Wilsonville football has leapt head first into the season, facing 6A teams in preparation for league pools. Following a state championship, the pressure is on for the Wildcats to perform at a high level, preceding from last season.
The Nelson Hawks trucked to Randall Stadium to face the Wildcats for Wilsonville’s first home match. Key starters for the Wildcats have shifted both defense and offensive stature since losing players like quarterback Kallen Gutridge, forcing others like Mark Wiepert to step in and fine-tune receivers such as Carter Christiansen for the 2024-2025 run.
Visiting teams won’t only experience the conduct of Wilsonville’s football team, but the jubilee of cheerleaders, an active student section, and vibrant leaders, photographers, and numerous fans who fill the stands. Luckily, the rainy weather has yet to intrude on the football season, making for enjoyable sunny days along the field.
Speaking of sidelines, many Wildcats await their moment for playing time action, but remain encouraging and enthusiastic for their teammates. While it’s often typical to have underclassmen benched, it’s not always the case for Wilsonville.
While the front line of Wilsonville’s football program is framed with the talented seniors, within this exciting game against Nelson, even juniors Riddick Molatore, Luke Carli, Keona Tam, along with sophomore Ben Wiepert impacted the game significantly through runs and sacks in particular. With no doubt, the Cats are a constantly-evolving team, shaping the future stars for tough competition, stressful situations, and how to approach victory.
Not only led by phenomenal athletes, but also passionate coaches, Wilsonville holds the opportunity to take the season in stride and run far with winning streaks. As clarified by coaches, teammates, and spectators, Wilsonville’s football team’s success is not defined by win to loss ratios, but rather, the character of each player, sportsmanship, and team camaraderie.
Of course, the team’s motivation and drive will serve them well in close competition, but their spirit and pride has the potential to make them players for life in the long haul. Despite how the season continues, Wilsonville is sure to build not only exceptional football players, but also leaders among the community and requitable models of student-athletes.
