MATTAWA — When the Wahluke Warriors (2-8) take the field this season, they plan to focus on finishing games, sustaining effort and building leadership, Head Coach Anfernee Cortez said.  

“Last season we got into some close game ones that we easily could have turned around and won but just wasn't in our cards,” Cortez said. “I think that mindset of playing to the end, having that fight, believing that we could win mentality. They want to carry that into this season, and then just continue to build on guys being team leaders rather than you know sitting back. That will help in tough games like we had last season.”  

As they head into the 2026 season, the Warriors have some important roles to fill – including quarterback after last seasons QB1 Keaton Zirker graduated. While Cortez has not named his new guy yet, he knows what he’s looking for.  

“We for sure look for someone who's a leader, someone the team will rally behind, be vocal and lead by example,” he said. “Another thing is someone who knows the playbook, got to have some football IQ and be able to learn all the positions and be able to help the other players as well. That's something that makes a big difference in being a quarterback.” 

In addition to filling out key roles on their roster, Cortez and the Warriors are looking to create an identity for themselves this season.  

“Then defensively just continue to play hard, play fast, be physical and do what it takes to get the job done,” the coach said. “Overall, just trying to build some consistency of getting better every day, coming into practice, and a lot of the stuff could be repetitive, and just understanding that those are the things that are going to make us a better team.” 

At the end of last season, Cortez told his players to take the season they had and use it as motivation to hit the weight room in the offseason so they can come back better than ever. Now in August, Cortez feels the buy in from his players moving in the right direction.  

“Some players took advantage of that and got in the weight room,” he said. “I think we got the right group of guys in there, and that got started, and (we) got faster, and I'm excited for those 20 to 25 guys that were in there. That's what's exciting to me, is seeing guys want to put in work and show better. That's the kind of commitment and type of players that we we're always looking for.”  

Outside of quarterback, the Warriors return a lot of familiar faces. Most skill position players like Franco Perez, Moises Antunez and Alejandro Cruz will have two to three years of experience when they hit the gridiron this fall, giving whoever the new quarterback is some help with his transition into the role.  

“It's just going to be putting someone in that quarterback spot who you know is going to make the offense the best offense that we could have,” the coach said. 

The Warriors face a unique situation this season, as well. The school is working to put in a new track around the football field, which has put the team at risk of losing most, if not all home games this season. So far, Kiona-Benton remains a planned home game on Sept 11, which could serve as an impromptu senior night, Cortez said.  

If all other scheduled home games get moved, the Warriors will spend a majority of the season traveling on the road.  

“It's going to be a challenge for sure,” Cortez said. “This is something that we're going to have to deal with. For us it sucks because we lose that home field advantage. We lose the home crowd, those kinds of things. Usually for our home games, we do our pregame walkthroughs. We spend a lot of time after school preparing with that extra time, so we won't have that either.”  

Obstacles aside, Cortez and the Warriors are eager to make this season not just special for the seniors, but also the community.  

“We're hoping to close out games this season and make it a good one for our seniors, and then you know make it something that our program, our school and our communities can be proud of,” Cortez said. 

    Alejandro Cruz gets some reps in at quarterback before the start of practice for the Wahluke Warriors.
  

    Carlos Zamora breaks up the field for a deep ball at Wahluke's football practice.
  

    The Warriors’ Dylan Salinas (left) and Esteban Tlatenchi (right) work on ball control and fighting off forced fumble attempts.
  

    Angel Lara (right) lines up to guard his teammate during a route drill.
  

    Ruben Anguiano (left) and Ramiro Gonzalez (right) work through lineman drills at practice.