboree, Olympia opens the 2025 season in the Spaghetti Bowl rivalry with Capital High School at Ingersoll Stadium on Sept. 5.
“It’s a team,” senior linebacker Hunter Liberty said. “We’re not getting tons of transfers, and we’re not switching everything around all the time. You build with the guys that you’re with.”
KEY PLAYERS
OT Parker Otheim, sr.
WR Canon Betts, sr.
DB Sam Rigg, sr.
MLB Hunter Liberty, sr.
DL Braydon Cook, jr.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5: at Capital
Sept. 12: vs. Issaquah
Sept. 18: at Hazen
Sept. 26: at Bethel
Oct. 3: vs. Bonney Lake
Oct. 10: vs. Spanaway Lake
Oct. 17: at Graham-Kapowsin
Oct. 24: vs. Yelm
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM.
