Young Pioneers focused on improving while acclimating to varsity

Nooksack Valley coach Robb Myhre offered myriad positive adjectives for his 2015 Pioneers: hard working, competitive, tough.

But while Myhre has witnessed many pleasing traits regarding his young football team, he knows this season is quite different than anyone he’s had in recent memory.

“We haven’t had a group like this — so new — in forever, but we really like these kids as people,” Myhre said.

For Nooksack Valley, graduating so many talented seniors who played prominent roles may have its repercussions in terms of on-field success this fall, but opens spots breed opportunity, and Myhre said his Pioneers are making the most of their chance to play.

“They are a real hard-working group,” Myhre said. “A large group of kids have spent more time in the weight room this year than we’ve ever had.”

That should be beneficial for a team Myhre said returns only two starters, and each them — Alex Boots and Kirk Veldman — will be moving to new positions on the offensive line.

Nooksack Valley has five seniors, most of whom haven’t played much varsity ball, a small junior class and a whole lot of sophomores, who are expected to see plenty of playing time.

Senior quarterback Joe McNeely and sophomore up-and-comer Casey Bauman are battling to see who will succeed longtime starter Tanner Myhre.

Whoever wins the competition will have a completely new cast of receivers to throw to, after the Pioneers graduated six of their top seven pass-catchers and Connor Beard decided to forgo his senior season.

Myhre is expecting Michael O’Bryan to emerge from amongst the receiving group, and Tre Silva, whom Myhre said is the team’s fastest player, could see targets.

Junior Colton Kautz didn’t play a lot last year, logging only four rush attempts, but he figures to be the lead running back after an impressive offseason that included a strong track and field spring. He also should factor in defensively.

On defense, sophomores Kyle Veldman and Luke Winter should see big roles most likely at linebacker. Boots and Kirk give the Pioneers some experience along the defensive line, and Jared Parson, who didn’t join the team until late last fall, should be a two-way starter.

“I expect us to get better every game,” Myhre said. “I expect us to be very fundamentally improved by the end of the season.”

Nooksack Valley again faces a brutal schedule. Besides facing Mount Baker and Meridian twice, the Pioneers play perennial powers Montesano and Cascade Christian.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Young Pioneers focused on improving while acclimating to varsity."