Northeast 1B North: Republic has rebuilding to do

The Republic Tigers are doing the best they can to appear threatening after graduation took nine seniors off the team that twice made it to the state semifinals.

“I told our younger kids, ‘You were playing one of the better teams in the state in practice,’” coach Chuck Wilson said. “We have some kids, if they stay healthy, who can be pretty good ball players.”

Most coaches in the eight-man Northeast 1B North had the same concerns about injuries, where the loss of one premium two-way athlete can quickly dash a school’s hopes.

Cusick

Head coach Troy Hendershot, who served eight years as defensive coordinator and takes over for Chris Burch, said he’s confident his team can win games even with only a small number of players turning out.

While small in number, the team is high in quality. It includes quarterback Tanner Shanholtzer, lineman Roddy Pierre, lineman C.J. Balcom and all-league performer Caleb Ziesmer; running back Canon Keogh; running back Colton Hansen; and receiver Dylan Hendershot, all juniors.

“That junior class is really solid,” Hendershot said of his team. “But we will only suit up 11 players in week one because of grades and not enough practices. Then we’ll be getting stronger as the weeks go on.”

Selkirk

Both coaches said the Rangers have probably the most players turning out in the league, but many of them are young.

“I think they graduated 14 seniors from last season,” Hendershot said. “That was one of the toughest teams they’ve ever fielded. They have a huge freshman class coming in. But, I expect them to be hurting.”

Northport

Both Wilson and Hendershot said they believe coach Kevin Dionas has turned things around at Northport, which also finished 1-9 in 2015.

Northport returns quarterback Kade Middlesworth; senior Isaiah Kessel; senior Chris Hill; senior Joe Laffoon; junior Billy Rizzo and sophomore Jeremiah Kessel. The Mustang also get back all-conference linebacker Ryder Gilmore and second team all-conference Aiden Middlesworth, both seniors.

We have “exceptional senior leadership and a great group of underclassmen, who are highly motivated to make the 2016 season a memorable one,” Dionas said.

Inchelium

Hendershot said Inchelium has a lot of returning talent but he didn’t know what to expect from Columbia, which has six starters returning from a team that finished 1-9 last year.

“I’ve learned that you don’t’ every take anybody lightly,” he said. “But if we can stay healthy, I think we are going to be really really solid.”