GALLERY: Basin gridiron practices continue through the weekend
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months 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
Mavs claim District 5 swim and dive title
MOSES LAKE — The series of successful meets this season fully paid off for the Moses Lake Mavericks girls swim team over the weekend as the girls claimed the District 5 title. By the end of Saturday, the Mavs won the district meet with a score of 466 to Wenatchee's 449. "Just as we expected with Wenatchee, it was close all the way to the end. Could have gone either way, but it went our way," said Mavs Head Coach Tony Preston. "The girls were super excited to get their district championship."
Tigers qualify both boys and girls teams to state
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers Cross Country team continued their successful season in the District 5 and 6 Championships Saturday afternoon. Both the boys and girls had strong races to qualify for state with the boys taking third and the girls taking second. Tigers Head Coach Lyndsy Roberts said because of their high ranking all season the girls team set their sights high on the district meet. Heading into Saturday, they knew their toughest challenge would be against Ellensburg, who has been ranked second in the state all season.
Knights battle into district championships
ROYAL CITY — The second seeded Royal Knights (16-2-1) battled in a tight matchup against the third seeded Naches Valley Saturday afternoon in the district semifinals. Both teams put forward a strong effort, with the Knights securing a 1-0 victory. "We were all putting our heart out in this game and trying our best because we have a really good team this year," said Knights junior Sofia Villafana. "We were just giving it our all." The tone of the game was set from the very start as Royal and Naches Valley went back and forth on their attack. While the Knights controlled the ball for most of the first half, Naches Valley's defense kept things in check.