Let the practices begin

Youth was being served from Spokane Valley to the South Hill and North Side on the first day of football practice for current and former Greater Spokane League high schools. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Several teams will be bolstered by inordinately gifted juniors, joined in turn by some talented sophomores. About 160 dotted rosters in last year’s GSL program and at least 25 played regularly – not counting those from Cheney, Clarkston and West Valley who have left for the 2A Great Northern League.

“Talking to coaches, this is a pretty young league,” said Ferris coaching newcomer Jim Sharkey.

The first three practice days are spent in helmets, T-shirts and shorts. There’s no contact until double days next week. Part of Ferris’s first 2 1/2 hours was getting used to the pace of Sharkey’s practice regimen.

“It’s a little faster,” he said. “And the first three days there’s more talking and explaining.”

Sharkey had state qualifying teams at three schools, including Battle Ground. He spent much of the summer here instilling his philosophy, overseeing the weight room and at various team camps.

“My wife and kids liked Eastern Washington and we had wanted to get back over here,” said Sharkey. “I had my eyes on a teaching and coaching job in Spokane. I’d watched Ferris from afar and jumped at the chance.”

The Saxons are one of the younger league teams, with the potential for several sophomores contributing. They’ll retain the spread offense.

“We’ll do some things differently, but the look will be similar with a lot of shotgun,” said Sharkey. “It fits well with our type of kids and I just switched to it last year.”

Among Saxon foes are two-time 3A state qualifier East Valley and back-to-back games against Gonzaga Prep, GSL co-runnerup with the Knights, and defending champion and state quarterfinalist Mead.

One thing that stood out at the Panthers’ first practice was their size. The question is how they will fare faced with replacing a dozen graduated regulars, including three Division I recruits and quarterback Andrew DeFelice, now at a California community college.

“The key is our line because we have two really good linemen,” said coach Sean Carty.

Emilio Sulpizio and Mike Magee are a couple of 290-pound veterans who will anchor a sizeable front seven.

“We definitely did lose some good seniors,” said Sulpizio, “but we’re going to try and build off that success from last year.”

•The three GSL-become-GNL teams are hoping the move means greener pastures. For certain they will have an impact on the league that’s part of a rugged 2A state classification.

“We’re looking forward to it,” West Valley coach Craig Whitney said. “We understand that it is a very good, very competitive league, but it’s going to help us get better (football) numbers (turning out).”

He anticipates as many as 40 freshmen in the program and WV took 51 players to summer camp.

WV went 6-33 during its four years as the GSL’s smallest school. Last year’s 3-7 season, however, offered a glimmer of promise because the Eagles were sophomore dominated.

Now a junior, linebacker/receiver Tim Pring, is looking forward to the change.

“I’ll miss the GSL because I loved the competition,” he said. “But we’re looking for a few more wins this year. We’ve seen a high level of competition and coming out of the GSL will help us mentally.”