As the Friday night lights turn to full blast and a crisp fall chill fills the air, that’s a sign to open the concession stands, bring out the marching bands, do the coin tosses and prepare for kickoff. Here is the 2024 Wesco 3A South football preview, including a coaches poll and specific team information.
There are a few updates to the upcoming season. Snohomish returned to Wesco 3A North after competing in Wesco 3A South the past few years. The Panthers advanced to the district tournament each year between 2015-22, advancing to state in 2018. Last season, however, Snohomish only registered two league and overall wins, finishing in the bottom half of the standings and snapping that seven-year postseason appearance run. Edmonds-Woodway hired a new coach, Bill Marsh, to replace John Gradwohl and help the Warriors continue being a Wesco 3A South contender. Lynnwood is the solo program playing an independent schedule this year. And Monroe enters this fall looking to defend its Wesco 3A South title for the fourth-consecutive year under long-time Bearcat Scott Darrow.
COACHES POLL
The predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league’s coaches. Included is the average placing for each team, with the number of first-place votes in parentheses.
1. Monroe (5) — 1
2. Edmonds-Woodway (1) — 2.6
3/4. Mountlake Terrace (0) — 3
3/4. Shorecrest (0) — 3
5. Shorewood (0) — 3.6
6. Meadowdale (0) — 5
7. Everett (0) — 5.75
NOTE: Coaches weren’t allowed to vote for their own teams. The Herald didn’t receive a response from Meadowdale. Lynnwood is playing an independent schedule and didn’t participate in the voting. All other coaches participated in the voting.
EDMONDS-WOODWAY
Last season: 6-4 overall, 5-1 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: Bill Marsh (first season with E-W, 15th season as a head coach, 25th season coaching overall)
Offense: I-Formation / Power Game
Defense: Base 44 (Base 4-4)
Returning starters: 5 on both offense and defense
Key players: Alex White, jr., OL/DL; Solomon September, sr., OL/DL; Carmelo LaRocca, jr., RB/LB; Issac Papillion, sr., RB/LB; KJ Chappell, sr., WR/DB; Zachary Gizzi, jr., WR/DB; Edson Belizaire, sr., OL/DB; Cruz Escandon, jr., QB/DB.
Overview: The Warriors have made the district tournament each season between 2019-23, but their last state appearance was in 2017. Edmonds-Woodway lost to Monroe for the 2023 Wesco 3A South title, which was the Bearcats’ third straight since joining the conference in 2021. The Warriors, Monroe and Snohomish all shared the league title in 2021, but Edmonds-Woodway has finished runner-up the past two years. The Warriors finished with 5-2 league and 5-5 overall records in 2022 and 5-1 league and 6-4 overall records in 2023. A part of the team’s culture that will be missing this season is long-time head coach John Gradwohl, who stepped down after 28 seasons in December. An Edmonds-Woodway alum from the class of 1983, Gradwohl was the longest-tenured football coach in Wesco, compiling a 174-100 record, 10 Wesco championships and six state playoff appearances. In exchange, the Warriors receive veteran coach Bill Marsh who’s in his 25th season coaching football. His resume includes 10 seasons at Eastside Catholic, leading the Crusaders to eight state playoffs, and two seasons with Cedar Park Christian, taking over a program that never had a winning season and leading them to state his second season. Edmonds-Woodway graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team wide receiver Jesse Hart III, first-team wide receiver, punt returner and defensive back Diego Escandon, first-team linebacker Krystian Piechocinski, second-team quarterback Steven Warren Jr., second-team wide receiver David Danyo and second-team offensive lineman Jon Schlack but returns first-team linebacker senior Chris Cruz-Arke, second-team defensive lineman senior Mike Egenamba and second-team defensive back senior KJ Chappell. The Warriors’ first game is against Lindbergh at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
EVERETT
Last season: 3-7 overall, 0-2 in Wesco Polk
Coach: Mark Stewart (second season)
Offense: Wing-T
Defense: 3-4
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 3 on defense
Key players: Sam Tracy, sr., WR/FS; Julian Tabin, sr., OL/DL; Conner Weese, sr., OLB/RB; Anthony Meyers, sr., ILB/FB; Kai Schmidt, soph., QB; Charles Henggeler, jr., OL/DL; Tobia Ditadi, jr., HB/OLB; Del’Marion Minnifield, jr., SB/DB.
Overview: Between 2005-23, the Seagulls’ only three district-tournament appearances have been in 2005, 2010 and 2017 with the state berth in 2005. Competing in Wesco Polk, Everett tallied only one league and two overall wins in 2022 and those results worsened to zero league and three overall wins in 2023. The Seagulls graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team tight end and defensive lineman Evan Hartt, first-team offensive lineman and second-team defensive lineman Jonah Schmid, first-team defensive back Mauricio Garcia-Luna, second-team quarterback Michael Noland and second-team linebackers Elias Tracy and Zavian Valdez but return second-team linebacker senior Anthony Myers. Everett’s first game is against Jackson at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
LYNNWOOD
Last season: 0-10 overall, 0-6 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: David Harris Jr. (second season)
Offense: Pistol
Defense: Multiple
Returning starters: 7 on both offense and defense
Key players: Nathan Williams, sr., RB/LB; Sergio Navarro, sr., RB/DB; Donovan Golston, jr., OL/DL; Noah Peterson, jr., OL/DL; Victor Alvarez, jr., OL/DL/Punter; Donzell Brown, jr., WR/DB; Owen Gill, sr., QB.
Overview: The Royals have struggled in Wesco 3A South for several years. Lynnwood has played six seasons between 2010-23 where it’s earned zero league wins, sometimes zero wins overall; the 2023 season was one of those winless campaigns. The Royals finished with more wins than losses in 2015 and 2016, and they not only advanced to the district tournament in 2016, they also received their first state berth since 1995 and only third berth in school history; the first record was in 1990. Lynnwood graduated 2023 All-Wesco second-team defensive lineman Kellen O’Brien but returns second-team linebacker senior Nate Williams and first-team punter junior Victor Alvarez. Coach David Harris Jr. comes back for a second season and hopes to have a better year, given there are seven starters on both offense and defense returning. The Royals are playing an independent schedule this year. Lynnwood’s first game is against Life Christian Academy at 1 p.m. on Sept. 7.
MEADOWDALE
Last season: 4-6 overall, 0-1 in Wesco Polk
Coach: Antwoine Gamble
Offense: Response not received
Defense: Response not received
Returning starters: Response not received
Key players: Response not received
Overview: Between 2002-16, the Mavericks were regulars at the state tournament, advancing past districts 10 times with five of those campaigns each year between 2007-11 and then back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014. However since 2017, the Mavericks haven’t played a district game in seven years, and tallying 0-1 league and 1-9 overall records in 2022 and 0-1 league and 4-6 overall records in 2023 hasn’t helped the Wesco Polk team either. Cascade moved up to Wesco 4A and Cedarcrest switched to KingCo Lake, so Meadowdale and Everett will file into Wesco 3A South. The Mavericks graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team wide receiver and linebacker Victor Eicher, first-team defensive lineman Kelvin Mudaliar and second-team running back Auggie Wilrich but return first-team offensive lineman senior Jagger Bishop, second-team offensive lineman sophomore Gus Morrow and second-team linebacker senior Jordan Joyce. Meadowdale’s first game is against Kamiak at 8 p.m. on Sept. 6.
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE
Last season: 6-4 overall, 5-2 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: Archie Malloy (fourth season)
Offense: Pro Style
Defense: 4-2-5
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 6 on defense
Key players: Eli Swett, sr., OL/DL; Nate Brown, jr., TE/LB; Liam Moore, jr., OL/DL; Aaron Hatfield, jr., WR/DB; Ely Meegan, jr., WR/DB; Cody Ekanayake, jr., QB/DB; Owen Boswell, soph., RB/LB; Mason Wilson, soph., QB/LB.
Overview: The Hawks have held their own in Wesco 3A South, finishing fourth behind Snohomish, Edmonds-Woodway and Monroe in 2022 and third behind Edmonds-Woodway and Monroe in 2023. Mountlake Terrace tallied 3-4 league and 5-4 overall records in 2022, which improved to 5-2 league and 6-4 overall records in 2023. The Hawks’ only state appearance was in 2014 when they lost to Marysville Pilchuck in the first round, but they’ve made other district-tournament appearances including 2012, 2013 and most recently 2023. Mountlake Terrace graduated All-Wesco first-team running back and defensive lineman Zaveon Jones, first-team offensive lineman Adam Wallis, first-team defensive back and second-team wide receiver Logan Tews, first-team kicker Braeden Swan and second-team offensive lineman Trevor Coble but returns first-team defensive lineman senior Eli Swett, second-team linebacker sophomore Owen Boswell and second-team defensive back senior Rayshaun Connor. The Hawks’ first game is against Cascade at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6.
SHORECREST
Last season: 4-6 overall, 4-3 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: Brandon Christensen (15th season as head coach, 24 total)
Offense: Pro Style
Defense: 3-4
Returning starters: 7 on offense, 8 on defense
Key players: Charlie Chin, sr., WR/S; Ben Chesnut, sr., TE/LB; Max Beer, sr., TE/MLB; Carter Nichols, sr., OL/DL; Mike Murray, jr., OL/DL; Danny Stephenson, sr., QB.
Overview: The Scots advanced to the state tournament back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006 when Brandon Christensen served as a defensive coordinator under Mike Wollan. Once Wollan resigned after nine seasons in 2009, Christensen took over and has since helped lead Shorecrest to three district tournaments (2010, 2018 and 2023) but not a state appearance of his own. Between 2010-19 up until the pandemic, Christensen compiled 23-38 league and 37-59 overall records. The Scots tallied 1-6 league and 2-8 records in 2022, which improved to 4-3 league and 4-6 overall records in 2023, resulting in the program’s first postseason game in five years. Shorecrest graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team linebacker Kevin Vo, second-team offensive lineman Theo Childs and second-team defensive lineman Peter Grimm but returns first-team offensive lineman senior Carter Nichols, first-team defensive back senior Charlie Chin, second-team defensive lineman junior Michael Murray and second-team linebacker senior Max Beer. The Scots’ first game is against Lakeside (Seattle) at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
SHOREWOOD
Last season: 3-7 overall, 1-6 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: Rob Petschl (fourth season)
Offense: Multiple
Defense: 4-3
Returning starters: 8 on offense, 9 on defense
Key players: Anthony Reyes, sr., OL/DL; Gatsby Palmer, sr., FB/LB; Tyler Giles, sr., QB; Kristian Stickelmaier, sr., WR/DB; Nikos Zacharias, sr., WR/S; Ben Jenkins, sr., OL/DL; Kevin Haslam Jr., sr., WR/S.
Overview: The Stormrays have multiple state-tournament berths under their name dating back before 1990. Shorewood made two consecutive state trips in 1977 and 1978 and 1985 and 1986, but its most recent berth was in 1990. The Stormrays have struggled advancing past the district tournament since, with their last appearance being 2018. Between 2010-19, Shorewood complied 10-46 league and 24-75 overall records. The Stormrays finished with 3-4 league and 5-5 overall records in 2022, which worsened to 1-6 league and 3-7 overall records in 2023. Shorewood graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team running back and linebacker Reid Petschl and first-team tight end Gus Hamilton but returns second-team offensive linemen junior Logan Jovich and senior Ben Jenkins and second-team defensive backs seniors Nikos Zacharias and Kristian Stickelmaier. The Stormrays’ first game is against Redmond at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
MONROE
Last season: 9-2 overall, 6-1 in Wesco 3A South
Coach: Scott Darrow (fifth season as head coach, 15 years prior as an assistant)
Offense: Spread
Defense: Multiple
Returning starters: 7 on offense, 4 on defense
Key players: Aaron Clifton, sr., WR/S; Mason Davis, sr., WR/S; Brennan Shepard, sr., TE/DE; Carl Watson, sr., RB/LB; Tyler Lynch, sr., DT/OL; Eli Nugent, sr., C/DT; Jake Owens, sr., OL/DL; Myron Robinson, jr., RB/DB.
Overview: The Bearcats have been the Wesco 3A South representative in districts and state for the past three seasons. Since joining the division in 2021, Monroe has advanced to districts each year between 2021-23 and progressed to state in 2022 and 2023, losing in the first round both outings. The Bearcats enter this season looking to win their fourth-straight Wesco 3A South trophy and solidify themselves as the distinct 3A champion, a feat they couldn’t accomplish after last year’s 45-18 defeat to Arlington. Scott Darrow, who was the 2023 All-Wesco coach of the year, begins his fifth season at the helm. Monroe graduated 2023 All-Wesco first-team quarterback Blake Springer, first-team wide receiver Ryan Miller, first-team tight end Iseah Canizales, first-team offensive lineman Boyde Aney, first-team linebackers Palepoi Notoa Jr. and Nicholas Mouser, second-team running back Gavin Ranz and second-team defensive back Deegan Chapman but returns first-team wide receiver and kick returner senior Mason Davis, first-team offensive lineman senior Elias Nugent, first-team defensive linemen seniors Brennan Sheppard and Ireland Guthrie and second-team linebacker senior Carl Watson III. The Bearcats’ first game is against Bishop Blanchet at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6. Click here to read more about Monroe’s preparation for the 2024-25 season.
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