COULEE CITY – Following an undefeated, 1B state title championship run, long-time Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors head coach Brandon Walsh has his work cut out for him in preparing the team for the 2022 season.

“It was a great season last year,” Walsh said. “The way we apply that to this year is No. 1 we graduated a bunch of studs. Those kids did things the right way obviously, got us to where we were last year.”

With the graduating class having leaders like Dane Isaak, Parker Roberts, Grady Murray and others, this year’s much younger team has taken it upon themselves to pick up the workload throughout off-season workouts. The Warriors have made the state title game three times since the 2017 season, winning in two of those appearances. Under Walsh, who enters his 24th season as ACH’s head coach, the Warriors have won four state championships.

“This year we have a whole bunch of younger kids coming back,” Walsh said. “Those kids were able to see what that older group did and what it took to be as successful as we were. Now we try to build on that.”

The weight room has been a popular place for the young players to get to know each other in the nine months since ACH’s championship run a season ago.

“Every younger underclassman has been in the weight room,” sophomore quarterback Carter Pitts said. “There was one day where there were 22 underclassmen there. We’ve really been grinding it out, and all the friendships built here have been built in the gym.”

A significant shift in team ages from season to season can be intimidating, but Walsh looks forward to the challenge of blending a new team together and taking on a younger team.

“Honestly, it’s fun,” Walsh said. “I tell the kids this every year, ‘You’re gonna graduate in a few years, I’m gonna still be here.’ For me, personally, our program, we want sustained success over time.”

The Warriors began preparation for the season as early as March, catching the eye of their head coach for their dedication in the offseason.

“Starting probably in March, we’ve had one of our best years (this off-season) in the weight room that we’ve had in maybe my whole coaching career,” Walsh said. “A ton of young guys kind of came to the realization I think that ‘Hey, this is our team now.’”

The extra work put in by players has moved the rebuild phase up significantly, Walsh said.

“For as young as we are, I think we’re ahead of where we should be because of that,” Walsh said of the offseason work put in by the young players.

After losing eight seniors from a season ago, there are only five combined juniors and seniors on the Warrior roster entering the 2022 season.

“I think the o-line is going to be the strength of our team,” Walsh said. “Three of our five upperclassmen are on our O-line. Tristen Wood started for us last year as a junior, his brother Everett (Wood) is a junior and John Pierce started at nose guard for us last year as a sophomore, but he’s a junior and he’ll play center for us. They’re three tough kids, smart, and they’ll do a good job.”

With the younger players outnumbering upperclassmen, it is up to the two seniors on the team to merge the gap of inexperience.

“Making sure to be inclusive with the young guys,” senior running/defensive back Cody Allsbrook said. “I know the seniors last year did that a whole lot, made the experience a whole lot more fun for everyone and being able to do that for these young guys will be a great experience as well.”

ACH will begin its season against Columbia on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.

“I’m excited to win games with a new group,” Allsbrook said. “Haven’t had a lot of experiences with these young guys, and I’m excited to see what they’re capable of. I’m sure we can go a long way this season.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com

Schedule

Sept. 2 - @ Columbia - 3 p.m.

Sept. 9 - vs Entiat - 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 - @ Liberty Bell - 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 - vs Cusick - 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 - @ Republic - 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 - @ Wellpinit - 3 p.m.

Oct. 14 - vs Wilbur-Creston-Keller - 7 p.m.

Oct. 21 - @ Odessa - 7 p.m.

Roster

Cody Allsbrook

William Allsbrook

Jaxon Baergen

Grayson Beal

Josh Booker

Kayden Cashmir

Kayle Cashmir

Jameson Conley

Caden Correia

Luke Goetz

Jonas Goodrich

Chad Henshaw

Tyson Hoffman

Jordan Japp

Denim Kenney

Mason Maes

Jack Molitor

Ethan Ogle

Harvest Parrish

Aaden Peha

John Pierce

Carter Pitts

Brady Roberts

Toby Schmauder

Paul Stout

Everett Wood

Tristen Wood