Cashmere on rise in Washington 1A football, ready to take jump to power-player status
There was a time when Bryan Bremer wasn't certain what the post-COVID outlook of Cashmere High School football would look like.
Bremer knew he had a special class of 19 seniors graduating from his program after that spring COVID season in 2021. He was aware that the underclassmen turnout numbers were healthy across the board.
But the early returns of the class of 2024?
Ugh.
"Their (JV) season was not great (during spring COVID year). We had a game canceled here or there, but they did not perform well," Bremer said. "I just didn't know what that senior class would give us in the future."
The verdict three years later?
Plenty of fireworks.
The Bulldogs were runaway Caribou Trail League champions, and are still undefeated (11-0) as the No. 4 seeds of the WIAA Class 1A playoffs. They host Seton Catholic on Saturday in the state quarterfinals.
Much of that success has been led by 13 seniors, including safety Trae Smith, the league's defensive player of the year.
"The weird thing, I don't remember any of those games during my freshman year," Smith said. "But I do remember in middle-school football, in seventh and eighth grade, and we were horrible."
Smith said the turning point for the class-of-2024 players was their noticeable shift in offseason dedication and attention to how the more successful older players were handling their business.
Photo by Charlie Brown
"We just began hanging out with the upperclassmen," Smith said. "That is when we basically started breathing and eating football where we would work, hang out and go lift (weights)."
The team went 5-5 in the fall of 2021, but since then has gone 20-3 over the past two seasons - including a trip to the WIAA playoffs last fall.
This season, the veteran group has been joined by a talented cast of up-and-coming sophomores - ones who have enjoyed nothing but success at every level growing up.
Five of those sophomore start on offense, including quarterback Rylan Hatmaker, top wide receiver Logan Spies and left tackle Prin Fox.
"They've just grown up with that mentality of being good football players," Smith said. "So just finally coming together, both of our groups obviously have played well together this season. Everyone has fit in ... and done their job."
Nobody makes a bigger impact on a weekly basis than Smith.
The three-time all-CTL first teamer is the enforcer at rover in the secondary, racking up 47 tackles, four interceptions and a defensive touchdown this fall.
But Smith has taken on a new role as a senior - direct-snap "Wildcat" quarterback. He has 30 carries for 220 yards and seven touchdowns, including 72 yards and a pair of scores in the team's first-round victory over Toppenish.
"He is as physical as they come. Even though he's 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he plays like he's 6-2, 205," Bremer said. "When you think of Cashmere football, he is the poster child for us. He isn't going to come out and be super flashy ... he just looks like a 1A football player."
And Smith is ready to extend his senior season as long as possible.
"We are playing with a lot of confidence, for sure," Smith said. "The biggest thing is having fun with it. If you are going to be scared or you are second-guessing yourself, you won't be playing at a high level. Just have fun."
(Featured photos by Charlie Brown)
