West Valley High School (Cottonwood) Football Season Preview

As the West Valley High School football team enters the offseason, we’re focused on growth, development, and laying the groundwork for success in the upcoming season. With a young team and a clear vision, we’re using the offseason to prepare our athletes both physically and mentally for the challenges ahead. Here’s an inside look at what the team has been up to and what fans can expect for the season to come. Offseason Focus Our main focus this offseason has been improving our strength and speed. With a relatively young team, it’s important that we use this time wisely to develop our athletes. Weightlifting has been a critical aspect of our training program, and we’ve also emphasized getting faster in order to compete at a higher level. It’s all about making the most of the offseason to build a solid foundation that will carry us into the regular season. Special Offseason Events This offseason, we have a couple of important events that will help with player development and team bonding. We will be attending the Rising Stars camp at Sacramento State, where players will have the opportunity to compete and learn from some of the best coaches around. Additionally, we’re looking to participate in the UC Davis 7-on-7 tournament in June, which will give us some valuable live action and allow us to fine-tune our game strategy in a competitive environment. Notable Additions & Departures We’ve seen some big changes in our roster this offseason. Logan Rasmussen, who holds the program record for most receiving categories, and Dalton Kelley, the program’s record holder for tackles for loss and hurries as a defensive end, will be greatly missed. Their leadership and on-field performance were top-notch, and we’ll need to fill those big shoes moving forward. On the positive side, we’ve added several new assistant coaches to the staff, many of whom have head coaching experience at other schools. This infusion of experience will help improve our discipline, structure, and overall coaching approach, which will benefit the players and the program as a whole. Players to Watch We have several players who are poised for breakout seasons, both returning and new faces. Kale Springer, our quarterback, will be a dual-threat player, bringing both passing and running ability to the field. Gunner Church, an all-around athlete, will be a key playmaker wherever he’s used. Chayce Reed, who will play both halfback and safety, is a player to watch as he contributes on both sides of the ball. Additionally, Ethan Phillips (defensive end/offensive guard) and Gabe Keeton (defensive end/offensive tackle) will be anchors on both the offensive and defensive lines. All of these players, except for Phillips, will be juniors, so we’re excited to see their development and leadership as they continue to mature and progress. Weight Lifting and Fitness We continue to emphasize weightlifting and fitness during the offseason. We’re fortunate to have an annual trip to camp in the mountains, which allows the players to train in a unique environment and bond as a team. This year, we will also be playing an out-of-state game, which is a great team-building experience before we dive into the league schedule. The physical and mental challenges of these trips will help prepare the team for the season ahead. Nutrition At this point, we don’t have a formal nutrition program in place, but we strongly encourage the players to focus on proper hydration and balanced meals to support their training efforts. We understand the importance of good nutrition, and we’ll continue to work on improving our players' awareness of how it impacts their performance on the field. Coaching Perspective The coaching staff has been working hard to prepare for the season by adopting a more structured and guided philosophy. We’ve met with retired coaches who have had success in the game to review our practices and identify both our strengths and areas for improvement. This offseason, we’ve fine-tuned our practice style and have a more focused approach on both offense and defense, which we believe will make a big difference moving forward. Fan Engagement & Community Impact At this time, we’re not actively engaging with our fanbase or the community, but that doesn’t mean we’re not appreciative of the support we’ve received. As the season approaches, we plan to get more involved with our fans and the community to foster school spirit and enthusiasm for our team. Biggest Challenges Ahead Looking ahead, our biggest challenge will be managing the transition with a young team. With the departure of some key players, there will be a lot of new faces stepping into leadership roles. We’ll need to make sure that our young players are ready to perform at a high level and that we stay focused throughout the season. In addition, we’ll need to work on consistency and minimizing mistakes, particularly in high-pressure situations. Despite these challenges, we’re optimistic and excited for what lies ahead. Our offseason efforts have laid a strong foundation, and we’re confident that our hard work will pay off as we head into the new season.