5. Bellevue (Wash.) - Full preview
Bishard Baker brings a level of speed to Bellevue that the Wolverines have not had in the past.
Photo by John Downey
Strengths: Speed will be the hallmark of this year’s Bellevue team. And speed in Butch Goncharoff’s Wing-T system, which has thrived in the past with less-gifted athletes, is simply dangerous. Running back/athletes
Bishard "budda" Baker and
Myles Jack lead the way.
Max Richmond and
Reuben Mwehla joined them on the school’s state champion 4x100 track team. It won’t be easy to replace Tyler Hasty, who starred at quarterback and defensive back, but the Wolverines have players at both spots that are ready to step up.
Question marks: Not having Hasty this season might be the biggest question mark for Bellevue, as he was the state’s best player last season. The Wolverines will enter their showdown with Trinity as the favorite. Bellevue beat a giant Lakes team last season, but still, Trinity’s size will be something that it is not accustomed to. It should provide a great barometer for how good the 2012 Bellevue team is.
Outlook: This is a legitimate national powerhouse team that would succeed playing in Texas, Florida or any other state. Goncharoff has been talking about this group of players for several years, circling the 2012 season on the calendar. This year’s team is looking to five-peat as state champions, to go undefeated and to capture a national title.
