SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – University High has some of the best talent in the Greater Spokane League this season, and the team is hyped for week one.
“We’re all pumped up,” wide receiver Grant Petersen said. “I know myself, I’m super pumped up. But I know a lot of other guys on our team are absolutely like stoked for this. We’re all really pumped up and ready to go.”
“I’m so excited,” offensive lineman Nathan Croff Jr. said. “I haven’t gotten to hit somebody else in the other color in almost a year. So it’s a lot of fun, and I’m really excited to hit somebody else.”
The Titans return three sophomore all-GSL selections, more than any other team in the 10-school league.
“Trying to get everyone in to get lift and just build the team up, build the chemistry up and just lifting,” running back Toby Thornburg said. “It’s like, it builds a bond, I feel like, because then you can trust those guys. If you work out with those guys, you can trust on the field. Just builds a better bond, a better family, on the team.”
GSL freshman coach of the year Bill Schlib coached all of these youngsters, citing the great skill and mental fortitude to advance so quickly from the freshman to junior varsity on their way to the top.
“See them improving, maturing, growing, developing skills,” Coach Schlib said. “Going from separate middle schools to form a team. They go from rivals to becoming teammates. It’s been pretty impressive. A lot of good kids.”
Those 2024 freshmen stars then came to Joe Ireland’s varsity team, helping lift the Titans from a one-win year to then snapping a decade-long playoff drought last season.
“I’d be lying if I said I did anything,” Ireland said. “Sometimes you just get lucky, and you get some really talented kids that work hard and are really passionate about the sport.”
These spry Titans have a quick litmus test out of the gate, welcoming West Valley Yakima, then leaping into GSL play with Cheney and Gonzaga Prep all before October.
“I think they enjoy it, and they get to compete against a lot of kids that they grew up playing against in youth football and other sports,” Ireland said. “So, it just has… It’s a community feel.”
“It’s just about coming to practice every day and just making sure we’re really dialed in and working hard,” Petersen said. “And I think today, not today, but this season, I think the sky’s the limit. I really think that we can go really far.”
Kickoff against West Valley Yakima is Friday at 6:00 p.m.
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