GALLERY: Basin gridiron practices continue through the weekend
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 3 weeks AGO
Wahluke Warriors Quarterback Keaton Zirker, left, watching team drills during Friday's practice. Zirker is optimistic about the team's potential and has enjoyed the intensity they have brought to the new season.
MIKE MAYNARD/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors Quarterback Max Grindy, front, leads his teammates through drills during Thursday's practice. Grindy typically plays receiver but is filling in at QB while Caden Correia heals from an ankle injury.
Jacks Head Coach Seth Longwill coaches up one of his players during Saturday practice. Saturday was the first day teams were able to put on pads when hitting the field.
Knights Defensive Back Grant Wardenaar running through drills during Friday’s practice. Wardenaar is a returning junior for the Knights and said he is optimistic his team will continue their winning ways.
A player for Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant School works on his punting during practice. The Lions will be heading into their fourth season as a football program this fall.
Huskies football players work through pad drills during practice. They went 9-2 last season and will be looking to build off of that this season.
Eagles lineman work on get off drills with pads during practice. They finished last season 5-4 and ended with a 70-14 win over Bridgeport.
A Warden football player runs through cone drills during practice. The Cougars went 6-3 last season and will be under new Head Coach Brent Cox this fall.
MOSES LAKE – Since Wednesday, local football teams have returned to the gridiron for their first practices of the 2025 season. Over the weekend, some of the teams have been able to put the pads on and get into full swing for the upcoming season.
Our annual Gridiron Guide publication is right around the corner. Pick up a copy of the Columbia Basin Herald on Friday, Aug. 29, for a look at the upcoming high school football season.
Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors Quarterback Max Grindy, front, leads his teammates through drills during Thursday's practice. Grindy typically plays receiver but is filling in at QB while Caden Correia heals from an ankle injury.
Jacks Head Coach Seth Longwill coaches up one of his players during Saturday practice. Saturday was the first day teams were able to put on pads when hitting the field.
Knights Defensive Back Grant Wardenaar running through drills during Friday’s practice. Wardenaar is a returning junior for the Knights and said he is optimistic his team will continue their winning ways.
A player for Moses Lake Christian Academy/Covenant School works on his punting during practice. The Lions will be heading into their fourth season as a football program this fall.
Huskies football players work through pad drills during practice. They went 9-2 last season and will be looking to build off of that this season.
Eagles lineman work on get off drills with pads during practice. They finished last season 5-4 and ended with a 70-14 win over Bridgeport.
A Warden football player runs through cone drills during practice. The Cougars went 6-3 last season and will be under new Head Coach Brent Cox this fall.ARTICLES BY CALEB PEREZ
Erickson looks back on a busy and successful four-sport high school career
WARDEN — A four-sport athlete is not someone you often come across due to the time and dedication it takes for success in one sport, but for Amaya Erickson, tackling that challenge was something she was up for in her senior season. “My family’s always been really big into sports,” said Erickson. “Both my parents have played and my siblings both play, so I guess they’re all a really great inspiration for me.”
Tigers start summer 3-1 after split with Sunnyside Christian
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tiger Baseball Club (3-1) finished their second matchup of the season as they split a doubleheader with Sunnyside Christian Tuesday evening. “I was pleased with a lot of aspects of the doubleheader,” said Tigers Head Coach David Tempel. “The summertime is all about development and getting some experience. The good part about (Tuesday) is we were in some different situations that we haven’t seen much, so we were able to learn from those and use those to our advantage.” Sunnyside was the first on the board during game one as they put up two runs in the top of the second inning. The Tigers responded at the bottom of the third as they put up five runs to claim the lead.
Fletcher named new Eagles volleyball head coach
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake Eagles volleyball team will be under new leadership this fall as Erin Fletcher has been selected as the new head coach. She is following the successful tenure of the previous head coach, Nikki Noble, who helped guide the team to multiple state appearances over the years. “I’m so excited,” said Fletcher. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch these girls play the last couple years as a (referee). I’m really excited to be able to step in after Coach Noble and continue on that winning and competitive spirit that they’ve had for so long and kind of take it now to the next level.” Her love for athletics came from growing up in an athletic family of basketball players, but in second grade, she became the first in her family to start playing volleyball. From there, a passion for volleyball began to grow.