Greater St. Helens League Football

Every summer the best 3A/4A senior football players from around the state get together for one final hurrah.

The summer will be no different as 66 seniors will travel to Everett in late June to show off their skills. The Greater St. Helens League will be well represented in Everett as six local players will be playing on the East squad.

• Guy Varsek, Camas (WR/DB)
• Ashton Miller, Evergreen (OL/DL)
• Ashton Clark, Heritage (WR/DB)
• Jeremy Girod, Fort Vancouver (OL/DL)
• Rob Caballero, Columbia River (WR/DB)
• Steve Forgette, Heritage (OL/DL)

All six seniors accomplished great things in 2008. (Highlight video below)

Guy Varsek helped lead his Papermakers that averaged 40 points per game. “For a young man to not catch one pass as a junior, and then to come out and break every receiving record at CHS in one year is quite an accomplishment.” said Jon Eagle head coach at Camas. Varsek was the favorite target of sophomore quarterback Logan Grindy.

Ashton Miller was a dominate force on the Evergreen defensive line. Evergreen’s defence often had to carry the squad which struggled at times to adapt to the former coaches spread offense. “Ashton Miller is a rare athlete that coaches dream about working with. His competitive drive, effort, attitude, leadership, and ability speak for itself on the field. You know you are doing something right as a player when coaches admit that their entire game plan was to find #56 on the field and check to the opposite way! said Erick Suksdorf, line coach at Evergreen. As a senior Miller was an unanimous All Conference Offensive and Defensive Lineman, All Region Defensive End, GSHL Defensive Player of the Year, Evergreen Linemen of the Year, Evergreen Team Captain, and the most respectable award an Evergreen player can earn; “The Rock.” Miller was selected to the All-State team and won top honors at the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholarship Foundation. “What makes Ashton different is what happens off the field. He is a young man with great integrity, loyalty, respect, and love for his teammates and family. He is one of the founding players and active members of the Evergreen High School Football Community Service teams. In the last two years he and his teammates have put in close 700 hours in our Evergreen High School community. Ashton is meant for great things and with his amazing family and great friends behind him I am very excited to see what happens to this young man in his future. ” said Suksdorf.

Ashton Clark was the do-it-all slot receiver for the Heritage Timberwolves in 2008. Ashton could haul in a deep pass thrown by Garrett Grayson, get open when Grayson had to scramble then catch a 10 yard pass and take it 55 yards for the score and even take a hand off and score from 40 yards out. Oh, and that was all in one game! Clark was not afraid to go over the middle and get the tough yards that helped Heritage win (a share of) the GSHL for the first time since 2000.

Jeremy Girod was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Fort Vancouver Trappers. While as a team the Trappers did not accomplish their goals during the 2008 season, Girod did all he could to keep the troops fighting. “He has the combination of size, strength and savvy that makes him a force at defensive end. He had another great year. Jeremy is one of the 5 best players I have coached in 25 years of high school football coaching!” said Cal Szueber, head coach at Fort Vancouver. Girod also won a scholarship from the National Football College Hall of Fame Foundation. “Although we expect to have a tremendous team next year, we will miss Jeremy’s skill and leadership!” added Szueber.

Rob Caballero stood out on both sides of the ball for Columbia River in 2008 as he was the second leading receiver and a first team All-GSHL DB. Standing at only 5’8″ tall, Rob is the smallest of the six players from the GSHL to head north this summer. However Rob has never let his small size get in his way. “If there is a harder  worker or a person more committed to the team than Rob, I would like to  meet them.” said Ken Wiggins, defensive coordinator at Columbia River. Rob earned both the Big Hitter Award and the Most Valuable Defensive Back award as well as being the captain of the defense. “Although small in stature by football standards, he maximizes his talent by playing the game with great intensity and all-out effort. Rob will represent our area well in the East West game.” said John O’Rourke, head coach at Columbia River.

Steve Forgette was selected as a first team All-GSHL offensive lineman in 2008 and started on the defensive line as well for the co-champion Timberwolves. Asked about Forgette making the East-West team, Rob Lutz, line coach at Heritage said “It fits him well, not just as an athlete, but rather his nature in always being involved in the community.  Steven is involved with three sports, band, advanced classes, and much more.  Getting an opportunity to help raise money for charity by show casing his athletic talent in the East-West game is something that is very much like Steven.” Forgette will be joining both Ashton Miller and Ashton Clark next fall at Eastern Washington on a full football scholarship.

Below is a short highlight video showcasing all six players. We do need to note that we only had game footage from one Fort Vancouver game, thus the highlights of Jeremy Girod were brief. Please accept our apologies.

Their will be a few familiar faces to GSHL fans on the West squad. Lindbergh’s Jacob Allie and Zack Nielsen, Ferndale’s Spencer Hannah and Orin Paul, Rainier Beach’s Olo’ofa Ta’a. As well as Timberline’s Damien Anderson and Lakes’s Tuiasosopo Niusulu, who will play for the East team.

The full list of players on the 2009 3A/4A East-West All Star Game:

EAST

QB/DB Josh Loera, Moses Lake;
DB/WR Stan Langlow, Curtis;
LB/RB Brandon James, Peninsula;
WR/DB Clayton Homme, Southridge;
LB/RB Dakoda Winsor, Hanford;
QB Kevin Stringer, North Kitsap;
WR/DB Justin Veltung, Puyallup;
QB/DB Luke Schindele, Bellarmine Prep;
QB Blake Bledsoe, Central Valley;
WR/DB Vaugh Kapiko, Lewis & Clark;
WR/DB Aaron Roberts, Ferris;
RB/DB Nick Bellomy, East Valley;
DB/WR Rob Caballero, Columbia River;
DB/RB Ronald Baines, Mount Tahoma;
WR/DB Ashton Clark, Heritage;
DB/WR Tanner Davis, Gig Harbor;
LB/RB Howard McDonald, Central Kitsap;
RB/DB Drew Parsons, Olympia;
LB/TE Sean Barber, Puyallup;
DL/OL Jeremy Girod, Fort Vancouver;
OL/DL Steve Forgette, Heritage;
OL/DL Briggs Helton, Wenatchee;
LB Connor Elder, Enumclaw;
DL/OL Ashton Miller, Evergreen (Vancouver);
OL/LB Nate Guthrie, East Valley;
DL/OL Tuiasosopo Niusulu, Lakes;
OL/DL Ryan Craig, Hanford;
C/DL Bobby Nix, Bonney Lake;
DL/OL Damien Anderson, Timberline;
OL/DL Grant Cisneros, Sumner;
WR/DB Guy Varsek, Camas;
DE/TE Chris Mastin, Lewis & Clark;
OL/DE Elliott Bosch, Ferris.

Head coach — Greg Kittrell, Moses Lake. Assistants — Scott Devereaux, Wenatchee; Todd Griffith, Moses Lakes; Mike Hymes, Moses Lake; Jim Sharkey, Ferris.

WEST

RB/DB Taylor Cox, Jackson;
QB/DB Jacob Allie, Lindbergh;
DB/WR Kurt Stottlemyer, Bothell;
WR/DB Jake Frauenholtz, Everett;
RB/DB Jeff Gouveia, Auburn;
RB/LB Patrick Ottorbech, Bothell;
RB/DB T.J. Lee, West Seattle;
DB/WR Nasser Kyobe, Meadowdale;
QB/DB Nick Baker, Lake Stevens;
DE/RB Jaren Saga, Mariner;
WR/DB Aaron Grymes, West Seattle;
WR/DB Spencer Hannah, Ferndale;
RB/DB David Andre, Everett;
DB/WR Marion Bactol, Eastside Catholic;
LB/RB Ryan Sterley, Marysville-Pilchuck;
LB/RB Sean Snead, Mount Si;
OL/DL Olo’ofa Ta’a, Rainier Beach;
LB/RB Paul Ena, Inglemoor;
RB/DB Peter Nyguyen, Bellevue;
LB/TE A.J. Carroll, Meadowdale;
LB/OL Orin Paul, Ferndale;
OL/LB Andru Pulu, Federal Way;
OL/DE Zack Nielsen, Lindbergh;
DL/OL Jerod Baker, Arlington;
OL/LB Michael Stone, Marysville-Pilchuck;
C/DL Drew Norris, Bellevue;
OL/DL Hunter Blackmore, Kentwood;
OL/DL Courtney Sanders, Hazen;
OL/DL Quentin Hooks, West Seattle;
C/DL Dillon Reagan, Issaquah;
TE/LB Alex Hiebert, Mount Si;
OL/DL Grant Engel, Skyline;
TE/DE Sean Stuby, Issaquah.

Head coach — John Ondriezek, Mariner. Assistants — Dick Abrams, Stanwood; Don Harney, Mariner; John Meagher, Federal Way; Tom Myhre, Mariner.

• Mike Peck
• 6’2″ 195 lbs

• Whitworth Pirates (Junior)
• Quarterback
• 2 Year Varsity Letterman

• R.A. Long Lumberjacks (Class of 2006)
• 3 Year Varsity Letterman
• 1st Team All-League
• 1st Team TDN All-Area
• Honorable Mention All-State (Washington Preps)
• Buck Hammer Award Winner (hardest worker)

What was your most memorable moment playing high school football?

Mike – My most memorable moment in high school was throwing the winning touchdown pass against our rival Mark Morris with just under a minute left my junior year.

Surprisingly I never did play another position besides QB. I was the QB from my first snap in youth until now.

Do you have an iPhone?

Mike – No i don’t. Too expensive while I’m in college.

Did you have any game day/game time rituals in high school? If so, what were they?

Mike – One tradition that I was religious about eating subway before every game. It was a must. I also wore the same shirt under my pads every game. It made me feel like it was game night and time to step it up.

Who influenced you the most as a High School football player?

Mike – I can’t pick just one person. My dad and head football coach Steve Rooklidge but played a huge part in my maturation as a quarterback. Without either one of them, I don’t think I would be playing college football today.

What was your most embarrassing moment playing high school football?

Mike – Throwing an interception against Kelso my junior year that got ran back for a TD when we had a sold out crowd of 6,000.

Who is your favorite musical artist?

Mike – I am kind of old school with my music and I really love Journey.

Who influenced you the most as a college football player?

Mike – Again I would have to say my dad and high school football coach. They have both been my mentors all through my football career.

How many different positions did you play from youth football through the end of your HS career? If you could have chosen another position other than QB, what would have it been?

Mike – Surprisingly I never did play another position besides QB. I was the QB from my first snap in youth until now. Although I did play a little defensive back in high school, which I miss.

What was your most embarrassing moment playing college football?

Mike – Throwing a late game interception against a conference rival that ended up as a factor in the loss.

You have to work harder than everybody else all the time

What would you tell young kids entering high school is the most important thing (besides school) they need to do to become an elite level player?

Mike – I would say to set goals and be dedicated in achieving those goals. You have to work harder than everybody else all the time and setting goals is a great way to do that.

What was your most memorable moment (so far) playing college football?

Mike – My most memorable moment so far in college is leading Whitworth to a last minute win in my first start against Chapman.

Do you have any game day/game time rituals in college? If so, what were they?

Mike – I don’t have too many rituals in college. When I wake up I like to watch a little college football on TV. It gets me excited for the day ahead.

Explain a typical week during football season with class, practice, game, other time.

Mike – Monday would be class from about 8-2 and then meetings followed by a short practice and then weights afterwards. Tuesday is the same with class followed by meetings and a full practice, with weights afterwards. Wednesday is same with class and then meetings and practice. Thursday and Friday are the same wtih classes, lifting, and meetings but practices become shorter with more of a walk through theme. Saturday morning I wake up around 8 and go to a walk through and then breakfast. The rest of the day is pregame meetings and just getting mentally prepared. Sunday we have meetings again along with short workouts to get the soreness out.

Xbox, PS3, or Wii? What is your favorite game?

Xbox with madden and Halo. Those are the only two video games I play.

What was your favorite TV show in high school?

Mike – My favorite TV show was sportscenter.

What is your favorite TV show now?

It’s still sportscenter. I could watch it all day.

Compare your relationship with your high school teammates to that of your college teammates. Assuming that you grew up with most of your high school teammates for years prior to playing together with them, and your college teammates came from all over the country.

Mike – I would have to say I was closer with my high school teammates. Like you said we grew up together and the bond we had while on the field was something that would be very hard to match.

Explain your recruiting process. How many schools did you visit? Did anything interesting happen during this process?

Mike – The recruiting process for me was a different one since I wasn’t the prototypical D-1 player. I talked to about every D3 school on the west coast and also some D-2 schools, and junior colleges in California. I had a couple offers to walk on at D-2 schools but somehow I ended up at West Hills Junior College by Fresno, California for my freshman year of football.

Do you prefer Madden or NCAA? Why?

Mike – Even though I play Madden, I actually prefer NCAA. It is something about playing with the college teams that I grew up watching every Saturday.

How much college football do you get to watch during the season? (not counting film sessions)

Mike – Not nearly enough. If it is on during the weekday then I will watch it but other than that, I have to watch the highlights.

How often do you make it back to Longview

Mike – During the season I never can but outside of the season I can usually make it back anytime I want.

Union Titans DB Dex Homer uploaded a highlight video of his 2008 season on Vimeo. Dex was 1st Team 3A All-GSHL DB and a team captain at Union. Dex finished the season with 95 tackles and 5 interceptions and blocked the 44 yard field goal attempt (returned 65 yards by Mitch Saylor) by Ferndale in the Titans 21-14 quarterfinals win.  It is pretty good footage and was edited nicely. I have embedded the video below. Please note, this video was not produced by www.gshlfootball.com but by Dex Homer and  Brandon Weller.

If you are aware of any other GSHL players who have highlight videos on vimeo, please let us know and we will showcase them here as well.

As the University of Idaho football team heads into spring practice, the vandals will loose one former GSHL player and gain another.

Former Mark Morris Monarch Jole Jones will be gone as the long snapper as former Evergreen QB/P/K Bobby Cowan looks to start at punter for the 2009 season.

Bobby is a redshirt freshman who was a 2 time All-GSHL punter (’06 & ’07) and was also first team All-State in 2007.

As a senior at Evergreen Cowan lead the Plainsmen to a 8-2 record and the 4A GSHL League Title.

They can play more than just football.

First team 4A GSHL All-League Offensive Lineman Steven Forgette was one of 3 Heritage Timberwolve football players to win All-League Honors this winter in another sport.

Fourteen GSHL varsity football players earned All-League honors this winter in either basketball or wrestling. Wide receivers and linemen led the group with half of the players being linemen and another five were wide receivers. Heritage and Mountain View High Schools led the way with each having three football players earn all-league honors. Wrestlers out numbered basketball players 11-3, which would be anticipated as there are five starters in basketball and fourteen in wrestling.

The Heritage Timberwolves, coming off a share of the 4A GSHL football title, were not surprised to see so many of their players win the awards. When asked about the number of football players earning honors this winter, Timberwolves head football coach Nate Becksted said, “For us at Heritage we believe that all our players should be multi-sport kids. We push that on them tremendously.” Heritage uses a team effort when it comes to coaching players, “Our head baseball and wrestling coach are on our football staff, and our head basketball coach will be soon” said Becksted. The success of Heritage football players goes beyond the winter, with 3 of the Timberwolves starting 5 basketball players and 9 of the 13 varsity players are football players, in the spring 6 of the 9 starters in baseball are football players and on last season’s Track Team, which won the 4A state team championship, all three individual champs (Ty Lang, Donovan Cunningham and Jacob Wilson) were football players.

With so many football players excelling in other sports, Becksted was asked if this was an important factor in his Timberwolves winning a share of the 4A GSHL title. “Yes it was a big factor, and with 6 juniors who made first or second team all-league, 5 of which are 3 sport kids and 1 two sport guy, we should see the trend continue.”

• Andrew Price
  
• 5’11″ 171 lbs

• Idaho Vandals
  
• Cornerback
• Scout team player of the week

• Prairie Falcons (Class of 2007)
• 2 Year Varsity Letterman
• Inside Sports Internet Broadcast Athlete of the Week

Who influenced you the most as a High School football player?

I would have to say my parents influenced me the most as a high school football player. My dad and I have a close relationship and both enjoy the sport. Over nine years I think they only missed one or two games. The care and support they’ve shown me over the years has had a major impact on my life on and off the field.

What would you tell young kids entering high school is the most important thing (besides school) they need to do to become an elite level player?

Andrew – I would say the top three things high school guys need to do in order to become an athlete is 1.) Quit the bicep curls and do Olympic lifts 2.) Study the game  3.) Do other sports.

The highlight for me came in the second quarter when Taylor [Bean] threw a screen pass and I took it back 30 yards for a touchdown.

Who is your favorite musical artist?

Andrew – Mat Kearney.

How many different positions did you play from youth football through the end of your HS career? If you could have chosen another position other than cornerback, what would have it been?

Andrew – I think I’ve played every position except tight end and offensive lineman. I’ve played Quarterback, Running Back, and Wide Receiver on offense and Corner, Safety, Linebacker, and Defensive End on defense. If I could have played another position other than cornerback I would have played Running Back. I was recruited by D-III schools to play running back.

What was your most memorable moment playing high school football?

Andrew – Perhaps my most memorable moment playing high school football took place my senior year against Skyview. Everyone expected us to get blown out. Skyview had a great team that year and was one of the top teams in the state. My favorite part about the game was playing with and against guys I’d grown up with. Taylor Bean and I were on the same team in 5th and 6th grade and had stayed in contact throughout the years. The highlight for me came in the second quarter when Taylor threw a screen pass and I took it back 30 yards for a touchdown. That put us up 14-9 against a team that should have destroyed us. Although they ended up winning 24-14, it was still my most memorable game. I’ve never seen district stadium and Prairie students so energetic. People were standing around the track. It was crazy.

Did you have any game day/game time rituals in high school? If so, what were they?

Andrew – Yeah, I definitely had a few game day rituals. In the locker room before games, I would visualize how I wanted the game to play out. After that, I would spend a few minutes in prayer. Not praying for victory of course, but for fun, safety for both teams, and to play to honor God.

Explain your recruiting process. How many schools did you visit? Did anything interesting happen during this process?

Andrew – To be honest, I wasn’t heavily recruited. I got a few calls from coaches at Whitworth, Linfield, and Willamette. I almost gave it up once I decided I was going to go to the U of I. I contacted Coach Robb Akey and he offered me a spot on the scout team. It was actually pretty funny because I left Vancouver thinking I was going to get a walk-on tryout. I came into fall camp not knowing if I was actually on the team or not. I kept going back each day and my stuff was still in my locker, so after 2 weeks I figured they liked me enough to keep me around.

During the season I spent around 35-40 hours [per week] doing football related activities.

What was your favorite TV show in high school?

Andrew – Punk’d.

What was your most embarrassing moment playing high school football?

Andrew – Getting crack blocked. Enough said…haha

What was your most memorable moment (so far) playing college football?

Andrew – My most memorable moment was playing in the 2008 Silver and Gold game. It was cool to see my goals and dreams come to reality.

• Bryce Mahuika
• 5’9″ 190 lbs

• BYU Cougars (Senior)
• Wide Receiver
• 4 Year Varsity Letterman

• Evergreen Plainsmen (Class of 2001)
• 4 Year Varsity Letterman
• 2 Time All-League

What was your most memorable moment playing high school football?

Bryce – I would have to say my first touchdown at McKenzie stadium as a freshman at Evergreen. I was going to Pacific Junior High at the time but got the chance to play at Evergreen, it was pretty sick.

Did you have any game day/game time rituals in high school? If so, what were they?

Bryce – My friends and I would usually all go to someone’s house and play video games, ping pong, watch TV, eat, and just chill before the games. I had a local strength t-shirt that my brother wore under his jersey that I wore every game. I always had to get my cleats spatted. That’s about it, nothing too crazy.

…Coach Jon Eagle. I knew him when I was a little guy. He used to make me run with the team before my little league practices. He’s a great coach and did a lot for me

Who is your favorite musical artist?

Bryce – 2pac, he’s a legend. I like old school hip hop.

What was your most embarrassing moment playing high school football?

Bryce – One game my senior year I was playing safety and it was a pass. I was back peddling and I caught my heel and went down. Luckily the ball went the other way. You should have seen how fast I got up though! LOL!

Xbox, PS3, or Wii?

Bryce – I play the Wii more because I have one but I like PS3 too. Not a big Xbox guy.

How many different positions did you play from youth football through the end of your HS career? If you could have chosen another position then the one you played the most what would have it been?

Bryce – I have played nearly every position on the field. The only exceptions are offensive line. I think it helps you understand the game better when you know what your teammates are doing. If you have done a lot of blocking then you in turn can read blocks better because you can tell what your teammate is trying to do. If I could have played another position it would have been corner in college. It would have given me a much better chance because of my size. You don’t see too many 5’9” receivers in the NFL.

Who influenced you the most as a High School football player?

Bryce – My dad for sure. He signed me up to play ball when I was eight years old (you were supposed to be nine). He always supported me, coached me, and was my biggest fan. Not too mention he was the reason I was fast, because I know it didn’t come from my mom!…ha,ha! After my dad would be Coach Jon Eagle. I knew him when I was a little guy. He used to make me run with the team before my little league practices. He’s a great coach and did a lot for me.

Explain your recruiting process. How many schools did you visit? Did anything interesting happen during this process?

Bryce – I was offered a scholarship to BYU when I was a sophomore in HS. This was a positive and a negative. Positive because I had a scholarship to the school I wanted to go to. Negative because a lot of schools didn’t recruit me that hard because they figured I was going to BYU so why waste their time. It was kinda true but hey, everyone wants to get wined and dinned a little. My recruiting trip to BYU was really fun. You eat non stop, free food is everywhere. We went snowmobiling which was my first time. I got a taste of the college scene, the girls are so much better looking! I walked in to the locker room and they had a BYU number 2 jersey hanging in there with my name on the back, I was sold.

This summer in Yakima 3 local players and one local coach will be participating in the 15th annual Earl Barden All-Star Football Classic.

The Woodland Beavers will send two players, linebacker J.R. Mario and running back/linebacker Brandon Smith to Yakima. Running back Justin Green will represent the Hockinson Hawks. And Mark Morris Monarchs Head Coach Shawn Perkins will be an assistant coach for the West team.

The Earl Barden All-Star Football Classic features seniors from the 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B classifications.

Union Titans QB Brandon Weller uploaded a highlight video of his 2008 season on Vimeo. It is pretty good footage and was edited nicely. I have embedded the video below. Please note, this video was not produced by www.gshlfootball.com but by Brandon Weller himself.