Brett Wittenberg, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound tackle intrigued by the weather, is a big reason the Bears’ season forecast is so ... sunny.
“He’s a bulldozer,” Bears coach Bill Beattie said. “He’ll keep coming and coming. He’s going to keep pushing you and pushing you.”
Olympia, with three returning starters on the offensive line, will have plenty of push. However, other than Wittenberg, the Bears’ line isn’t bulldozer big. But it is experienced.
“We actually have a lot of experience,” said Wittenberg, who has been offered a scholarship by Wyoming. “All the players on the line got a lot of varsity experience last year.”
Trung Vu and Jordan Black, senior linemen who weight about 200 pounds, are returning starters.
With five starters back on offense and five on defense, Beattie admits he’s not rich in experienced first-string players. But he’s deep in players who got playing time in lopsided wins when the Bears finished 8-2.
“I hate the word ‘rebuilding,’ ” Beattie said. “Rebuilding is poor coaching. You should always have guys playing.”
Beattie has played 95 players in a blowout win.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids, but they’ve played,” Beattie said. “They haven’t started, but they’ve played. You’re always playing a year ahead.”
At quarterback, two underclassmen – junior Trevor Houser and sophomore Gabe Padukiewicz – are battling for the starting job. Both got spot duty last year at quarterback. Last year, Houser started at free safety and will start there again if he doesn’t start at quarterback.
“They both do a good job of throwing the ball. They’re both smart kids,” Beattie said. “They have a good handle on the offense. I don’t know if there will be a clear-cut guy.”
At running back, Tyler Spice will move from slot to fullback, the featured runner in Beattie’s multi-set offense, which stresses the run.
Defensively, the Bears are led by Griffin Boudia, a senior defensive end who makes big plays. The 6-1, 210-pound senior was first-team all-league last season.
“He’s extremely quick off the ball,” Beattie said. “He has a motor that doesn’t quit.”
Olympia returns three starting linebackers – Joel Anthony, Justin Henry and Tanner Fijolek.
“Joel is one of the better linebackers we’ve had here in a long time,” Beattie said. “He does a great job.”
Fijolek is coming back from knee surgery that sidelined him last season. Henry underwent an emergency appendectomy during wrestling season.
Carlos Moiza, a 5-11, 200-pound junior who was honorable mention all-league, is back on the defensive line, giving the Bears experience but not size.
“I don’t know what it is, but we’re always small in the line,” Beattie said.
Because of Wittenberg’s size, Beattie will play the senior on offense and defense, a contradiction to Beattie’s two-platoon system. Even with Wittenberg playing nose guard or tackle on defense, Beattie might have two starters over 200 pounds.
“Our defense has a lot of speed, but not a ton of size,” said Wittenberg, who has a 3.93 grade-point average. “We’ll get after people.”
Gail Wood: 360-754-5443 gwood@theolympian.com
HEAD COACH: Bill Beattie, 16th season
COORDINATORS, SETS
O: Beattie, multiple
D: Todd McDougall, 4-3
TOP PLAYERS: DL Griffin Boudia, sr., 6-1, 210; LB Joel Anthony, sr., 5-10, 195; LB Justin Henry, sr., 5-10, 190; LB Tanner Fijolek, sr., 5-10, 185; DL Carlos Moiza, jr., 5-11, 200; OL Brett Wittenberg, sr., 6-3, 275; OL Trung Vu, sr., 6-0, 200; OL Jordan Black, sr., 6-3, 210; RB Tyler Spice, sr., 6-0, 185; RB Spenser Killman, jr., 6-0, 190.
OUTLOOK
The Bears will be young, but Beattie expects his team to finish in the top three in the league. Olympia looks solid on defense, particularly at linebacker. “Joel Anthony is one of the best linebackers we’ve had here in a long time,” Beattie said. Trevor Houser and Gabe Padukiewicz will battle for the starting quarterback job. Both underclassmen have a good handle on the offense. Beattie will stick with his two-platoon scheme as much as possible. The Bears open with Tumwater, Capital, Central Kitsap and South Kitsap. “Our first four games are probably our season,” Beattie said.
