Count ’em: there are 50 days remaining before the start of the 2016 prep football season.
While full practices can’t begin until August 17, local teams deep into summer workouts preparing for the coming gridiron.
The Reporter caught up with Lake Washington High on Wednesday during a seven-on-seven friendly with Monroe at Lake Washington High School.
Headed out to Lake Washington HS this evening to catch some 7v7 action vs. Monroe. Looking forward to getting back into football again.
— John William Howard (@JowardHoward) July 13, 2016
The Kangaroos went 6-4 in their second season under head coach AJ Parnell, advancing to the first round of the playoffs and falling to Wilson, 15-12, in overtime.
Lake Washington lost 27 seniors, including All-League first-teamers Jared Menssen, Jake Wikel, Dylan Bacher, and second-teamers Matt Malloy, Parker Wikel and Stossi Tsantilas.
“Our senior class has, so far this summer, I think done a really great job of stepping into those leadership roles,” said senior Adam Long, an all-league honorable mention at quarterback last season. “We’re expecting big things here. We’re all really excited for August.”
Long split passing duties with a handful of quarterbacks on Wednesday, and said he has several targets he’ll be aiming at this fall: Colby Coco, Shelby Merkatz, Sam Showalter and returning first-team tight end Sean Gordon.
Gordon, who stood at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds to start last season, said he hopes to build on his successes in 2015 and make first-team as a tight end and defensive end.
Turnout has been good on the field for the Kangs, and Parnell said he’s seen greater buy-in than in the past two seasons.
“I’m extremely proud of our attendance in the weight room,” Gordon said. “We’re averaging about 40 kids, which is major for us. It’s packed. It’s a circuit, and it’s great. Energy in there.”
Gordon said the mantle of senior leadership was a heavy one, now that last year’s standouts have moved on.
“You definitely realize, once they’re gone, how important they are,” he said. “I love those guys and definitely still keep in contact with them.”
The Kangs have another week of seven-on-seven work before things shift for the summer.
