Latest / Wenatchee Panther Podcast / Episode 11

Transcript

Episode 11 · Wenatchee Panther Podcast

0:00
SPEAKER_10: It's the What At You Panther Podcast here on KKRV 1047 as we get to introduce you to the athletes of the week.
0:07
SPEAKER_10: We have two here right now.
0:09
SPEAKER_10: Hi guys.
0:10
unknown: Hi.
0:10
SPEAKER_07: Hi.
0:11
SPEAKER_10: We have Caden McCarthy, who is a cross-country runner, a freshman.
0:17
SPEAKER_10: Athlete of the week as a freshman?
0:19
SPEAKER_10: How about you?
0:20
SPEAKER_10: So why?
0:21
SPEAKER_10: What happened?
0:22
SPEAKER_10: What did you do?
0:23
SPEAKER_07: Um I ran a really good time at our past me.
0:26
SPEAKER_07: I dropped three minutes and eight seconds.
0:28
SPEAKER_10: Three minutes?
0:29
SPEAKER_10: That's like that's ridiculous, right?
0:32
SPEAKER_10: Mm-hmm.
0:32
SPEAKER_07: Mm-hmm.
0:33
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
0:33
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
0:34
SPEAKER_10: So what what you had good protein milk in the morning?
0:37
SPEAKER_10: What we were just talking about what they had for breakfast.
0:41
SPEAKER_10: Uh so what what happened?
0:43
SPEAKER_10: What did you have the wind blowing at your back?
0:45
SPEAKER_10: Uh or you just got up and felt good that day.
0:47
SPEAKER_07: I don't know.
0:48
SPEAKER_07: I've just been working really hard and it just I've been getting better every me.
0:52
SPEAKER_10: Well, that's awesome.
0:53
SPEAKER_10: Congratulations on that.
0:54
SPEAKER_10: We also have uh Maddie Mackey.
0:56
SPEAKER_10: Did I get that right?
0:57
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
0:57
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
0:58
SPEAKER_10: Maddie is a senior volleyball player.
1:00
SPEAKER_10: How's the season been?
1:02
SPEAKER_04: It's been really fast, but it's been fun.
1:05
SPEAKER_10: That's uh do you have seniors that are telling you that?
1:08
SPEAKER_10: That, hey, you know, soak it up because your whole high school career is going to be over before you know it.
1:13
SPEAKER_04: I know.
1:13
SPEAKER_10: You haven't said that?
1:14
SPEAKER_10: You haven't had anybody say that to you?
1:16
SPEAKER_10: No.
1:17
SPEAKER_10: Okay, what would you say to this freshman right here?
1:20
SPEAKER_04: Well, soak it up.
1:22
SPEAKER_04: It goes by really fast.
1:24
SPEAKER_04: Only got two weeks left, but yeah.
1:26
SPEAKER_10: Well, more than that, because I mean the hope is to go state.
1:30
SPEAKER_04: Be down at three weeks.
1:32
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
1:33
SPEAKER_10: So um why did your coach say that you deserved this honor this week?
1:38
SPEAKER_10: Um I mean I could read it, but I'd rather you tell me.
1:40
SPEAKER_04: Uh we played Moses Lake last week and had a pretty good game.
1:44
SPEAKER_04: Um she let me serve and yeah, it was great.
1:48
SPEAKER_04: It was fun.
1:48
SPEAKER_10: So were you the designated server?
1:50
SPEAKER_04: I wasn't before, but we had had this talk before the game and I'd asked her about serving, and she told me she's gonna give me a shot and gotta serve.
1:59
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
1:59
SPEAKER_10: So what has been the uh has it have you improved in your serving this year or and and what has been how?
2:06
SPEAKER_10: Why?
2:06
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, so I play middle, so normally I just play front row.
2:10
SPEAKER_04: Um, so I'll have like the libero serve for me, but I've been really trying to like work on my serve so I'm able to serve in-game.
2:16
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
2:16
SPEAKER_10: All right.
2:17
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
2:17
SPEAKER_10: So had you guys heard about this whole Panther of the Week thing before you you're now wearing medals around your neck?
2:22
SPEAKER_04: I've seen it on Instagram.
2:24
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I see.
2:25
SPEAKER_04: Oh, okay.
2:25
SPEAKER_04: I didn't know this is like a thing, but yeah.
2:28
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
2:28
SPEAKER_10: We need to get the word out a little bit more about this little podcast thing.
2:31
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, so that's the deal.
2:33
SPEAKER_10: Uh if you guys are available and each week it depends because like you've got a test you've got to go take.
2:38
SPEAKER_10: And you know, we're kind of grabbing people out of class to come down here and and talk about uh being the Panther of the Week.
2:44
SPEAKER_10: So now the question is what happens to this metal?
2:47
SPEAKER_10: Because you get to keep it, thanks to Hegland's trophies for sponsoring the metals, by the way.
2:51
SPEAKER_10: So where does it go?
2:53
SPEAKER_10: Uh you wear it at your next meet?
2:56
SPEAKER_10: I mean, you're you're running and it's dancing around in front of you.
3:01
SPEAKER_04: On like a lit up pedestal like in my room.
3:05
SPEAKER_04: No, not actually.
3:07
SPEAKER_10: So, okay, how many trophies do you guys have?
3:10
SPEAKER_07: I have a bunch of medals from baseball and basketball that are just on my door, so it'll probably end up going with those.
3:15
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
3:15
SPEAKER_10: All right.
3:16
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, medals you kind of hang it on.
3:17
SPEAKER_10: If you got a trophy, you kind of hang it on another trophy, I think.
3:20
SPEAKER_10: Something like that.
3:21
SPEAKER_10: How about you?
3:22
SPEAKER_10: Um Do you have trophies?
3:24
SPEAKER_04: Not many recently.
3:25
SPEAKER_04: I have some from like when I didn't think little league when I was little.
3:30
SPEAKER_10: Oh first of all, what's are you done?
3:34
SPEAKER_10: Because I know you're a freshman, but there's there's the league meet and all that kind of stuff.
3:41
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
3:42
SPEAKER_10: All right.
3:42
SPEAKER_10: That's the day that this drops.
3:44
SPEAKER_10: So tonight or today.
3:45
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, it's kind of weird how this works.
3:47
SPEAKER_10: Um so that's going on.
3:49
SPEAKER_10: Um and do you expect to advance?
3:52
SPEAKER_10: I mean, you know, uh you're a runner, so you know, which is which is unusual and unique is that a freshman can go to state for goodness sakes.
4:00
SPEAKER_10: I mean, it's just on your performance.
4:01
SPEAKER_07: Aaron Powell, I have to drop another two minutes, so I probably won't make it this year.
4:06
SPEAKER_10: But that's that's pretty good though, for you to be uh in the company of being able to compete.
4:12
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
4:12
SPEAKER_10: That's pretty awesome.
4:13
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
4:14
SPEAKER_10: How about you?
4:15
SPEAKER_10: I mean, I know we got you still got another week of of matches left.
4:19
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, we have uh so we have a home game tonight and then we have two more games, but then districts will be next uh weekend.
4:27
SPEAKER_10: And the hope is that you're gonna host districts.
4:29
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
4:30
SPEAKER_10: Is that uh in the cards?
4:32
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
4:32
SPEAKER_04: If we win our next two games, um and we're playing two teams that we beat before.
4:36
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
4:37
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
4:37
SPEAKER_04: If we win, then we'll get to host.
4:39
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
4:40
SPEAKER_10: What's the biggest thing you've learned this year?
4:41
SPEAKER_10: Because it hasn't been that smooth sale that you guys have enjoyed in the past.
4:45
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I've definitely learned that we it's like uh so much of the game is like definitely like mental and like energy-wise, less than like skill.
4:55
SPEAKER_04: Because like the skill is there, but when our like energy isn't, then we kind of crumble a little bit.
5:00
SPEAKER_10: But I was gonna ask you that, Caden.
5:03
SPEAKER_10: How much of of cross country is mental versus physical?
5:06
SPEAKER_07: Oh, it's it's not physical at all.
5:08
SPEAKER_07: You're just I don't know, it's it's a lot mental.
5:11
SPEAKER_10: Because you're running all the time.
5:12
SPEAKER_10: So it's just you're running in a different against the clock, you're running against other people.
5:17
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, but mentally it's a lot harder because um you have to finish it you have to finish a 5k, so 3.1 miles is hard to keep going and it's a lot mentally, like before the race, especially, when you're like, oh, I have to run a 5k.
5:32
SPEAKER_07: It's like trying to build up to that.
5:34
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, so that's all between the ears.
5:36
SPEAKER_10: Um Maddie, as far as as when you are looking at this season and your goals and aspirations, I know there's the team goals and aspirations.
5:46
SPEAKER_10: What about you specifically?
5:48
SPEAKER_10: Um you talked about your serving.
5:49
SPEAKER_10: Are there anything else that you want to try to finish up strong?
5:54
SPEAKER_04: I mean, uh my consistency has always kind of been like my make or break, so I've really been trying to like dial in this year of being more of a reliable player and like um more consistent.
6:06
SPEAKER_04: So that's been something I've really focused on.
6:08
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
6:08
SPEAKER_04: All right.
6:09
SPEAKER_10: Well, congratulations to the both of you.
6:11
SPEAKER_10: Panther athletes of the week, and uh look for them to do amazing things, not only for the rest of this season, but on the way.
6:18
SPEAKER_10: Do you do other sports, you guys?
6:20
SPEAKER_04: I play tennis for fun.
6:22
SPEAKER_10: So you don't play tennis on the team?
6:24
SPEAKER_04: I do play tennis.
6:25
SPEAKER_10: Oh, okay.
6:26
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
6:26
SPEAKER_10: So that's in the spring.
6:27
SPEAKER_10: All right, so we'll look for you out there.
6:29
SPEAKER_07: I play basketball and track.
6:31
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
6:31
SPEAKER_10: So you got your basketball season starting here soon, too.
6:34
SPEAKER_10: All right.
6:34
SPEAKER_10: Well, good luck, you guys.
6:35
SPEAKER_10: Appreciate it.
6:36
SPEAKER_10: All right, those are our athletes of the week with the Wenanchee High School Panther Athletic Program.
6:41
SPEAKER_10: We will take a break, come back, talking about athletics.
6:43
SPEAKER_10: We're gonna talk to the head football coach, Taylor Mitchell, coming up, and also one of his players, Chase Ballou, and we're gonna visit with your coach.
6:51
SPEAKER_10: No, I'm not visiting with your coach today.
6:53
SPEAKER_10: That's next week.
6:54
SPEAKER_10: Sorry, I jumped ahead a little bit.
6:55
SPEAKER_10: We're talking with Ashton Kirkpatrick, who's the head soccer coach and one of her players.
7:00
SPEAKER_10: It's all coming up on this week's edition of the When At You Panther Podcast on KKRV 1047.
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8:04
SPEAKER_10: The Winanchy Panther Podcast continues here on KKRV 1047, joined but now by the head coach for the football team, Taylor Mitchell.
8:11
SPEAKER_10: It's been a few weeks since we did the podcast thing.
8:14
SPEAKER_10: Uh you're coming off a big win Friday night.
8:17
SPEAKER_10: You had a chance to play a bunch of guys.
8:18
SPEAKER_10: You've got to be pretty happy about that.
8:20
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, nice to come out of it healthy.
8:21
SPEAKER_02: Obviously, winning the football game is the most important thing, but coming out of it healthy with a big game this week now against West Valley, and then playoffs the following week.
8:30
SPEAKER_02: So definitely nice to be hitting our stride, play, you know, starting to play our best football at the right time of the year.
8:35
SPEAKER_10: And you're getting healthy and getting guys back.
8:37
SPEAKER_10: That that helps that cause too, I imagine.
8:39
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it does.
8:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we were pretty injured earlier, you know, in the year, weeks four through week six, really.
8:45
SPEAKER_02: We had quite a few guys out, so um no really lingering injuries at this point, um, which is really nice.
8:52
SPEAKER_10: I wanted to for the podcast, this would be you know probably the last time I get a chance to talk to you, you know, postseason, notwithstanding that type of thing.
8:59
SPEAKER_10: But you know, we talked about back in August when we started this and and uh about expectations and goals and aspirations and things like that.
9:08
SPEAKER_10: And how has this season panned out compared to where you had hoped you'd be?
9:12
SPEAKER_02: I I mean I think we still have all of our goals on the table.
9:15
SPEAKER_02: I mean, going to the playoffs, we've clinched a spot in the round of 32, but um I think we have a great shot at winning a playoff game wherever the committee seeds us.
9:25
SPEAKER_02: Um I expect for us to be on the road, but for it to be a really competitive football game.
9:29
SPEAKER_02: I mean, last year we went down to Chihuahuana, who was undefeated.
9:32
SPEAKER_02: They were ranked fourth or fifth in the state.
9:34
SPEAKER_02: Um you guys gave them a test.
9:36
SPEAKER_02: We did.
9:36
SPEAKER_02: It was 14-7 at halftime.
9:38
SPEAKER_02: We ended up losing 35-14, but um to give them a run back for their money for sure.
9:43
SPEAKER_02: And you know, and each week I always watch our games from the season prior um to just see how how has our opponent changed over the last year, how we changed and evolved, uh, what stuff worked last year that might work again this year.
9:59
SPEAKER_02: Um and just seeing the you know, dramatic improvements that we've made as a football program from last year to now has us all really excited um about getting into the playoffs and um hopefully making it to state this year.
10:11
SPEAKER_02: So yeah, I think we've hit a lot of our goals this year.
10:14
SPEAKER_02: We've won a lot of football games.
10:16
SPEAKER_02: I mean, uh, you know, most wins now since 2019.
10:19
SPEAKER_02: One more win will uh tie up with that 2019 team.
10:22
SPEAKER_02: So I mean, this team's accomplished a lot so far with a whole lot left uh to play for.
10:27
SPEAKER_10: I know you've got West Valley this week, and there's the challenge there, I mean, in and of itself.
10:33
SPEAKER_10: Um do you start to project and go, okay, here's who we could possibly play?
10:37
SPEAKER_10: And I was talking to BJ about that, and they have the RPI, but it sounds like they don't even use the RPI for the seating purposes.
10:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean they just use it as a barometer, you know, as uh something as of a measuring stick.
10:48
SPEAKER_02: I mean, there's a number of different ranking sites, RPI, all kinds of different stuff that the the committee uses.
10:54
SPEAKER_02: Um but you know, I our focus is definitely on West Valley.
10:58
SPEAKER_02: I mean, obviously we are looking ahead, understanding, okay, we're probably gonna be on the road.
11:03
SPEAKER_02: There's a you know, probably a couple likely destinations that we'll we'll be going.
11:08
SPEAKER_02: It'd be awesome to have a home game.
11:09
SPEAKER_02: I'm not sure if it's gonna you know land that way.
11:12
SPEAKER_02: Um but West Valley is a really good football team, and they all year they've been playing to the level of their competition.
11:19
SPEAKER_02: You know, they've played down, um, haven't played their best football against some teams, but then against East Mont, they gave them a run for their money.
11:25
SPEAKER_02: Um so you know, we're expecting a tight game this week.
11:29
SPEAKER_02: They have some really good athletes.
11:32
SPEAKER_02: Uh you know, a year ago they beat East Mont for their last regular season game, and uh they had a lot of guys that played one way all season that were then playing on both sides of the football.
11:44
SPEAKER_02: So, you know, I'm I'm totally expecting for them to move some of their receivers that are good good players to probably play some defense and try to slow our offense down a little bit.
11:53
SPEAKER_02: So they're gonna give us our best shot.
11:55
SPEAKER_02: So our focus really, you know, starting last week, now into West Valley, is we've got to get better these next two weeks.
12:02
SPEAKER_02: That way we're kind of hitting our stride going into that round of 32 playoff game.
12:06
SPEAKER_10: And as you go into that, I mean, right now, West Valley is you guys are 3-4, right?
12:11
SPEAKER_10: As far as the big nine is concerned.
12:13
SPEAKER_10: Uh I don't know if they can leapfrog you and how that pans out as far as the seeding is concerned.
12:18
SPEAKER_10: But right now, you know, I was doing the I I wasted a lot of energy trying to do the mental calculations on okay, just taking RPI and and looking at leagues and looking at records.
12:27
SPEAKER_10: And I know that if at all possible, they try to keep you east of the mountains.
12:32
SPEAKER_10: If it's possible, dependent on the seeding and stuff.
12:35
SPEAKER_10: I was thinking mead for a first round, you know, round of 32 game.
12:39
SPEAKER_10: I don't know if you've thought about that or kind of looked at that at all.
12:43
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, there's a good chance that we'll go to Spokane.
12:45
SPEAKER_02: And I mean, part of it depends on what happens in the Tri-Cities this week.
12:48
SPEAKER_02: Right.
12:49
SPEAKER_02: Because, you know, one team wins, another team loses, it could just shuffle, you know, the whole deck again.
12:55
SPEAKER_02: Um, we lose this game, then maybe they send to somewhere else.
12:59
SPEAKER_02: Uh and that goes with all the other teams ranked ahead of us, right?
13:02
SPEAKER_02: If some more teams lose, maybe we bump up further.
13:05
SPEAKER_02: Um, so yeah, I think Mead's uh destination.
13:09
SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, uh I could see a couple tri-city schools playing against big nine schools, maybe not us, but you know, Eastmont hosting one, Moses Lake potentially hosting uh, you know, a tri-city school or a GSL because they have a loser out game next week.
13:25
SPEAKER_02: Right.
13:25
SPEAKER_02: Um they they geographically they do try to keep us, uh I think more so west side schools having to go all the way to Spokane or really head this way, um, if at all possible, but they rank us one through 32.
13:40
SPEAKER_02: And if they flip us with one other team, but they're not gonna move somebody up five spots just for a geographical alignment type deal.
13:47
SPEAKER_10: Um as you look at Westfell in, I've I've had a chance to look at a lot of their tape this year.
13:52
SPEAKER_10: Their quarterback is kind of a Jekyll and Hyde kind of a guy.
13:55
SPEAKER_10: Uh it there's like you say, play up or play down.
13:58
SPEAKER_10: There's there's games like the East Mont game.
14:00
SPEAKER_10: I'm like, man, that guy, he can find his targets, and and then I'm watching another game, you know, they had at home, and I'm like, where is he throwing the football type of a thing?
14:09
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
14:09
SPEAKER_10: I mean it just depends on what what kid shows up.
14:12
SPEAKER_10: Of course, a lot of a lot of times that happens with all teenagers, right?
14:15
SPEAKER_10: What kid shows up on Friday night?
14:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, it's senior night, they're playing at home.
14:19
SPEAKER_02: So if you want to like have a reason to play your best football, there's enough on the table at this point.
14:25
SPEAKER_02: You know, they're going to the playoffs too.
14:27
SPEAKER_02: Um they're using this as a measuring stick game to, you know, hopefully move up in the rankings also for that round of 32 game.
14:34
SPEAKER_02: Um so yeah, when their quarterback's on, he can sling it.
14:37
SPEAKER_02: And that goes with their receivers too.
14:39
SPEAKER_02: You know, the quarterback does a nice job of throwing the ball in the open windows, and part of that timing also, sometimes the receivers aren't snapping their eyes back quick enough to make those catches.
14:50
SPEAKER_02: But when they're uh hitting things in stride, I mean they're a really dynamic offense.
14:56
SPEAKER_10: Important about that defensive front to again apply the pressure like you guys did against Eisenhower.
15:01
SPEAKER_10: Who's been the biggest surprise for you?
15:03
SPEAKER_10: I know you had your expectations of guys, but who's been a big surprise for you on your program this year?
15:08
SPEAKER_02: Uh I couldn't give you a name.
15:09
SPEAKER_02: Oh, really?
15:10
SPEAKER_02: No, I just think there's so many guys.
15:11
SPEAKER_02: I mean, there's some sophomores who have stepped up and yeah, I mean there's sophomores have stepped up, but there's also seniors that are playing their first serious uh playing time for us that have played awesome.
15:21
SPEAKER_02: There's seniors that, you know, have played last year, did okay, and have made tremendous strides into this season.
15:28
SPEAKER_02: Um part of it is we have the all-league uh voting this Sunday as a head coach, and you're going through the list, and it's like, man, we have a lot of really good players that have done some incredible stuff for us.
15:40
SPEAKER_02: Um so there really isn't one guy.
15:42
SPEAKER_10: For those who don't know how that works, can you vote for your own kids or do you just kind of stump on their behalf to the rest of the big nine coaches?
15:49
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
15:49
SPEAKER_02: You can't vote for your own kids, so you nominate them, kind of make the case of uh typically where do you think your kid lands?
15:55
SPEAKER_02: You know, first team, second team, uh honorable mention, and part of that's using stats.
16:01
SPEAKER_10: Um, you know, sometimes it's tough to use stats because a little more difficult on the defensive side because aside from interceptions or sacks or something like that, it's it's hard to, you know, a lot of those stats aren't kept.
16:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it is.
16:13
SPEAKER_02: And you know, we use we we track tackles, you mentioned tackles for loss.
16:17
SPEAKER_02: Um if there's a certain defensive player that's getting more attention, um, you know, maybe getting double teamed, um, that can impact things, or maybe there's a defensive back that's not having the ball thrown his way as much, so he's not gonna have um as much stats-wise.
16:33
SPEAKER_02: Um, so you know, I rely on my assistant coaches and kind of trust their opinions on on kids also.
16:39
SPEAKER_02: Um, but I think we'll have a lot of kids getting um nice.
16:42
SPEAKER_02: I mean, it'll be, I think, us East Small and Moses Lake with a lot of kids getting some serious recognition this year, which is nice.
16:47
SPEAKER_02: I mean, our kids have worked extremely hard.
16:49
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we have four senior defensive backs that are playing really well.
16:53
SPEAKER_02: We have uh two seniors on the D-line, we have a sophomore, like you mentioned, on the D-line that's played really well for us.
16:59
SPEAKER_02: Um, all three of our linebackers, I think, are worthy of uh all league recognition.
17:03
SPEAKER_02: I mean, that's just on the defensive side of the ball.
17:05
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we're talking about probably eight guys, and then flip it to the offensive side.
17:09
SPEAKER_02: You know, we have a quarterback starting his first season who um I mean, in my opinion, is the best quarterback in the league.
17:16
SPEAKER_02: Uh the stats back it.
17:18
SPEAKER_02: Um, what we ask of our quarterback is different than what any other program is asking of their quarterback to do.
17:24
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we've been able to run the ball at times effectively, um, but our passing offense uh is you know, it's been the most dynamic in the league.
17:33
SPEAKER_02: And you know, and then all four of our pass catchers are, you know, I think the case can be made that all four of them are first team, all league guys.
17:41
SPEAKER_02: Um, so I think a lot of guys sure have surprised us.
17:44
SPEAKER_02: There's not one.
17:45
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's really been across the board.
17:47
SPEAKER_02: Guys have stepped up, and the improvements that these kids have made over the last year um has really been incredible.
17:56
SPEAKER_10: We're gonna talk to Chase Bellew coming up here in a minute.
17:59
SPEAKER_10: Um I want to talk about him, but also just, you know, as far as those pass catchers, as you've talked about, of course you got Micah Nell and Griffin Butler and Liam Stuber and and Chase.
18:09
SPEAKER_10: Um the the evolution for Liam this season and and getting more and more catches as the as the season has progressed, is that a matter of defenses are changing because they're trying to clamp down on Micah and keep the over the head stuff, or is it just also Liam's work and what has been, you know, his progress?
18:29
SPEAKER_02: A combination of all the above.
18:30
SPEAKER_02: I mean, uh look at the East Mont game.
18:33
SPEAKER_02: Uh, you know, obviously we run the same defense.
18:36
SPEAKER_02: So you understand, yes, there's gonna be more attention on Micah and some of these games, but we also understand where there are certain holes in the defense is and um yes, we want to get some of those guys, their touches, because we know they're dynamic and make plays.
18:50
SPEAKER_02: And other times it's like, hey, we need to take what they're giving us.
18:54
SPEAKER_02: Um, and I think you know, that game against East Mont for Liam was a prime example of um Liam understands the holes in our defense from practicing against it all year, and how does he need to run those routes?
19:08
SPEAKER_02: I mean, back on the one-yard line, he runs that seam right behind the linebackers, and that's a throw that our quarterback loves to make.
19:14
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we did seven on seven with Eastmont throughout the summer, it's not our first time going against them, and that's a throw that our quarterback makes all the time.
19:23
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so yes, they took stuff away, but you know, we're also taking with the defense.
19:28
SPEAKER_02: We're not gonna force feed guys the football, we're gonna take what they're giving us.
19:32
SPEAKER_02: Um, and again, last week, Griffin Butler probably had his best game of the season.
19:37
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so I think it's gonna make teams tough to defend us.
19:40
SPEAKER_02: I mean, when you have Chase and Micah on the outside, and then you have Griff and Liam on the inside, it's like, who do you want to take away?
19:47
SPEAKER_02: Because there's gonna be matchups that we like, and then being able to call plays that our quarterback's comfortable with and uh you know, throws that he's comfortable making and knows that he can make as well.
19:58
SPEAKER_10: I gave our player of the game or performance of the game to the entire defense last week because I mean all the turnovers and shoot your offense is starting a game.
20:06
SPEAKER_10: I mean, just about every every series is in plus, if plus plus.
20:10
SPEAKER_10: I mean, it was pretty ridiculous.
20:12
SPEAKER_10: Um are you are you you gotta be happy about that progression of your defense and and guys playing ball?
20:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, absolutely.
20:19
SPEAKER_02: Uh it's been like that all year.
20:20
SPEAKER_02: I mean, yeah go back to the South Kit Sap game, right?
20:23
SPEAKER_02: We had a number of short fields that whole first half.
20:26
SPEAKER_02: Um, I mean, that's been every game.
20:28
SPEAKER_02: Um, our defense gives us short fields.
20:30
SPEAKER_02: I think the good news is our offense has been able to capitalize on that and put up touchdowns when we do have those short fields.
20:36
SPEAKER_02: And going into the height game, I knew there was a really high likelihood that we were gonna have a running clock at some point.
20:41
SPEAKER_02: So we took the ball first, knowing like, hey, let's get an extra offensive possession.
20:45
SPEAKER_02: And so, I mean, that was our really our only long drive uh of the game.
20:50
SPEAKER_10: I think started at 33 on that one, yeah.
20:52
SPEAKER_02: And then, you know, I guess we had what we started around the 45 uh minus territory with 20 seconds left in the half, but everything else out of that was pretty much in plus territory.
21:02
SPEAKER_02: Um but that's what we expect from our defense.
21:04
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we're we played an inferior opponent last week who has really struggled this year.
21:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, so I mean the expectation is is to create turnovers because that's what they're capable of.
21:16
SPEAKER_10: Right.
21:16
SPEAKER_10: Um, there was an interesting post I saw on the uh socials about some apple pies or some pies that went out.
21:23
SPEAKER_10: Tell me about that.
21:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, uh it's actually a tradition back when I was a player in college.
21:27
SPEAKER_02: Uh my linebacker coach, he ran the special teams.
21:31
SPEAKER_02: Um, his wife made pies for block kicks.
21:34
SPEAKER_02: And so uh, you know, I thought it was a fun tradition.
21:36
SPEAKER_02: It gets kids, you know, hopefully, hopefully they're always playing hard, but some maybe some extra motivation in special teams.
21:43
SPEAKER_02: So before I was married, I was coaching at Mount Psy, and so I wasn't going to big pie, so I would go buy like giant cinnamon rolls or different stuff like that for block kicks.
21:51
SPEAKER_02: And so um, my wife, yeah, and our twin girls, they made uh apple pies this weekend uh for blood kicks.
21:59
SPEAKER_02: Yeah two block kicks.
22:00
SPEAKER_02: Block kicks, yeah.
22:00
SPEAKER_02: Three on the year, Preston Mejica blocked one earlier the season also.
22:05
SPEAKER_02: Um, but yes, we created turnovers, but we also had two blocked punts that resulted in um you know two super short fields for us, right?
22:13
SPEAKER_02: Which was awesome.
22:14
SPEAKER_02: Um so yeah, it's a fun tradition.
22:17
SPEAKER_10: Well, uh best of luck Friday, of course, with the game at West Valley.
22:21
SPEAKER_10: Uh we'll be there, of course, broadcasting at our Wine Stein Beverage uh Panther game of the week here on KKRV on the on the YouTube channel.
22:27
SPEAKER_10: And then wherever you guys end up the following Friday.
22:30
SPEAKER_10: Now you have a choice on that since you're the road team of playing Friday or Saturday.
22:34
SPEAKER_10: Do you have a preference?
22:35
SPEAKER_02: Uh focus on West Valley this week.
22:36
SPEAKER_02: You know, I'll get through West Valley.
22:38
SPEAKER_02: I tried.
22:39
SPEAKER_02: I tried.
22:40
SPEAKER_02: Get through West Valley Friday.
22:41
SPEAKER_02: We have our all conference voting uh Saturday or Sunday morning, kind of get through that.
22:46
SPEAKER_02: Um we won't know our opponent until uh Sunday, probably around lunchtime.
22:51
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
22:51
SPEAKER_02: Um, and typically it's automatically designated as a Saturday at 1 p.m.
22:56
SPEAKER_02: kickoff unless both teams agree to play on Friday.
22:59
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
22:59
SPEAKER_02: So it's just the base is you play Saturday at one unless both teams agree.
23:03
SPEAKER_02: So even if we wanted to play on Friday, um, if we're on the road, you know, the host might say, ah, we want to play on Saturday.
23:10
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
23:10
SPEAKER_02: Um, so no preference as of right now.
23:13
SPEAKER_02: I mean, obviously, if we're having to drive somewhere a couple hours, I'd probably rather play on a Friday than have to get up on a Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
23:20
SPEAKER_02: and get on the road.
23:21
SPEAKER_10: Long bus ride.
23:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
23:23
SPEAKER_02: So um we'll we'll feel it out.
23:25
SPEAKER_02: Um, we'll see how the game goes Friday night, how our health is, because that you know, that could play into it also.
23:30
SPEAKER_02: Sure.
23:31
SPEAKER_02: You know, do we need an extra one extra day?
23:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
23:33
SPEAKER_02: Uh and obviously there's not a lot of familiarity with uh the opponent.
23:37
SPEAKER_02: So does an extra day of game planning help us um at all?
23:41
SPEAKER_02: Do we do we need it?
23:42
SPEAKER_02: And if we do, then we'll play on Saturday.
23:44
SPEAKER_02: But that's something I'll work out you know with our coaches once we get through Friday and probably talk about on Saturday.
23:50
SPEAKER_10: Well, I know he and his coaching staff uh burn the midnight oil when it comes to prepping for the next go-around.
23:55
SPEAKER_10: So we'll talk about that next week.
23:57
SPEAKER_10: Good luck on Friday and keep everybody healthy.
23:59
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, thanks, Eric.
24:00
SPEAKER_10: There you go.
24:00
SPEAKER_10: Taylor Mitchell joining us here, and we'll come back and uh talk to one of those uh wide receivers we're talking about who's also had some time on the defensive side of the ball and has made some impact plays as well.
24:10
SPEAKER_10: Chase Belou will join us on the Wenatchee Panther podcast coming up next.
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24:46
SPEAKER_10: We continue with the What At You Panther podcast here on KKRV 1047.
24:50
SPEAKER_10: Chase Balou joins us now off the football team.
24:52
SPEAKER_10: Soon to be basketball, soon to be baseball, but first of all, football, center stage.
24:57
SPEAKER_10: Yep.
24:58
SPEAKER_10: How do you feel about your season?
24:59
SPEAKER_09: I felt it's been going pretty good.
25:01
SPEAKER_09: We're we only got two losses, and I feel like we're climbing towards playoffs.
25:06
SPEAKER_10: Those two losses, I mean, you're that close once again with Eastmont.
25:12
SPEAKER_10: Uh halftime, you play Moses Lake right to the edge, and then they get that touchdown before half, and that seemed to really kind of kill the momentum for you guys.
25:20
SPEAKER_10: Is that true?
25:21
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, we were right there with them, and then we just I don't know what happened, but we just kind of fell apart second half.
25:28
SPEAKER_09: We were really close right with them first half, though, definitely.
25:31
SPEAKER_10: I had a chance to talk to you earlier this season on our pregame show.
25:34
SPEAKER_10: Um, you know, we talked about how you're playing offense and you're playing defense a little bit.
25:39
SPEAKER_10: You prefer offense over defense?
25:41
SPEAKER_09: I like both.
25:42
SPEAKER_09: I like to hit a lot on defense, but I definitely like offense.
25:45
SPEAKER_10: You used those pass catching skills last week for a pick.
25:48
SPEAKER_10: How did that feel?
25:49
SPEAKER_10: That felt great.
25:51
SPEAKER_10: That's your first one this season.
25:52
SPEAKER_10: Yep.
25:53
SPEAKER_10: And first, is that not first in your career?
25:55
SPEAKER_10: No, I had one last year against Ike actually.
25:58
SPEAKER_10: Oh, yeah.
25:58
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
25:59
SPEAKER_10: Turn about it again.
26:00
SPEAKER_10: Um as you guys get ready for West Valley, which is uh as we dropped this on Thursday, it's tomorrow.
26:06
SPEAKER_10: Um, talk about that prep.
26:07
SPEAKER_10: I mean, you guys, it's you know, you're going to the playoffs, you know that.
26:11
SPEAKER_10: Yep.
26:11
SPEAKER_10: Positioning will depend on if you win or lose this game.
26:15
SPEAKER_10: Talk about that matchup that you guys have been looking at.
26:18
SPEAKER_09: Well, the hard thing about West Valley is they definitely play to their opponent's level.
26:22
SPEAKER_09: Like Eastmod, they came in there, gave them a really tough game.
26:25
SPEAKER_10: Almost knocked them off.
26:26
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
26:27
SPEAKER_09: So we just gotta we gotta keep preparing, treat them like a really good team like they are, and take them down.
26:35
SPEAKER_10: The offense uh for Wenatchee has been pass prolific.
26:39
SPEAKER_10: You guys have had to throw the ball, and the running game has kind of struggled a little bit.
26:42
SPEAKER_10: It's had some success here and there.
26:45
SPEAKER_10: When you guys as a unit, as your coach was just here and called you guys the pass catching unit.
26:51
SPEAKER_10: So it's not just wide receivers, you got Liam in there too.
26:54
SPEAKER_10: What is his position?
26:55
SPEAKER_10: Is he a tight end?
26:56
SPEAKER_10: Is he a wing back?
26:57
SPEAKER_10: What what is he?
26:59
SPEAKER_09: I mean, Liam kind of plays everywhere.
27:01
SPEAKER_09: We have a formation where he's at quarterback too.
27:04
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
27:04
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, he can kind of do it all if he's good at blocking.
27:06
SPEAKER_10: I was gonna ask you about that.
27:07
SPEAKER_10: Is that a jumbo package or is that uh kind of a tush-push type?
27:12
SPEAKER_10: Because I noticed that if he's at quarterback, it's usually a goal line situation.
27:16
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I mean, it's just kind of it's just kind of in there to mix it up.
27:20
SPEAKER_09: Give him he's really good at running the ball.
27:22
SPEAKER_09: He's very aggressive, and just another opportunity to have him run the ball.
27:28
SPEAKER_10: So I think I know the answer to this, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
27:31
SPEAKER_10: So again, interception against Ike last Friday.
27:34
SPEAKER_10: Two Fridays ago, you catch an amazing touchdown catch right before halftime against Eastpawn.
27:39
SPEAKER_10: Oh, yeah.
27:40
SPEAKER_10: Which one meant more?
27:44
SPEAKER_09: Um I'd probably say the E-spawn touchdown.
27:47
SPEAKER_09: I feel like that one felt really good just going up there, catching it over everyone.
27:52
SPEAKER_09: I got it.
27:53
SPEAKER_09: But you literally did.
27:54
SPEAKER_10: I mean, there's a st a still shot of you that had to pick, you know, you're over the top of both your teammate.
28:00
SPEAKER_10: What was that Liam that was underneath you?
28:03
SPEAKER_10: You guys joke about that after the fact.
28:05
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, definitely.
28:06
SPEAKER_10: He's like, that was mine.
28:09
SPEAKER_10: Well, it was kind of almost an interception on offense, you know in a way.
28:14
SPEAKER_10: Because there was two defenders right there, too.
28:16
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
28:17
SPEAKER_09: I think that's definitely going to be one of my favorite catches of my career.
28:21
SPEAKER_09: I got pushed out of bounds and then I came over and just caught it like over everyone.
28:27
SPEAKER_10: Trevor Burrus, Jr.
28:27
SPEAKER_10: Well, don't tell the officials that you're out of bounds.
28:29
SPEAKER_10: Well, I I got pushed, so it's not.
28:31
SPEAKER_10: Oh, that's right.
28:32
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
28:33
SPEAKER_10: If you come back in on your own volition.
28:34
SPEAKER_10: Okay, all right.
28:35
SPEAKER_10: Good point.
28:36
SPEAKER_10: Good point.
28:36
SPEAKER_10: Um How much have you grown like in the last year?
28:39
SPEAKER_10: Somebody was telling me you've grown like three, four inches in the U.S.
28:42
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
28:42
SPEAKER_09: Um I'm kind of you're six sticks?
28:45
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I'm six sticks.
28:46
SPEAKER_10: Is that true and honest?
28:47
SPEAKER_09: Six sticks?
28:48
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
28:48
SPEAKER_09: I'm like right at the cusp, but I am six sticks.
28:51
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
28:51
SPEAKER_10: All right.
28:52
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
28:52
SPEAKER_10: So when has that growth spurt hit?
28:55
SPEAKER_10: Because I was I was chatting with your dad online and I said, well, I see where he gets his height, and he goes, No, no, he's outgrown me.
29:01
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
29:01
SPEAKER_09: Um I don't know.
29:02
SPEAKER_09: It's just I've kind of steadily grown.
29:05
SPEAKER_09: Like it there's not been specific spurts, but I've just steadily grown taller and taller.
29:11
SPEAKER_10: Who's I know your dad's what, six two?
29:13
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, he's six two, six three, right in there.
29:15
SPEAKER_09: So you got him by four inches already.
29:17
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
29:17
SPEAKER_10: Who else is tall in your family?
29:19
SPEAKER_09: Um I had an uncle, he was six five.
29:21
SPEAKER_09: I guess there was uh another one that I didn't know about that I learned about recently.
29:26
SPEAKER_09: He was six six or six five.
29:28
SPEAKER_09: So that's so it's in there.
29:29
SPEAKER_09: But yeah, a lot of the people on my dad's side are a little taller.
29:33
SPEAKER_10: How much fun is that also when you go up against and I I just got the roster for West Valley, so I haven't had a chance to look at it.
29:39
SPEAKER_10: And I don't know if they've got any size on the defensive backfield, but how fun is that for you as a guy who's 6'6 to go up against like a 5'8 or 5'9 defensive back?
29:48
SPEAKER_09: I mean, it definitely gives you a lot of confidence, like just knowing the numbers.
29:52
SPEAKER_10: Yes, Rico, just throw it high.
29:53
SPEAKER_09: I got it.
29:54
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, it definitely gives you a lot of confidence and it makes it a little easier, definitely.
29:59
SPEAKER_10: You guys came into the season, I know what the aspirations of winning the Big Nine title, but you knew going in that you're it's Mosalake and East Mont going to be the two other teams right there.
30:08
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
30:09
SPEAKER_10: Um, as far as you personally setting goals and and aspirations for the season, where are you on that?
30:14
SPEAKER_10: And and you've got still more games to go, but are are you happy with how things have gone for you personally?
30:21
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I definitely just wanted to come in, make the most out of my opportunities.
30:25
SPEAKER_09: I wanted to maximize what I can.
30:31
SPEAKER_09: Did you hit a replay count?
30:32
SPEAKER_10: Do you go so far as to say, okay, I want this many catches, I want this many touchdowns, that type of thing?
30:37
SPEAKER_09: I mean, that part doesn't matter a whole bunch to me as long as like our team's winning.
30:41
SPEAKER_09: So whatever my role is, it's my role and I make the most out of it.
30:46
SPEAKER_10: What are you picking up from the seniors?
30:48
SPEAKER_10: You're a junior, right?
30:49
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
30:49
SPEAKER_10: So you got another year to come.
30:51
SPEAKER_10: What are you picking up from those seniors that you want to carry on with that Panther tradition specifically regarding football?
30:57
SPEAKER_09: Definitely like the leadership and the love for the game.
30:59
SPEAKER_09: There's a lot of guys on our team that are definitely big vocal parts on our team, and they definitely love the game, have a lot of heart, so I want to keep that going.
31:08
SPEAKER_10: Is there a a special camaraderie for you guys in the pass catching game between you and Micah and Griffin and Liam and and you guys specifically?
31:18
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, we're definitely we're definitely a very tight group.
31:20
SPEAKER_09: We hang out together, we always are talking football, talking about how we can get better.
31:26
SPEAKER_09: Over the offseason, we would always do workouts together, just getting better, preparing for the season.
31:32
SPEAKER_10: Do you guys take pride in the fact that you're one of the top receiving units in all the big nine?
31:38
SPEAKER_10: Mm-hmm.
31:38
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, we definitely, we definitely try and well you look, I mean you get those stats every week, and I I don't know if you guys look at those or not, but I mean you've got like between you, Liam, Micah, Griffin, I mean, nobody else has that many receivers that are catching balls, let alone putting up the yardage and and touchdowns you guys are doing.
32:04
SPEAKER_10: So that's got to be a pride factor for you guys.
32:06
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, we definitely we have a very polished group.
32:09
SPEAKER_09: I feel like there's a lot of Rego can kind of go anywhere to us and he's gonna have a good target to do some damage.
32:17
SPEAKER_10: They've they've run a lot of jet sweeps with Griffin.
32:20
SPEAKER_10: Uh you had one and scored a touchdown.
32:24
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
32:24
SPEAKER_10: Okay, that was down in Yakima, wasn't it?
32:26
SPEAKER_10: Uh no, that was home.
32:27
SPEAKER_10: That was it.
32:28
SPEAKER_10: Oh that's right.
32:29
SPEAKER_10: Sunny side.
32:29
SPEAKER_09: Sunny side, yes.
32:30
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
32:30
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
32:31
SPEAKER_10: So uh when you get that opportunity.
32:34
SPEAKER_10: So that play call in the huddle.
32:35
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
32:36
SPEAKER_10: Do you know it's coming to you?
32:38
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
32:38
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
32:39
SPEAKER_10: Or is it in a couple of things?
32:40
SPEAKER_09: I knew it was coming to me.
32:41
SPEAKER_09: It can be an option, but it's usually yeah.
32:44
SPEAKER_09: Okay.
32:45
SPEAKER_09: I knew it was coming to you.
32:46
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
32:46
SPEAKER_10: So does that kind of quicken your your pace, your heartbeat a little bit when you know that ball's coming to you, and it's uh, you know, you're coming around the end, you're carrying the ball as a rusher rather than as a receiver?
32:56
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I mean it just it kind of it helps me prepare, I guess.
33:00
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
33:01
SPEAKER_09: I know I know what's gonna be coming, so I know I can I know I need to prepare and run hard.
33:07
SPEAKER_10: So you're gonna be in the playoffs for sure.
33:09
SPEAKER_10: You're gonna be on the road for sure.
33:11
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
33:12
SPEAKER_10: So tell me about what that's like in your head.
33:15
SPEAKER_10: I mean, obviously you've got to concentrate on tomorrow night and West Valley and things like that, but but as you look towards the playoffs and stuff, what as you as a person, you guys as a team, what are you feeling?
33:28
SPEAKER_09: I mean, I feel like we're pretty we feel pretty good.
33:30
SPEAKER_09: We we're on the up right now.
33:32
SPEAKER_09: We we need to get past West Valley, and then after that, on the road, it's always gonna be a little harder, but it's nothing we can't do.
33:39
SPEAKER_09: We've won a lot of things.
33:40
SPEAKER_10: Well, it depends on how you guys get seeded, too.
33:41
SPEAKER_10: I don't know how much you pay attention to that, but you know, it looks like you're gonna be kind of the middle of the pack, maybe a 16, 17 seed, something like that, which would be great because you're gonna play against the school even though it's on the road.
33:52
SPEAKER_10: That's gonna be a similar seed as far as the tournament is concerned.
33:56
SPEAKER_10: So you I would think that as a as a football team going in, hey, it's on their place, but we could beat them.
34:02
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, definitely.
34:03
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I think we I think we definitely have a good chance to uh uh win this first game and then keep keep going on.
34:10
SPEAKER_09: Get into the round of 16.
34:11
SPEAKER_10: That'd be pretty sweet.
34:12
SPEAKER_10: That'd be pretty okay.
34:13
SPEAKER_10: So uh for those who didn't catch the pregame show, we're gonna repeat some of the questions I asked you when we were doing that here a few weeks ago.
34:19
SPEAKER_10: Um aside from football, you play basketball and you play baseball.
34:24
SPEAKER_10: Yep.
34:24
SPEAKER_10: Okay, do you have a preference on which sport?
34:27
SPEAKER_09: Um baseball and football are definitely my favorites.
34:30
SPEAKER_09: I'm between them, it's just kind of whatever's in season.
34:34
SPEAKER_09: I like more.
34:35
SPEAKER_09: They're both really fun to me.
34:36
SPEAKER_09: I love baseball.
34:37
SPEAKER_09: I've always loved baseball.
34:38
SPEAKER_10: And I know you've done some pitching, right?
34:40
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
34:40
SPEAKER_10: Uh is that starting?
34:41
SPEAKER_10: Is that relieving?
34:42
SPEAKER_10: What what role have you had on the mount?
34:44
SPEAKER_09: Uh last year my role was I was a reliever, but hopefully I can try and work in that starting role, but I'm also perfectly fine with the reliever.
34:53
SPEAKER_10: So, I mean, there's so many of these sports, especially baseball, that's year-round now.
34:57
SPEAKER_10: Um, do you put that on the back burner during football season or d are you still throwing the ball around a little bit?
35:02
SPEAKER_09: No, I'm definitely I'm doing this program for baseball.
35:06
SPEAKER_09: I'm throwing, I'm hitting, or I'm not hitting a ton right now, but I'm throwing and lifting for baseball definitely.
35:12
SPEAKER_10: Are you watching the World Series?
35:13
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
35:14
SPEAKER_10: Okay, are you rooting for anybody in particular?
35:16
SPEAKER_09: I was rooting for the Dodgers.
35:18
SPEAKER_09: Oh, yeah.
35:18
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I'm a big Dodgers guy.
35:21
SPEAKER_09: My mom and dad, they both lived in California, so they're definitely big Dodger people.
35:25
SPEAKER_10: And so then them falling to Milwaukee, does that make you a Milwaukee fan at this point when it comes to work?
35:31
SPEAKER_09: I don't know.
35:32
SPEAKER_09: I don't know if I can ever be a Milwaukee fan.
35:36
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
35:37
SPEAKER_10: All right, all right.
35:39
SPEAKER_10: All right.
35:39
SPEAKER_10: So post-high school, you want to continue doing sports?
35:42
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I'd love to.
35:43
SPEAKER_09: I'd love to play baseball or bat uh baseball or football, even basketball if I had the opportunity, but I don't foresee that.
35:49
SPEAKER_10: Well, I mean, a 6'6 kid, you got a chance to to probably get some more playing time on the on the basketball court this this winter.
35:56
SPEAKER_10: So it'll be fun.
35:57
SPEAKER_10: We're gonna be uh broadcasting uh the basketball games as well here on KKRV, so we're looking forward to that.
36:02
SPEAKER_10: We're gonna be on the road with you guys, a little something different.
36:04
SPEAKER_10: We're not gonna do the home games, we're gonna broadcast the road games.
36:07
SPEAKER_10: So parents and stuff when it comes time in the winter time and can't travel, all travel for 'em.
36:11
SPEAKER_10: Oh, yeah.
36:12
SPEAKER_10: So that's what we're gonna do there.
36:14
SPEAKER_10: Um what else post education-wise?
36:17
SPEAKER_10: What do you want to do with college and and stuff like that?
36:20
SPEAKER_09: Well, I like kinesiology, I like physical therapy, athletic training, like maybe it's to do with a sports organization, something like that.
36:30
SPEAKER_09: But physical therapy and that's pretty much what I've been set on.
36:34
SPEAKER_10: Did that come from first person you've had injuries and you've had help along the way, or just you know, the the people that are taping you up before games?
36:42
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, when I was uh when I was a freshman, I had a hamstring strain, so I had to go to physical therapy at Biosports, and just I really liked all the stuff they do there.
36:52
SPEAKER_10: I like helping people, so that was definitely kind of stuck in your mind a little bit about oh, okay, that's out there.
36:58
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, and it has to do with athletics too, and I love athletics.
37:01
SPEAKER_09: There you go.
37:02
SPEAKER_10: There you go.
37:02
SPEAKER_10: Um we talked about this during the season a few weeks ago.
37:06
SPEAKER_10: I don't know uh honestly don't remember your answer.
37:09
SPEAKER_10: I've been asking everybody about nicknames.
37:11
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
37:11
SPEAKER_09: So do you have a nickname?
37:13
SPEAKER_09: I don't have that many nicknames.
37:15
SPEAKER_09: Uh freshman year, one of my coaches called me Balloon for like instead of Balloo.
37:20
SPEAKER_09: Balloon.
37:22
SPEAKER_09: Okay.
37:22
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, it's it's stuck with him.
37:24
SPEAKER_09: Not a ton of people call me that.
37:25
SPEAKER_09: Okay.
37:26
SPEAKER_09: Uh a lot of people on the football team, like Liam, call me Chaser.
37:29
SPEAKER_10: Chaser?
37:29
SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
37:30
SPEAKER_09: Okay.
37:30
SPEAKER_09: That's that's pretty much it.
37:32
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
37:32
SPEAKER_10: All right.
37:33
SPEAKER_10: Uh has that been a conversation past that?
37:36
SPEAKER_10: Past that conversation that we had about that?
37:39
SPEAKER_10: That you've had other talks with the guys about names and stuff?
37:43
SPEAKER_10: No, not really, honestly.
37:45
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
37:45
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
37:45
SPEAKER_10: All right, that's fine.
37:46
SPEAKER_10: That's fine.
37:47
SPEAKER_10: Well, best of luck against West Valley.
37:49
SPEAKER_10: And of course, uh playoffs and all that fun stuff.
37:52
SPEAKER_10: And here's hoping you got what three more weeks of football left.
37:54
SPEAKER_10: Yep, hopefully.
37:55
SPEAKER_10: All right, thanks for being here.
37:56
SPEAKER_10: Thank you.
37:57
SPEAKER_10: Chase Belude joining us here.
37:58
SPEAKER_10: We're going to talk uh some girl soccer coming up.
38:00
SPEAKER_10: Ashton Kirkpatrick, who's the head coach of the girl soccer team for the Panthers, and one of her players, uh, in fact, let me remind everybody who it is, Finley Smith will join us coming up on the Winanchue Panther podcast here on KKRV, brought to you by Les Schwab and TGR Inc.
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38:46
SPEAKER_10: When I Panther Podcast continues here on KKRV 1047, Ashton Kirkpatrick is not a stranger to the podcast.
38:53
SPEAKER_10: She joins us once again to talk about girl soccer, end of the season is right upon us.
38:57
SPEAKER_10: I know this is weird because as this drops on Thursday, you already played your last game two nights ago, which is actually as we record this happening tonight.
39:06
SPEAKER_10: So congratulations, you won.
39:10
SPEAKER_10: I don't Eisenhower.
39:12
SPEAKER_10: This is the big one.
39:13
SPEAKER_10: You lost to them earlier this season.
39:15
SPEAKER_10: So as you prepare for this one, tell me about what needs to change for you guys.
39:20
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think the last game, I mean, I'll start by saying Eisenhower's a pretty good team this year.
39:25
SPEAKER_03: They're they're beating good teams.
39:26
SPEAKER_03: Um they're playing good, clean soccer.
39:29
SPEAKER_03: So um not to take a yeah, not to take away from what they've done, but I do feel that it was one of the worst games I've ever seen us play.
39:37
SPEAKER_03: Um and we knew they were playing, you know, good quality soccer, so it was kind of I think in the back of everybody's mind, like, oh man, um, even though we're historically the team to beat, there was that pressure on us.
39:49
SPEAKER_03: So I think that's the one and only time I've ever considered the loss and effort thing, an effort and attitude thing, which we we pride ourselves on that not being something that we you know are tagged with, but I think that was a mindset and a and an effort to kind of crash.
40:05
SPEAKER_03: And so um that's the focus for tonight.
40:08
SPEAKER_03: Just to worry less about I mean, obviously it's in the back of our mind to get some points and win that game, but um to really try to emphasize just when we play hard, we play really well.
40:19
SPEAKER_03: And so just playing hard, leaving it all out there, and then seeing I think it with that being said, both teams are gonna bring energy, both teams have something on the line, so it should be a pretty good, pretty good game.
40:29
SPEAKER_10: And you've been battling, we talked about it with some injuries and with some player shuffling going on and things like that.
40:35
SPEAKER_10: Are you back to 100% now, or are you still kind of okay, no, what's your name?
40:40
SPEAKER_10: Get in there.
40:41
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, 100% would be way too good to be true.
40:44
SPEAKER_03: So um no, we have not I don't think we've started or played the same formation or roster the entire season, which is new, that's not been a factor for us.
40:53
SPEAKER_03: Um and so we've had some people come into the season a little beat up, um, and that's just you know, get things compensated and turn and snowball into other things, and um it's kind of just been all over the place who who we've gotten and what we've got.
41:07
SPEAKER_03: So we're like 85% you know of our normal right now.
41:13
SPEAKER_03: So and end of the season everybody's a little beat up and everybody's a little bit sore.
41:17
SPEAKER_03: So um, but in in my opinion, that doesn't change your effort.
41:21
SPEAKER_03: You still you still who no matter who you are, you can put 100% on the field.
41:25
SPEAKER_10: So has there been a game that you look at and you go, okay, that's the Panther Soccer right there.
41:30
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I think you know, after we had the loss to Ike, I think that was the worst game I've ever seen our team play, but then we turned around and played Ike without a doubt the best game I've ever seen us play against Lake Stevens.
41:41
SPEAKER_03: And so a good response.
41:43
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I can't complain about that response.
41:45
SPEAKER_10: Which was just a few days later, right?
41:46
SPEAKER_03: A couple days later, yeah, a different team.
41:48
SPEAKER_03: And I mean, just doing things I've never even seen them do.
41:51
SPEAKER_03: Um but the entire focus was just energy, and so um and I think that's tough because that was on the road getting off the bus.
42:00
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we were three hours early to the game.
42:01
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's a beautiful field, so nothing to complain about there, but um just I think the difference was energy and and having no no pressure for that game.
42:11
SPEAKER_03: Um you go into it as the underdog, they're I mean, two years ago state champs.
42:15
SPEAKER_03: Right now I think they're ranked fourth.
42:16
SPEAKER_03: Um it's not like they're a bad team all of a sudden and we're competing with them.
42:20
SPEAKER_03: That is like one of the best teams in the state historically, um, and continuing to be, and we're I would argue even had some moments of domination.
42:28
SPEAKER_03: Like we were really controlling that game, and so um it went from almost like, oh, we'll see what happens to like we should have maybe won that game.
42:37
SPEAKER_03: Um but would take the draw, we take the you know, the comeback on it.
42:40
SPEAKER_03: So I think there's been a pretty positive shift through the second half of the season responding to that game, um that Eisenhower game, and I think everybody's kind of we had a a little come to Jesus, a little revisit after that, and I think now you know everybody's got priorities lined up and I think we had a good conversation about that.
43:00
SPEAKER_10: You have admitted that you're a hard coach, that that you're you demand you know excellence from your players and stuff, and and that response against Lake Stevens, was that also after you chewed some hind ends and things like that?
43:14
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yep.
43:14
SPEAKER_03: And I I looked the team in the eye after the game and said, you know, we had a loss to Mount Spokane um earlier in the season, and that's a game where we played really hard, but we were not the better team.
43:27
SPEAKER_03: Um and I looked them in the eye and I said, Was I upset with you after that game?
43:30
SPEAKER_03: And they all you know shook their head no.
43:32
SPEAKER_03: Um but that because I did feel that that was an attitude and an effort to kind of deflation, um, yeah, they got laid into a little bit.
43:40
SPEAKER_03: But the following day, we didn't even have practice that Monday.
43:43
SPEAKER_03: We just met for an hour and just re revisited our goals, talked through everything.
43:47
SPEAKER_03: We changed our whole warm up, we changed our locker room rules, we just had a reset to the whole rest of the season.
43:53
SPEAKER_03: So new rules for the bus, new rules I mean, just everything was flip it over, just to kind of make sure.
43:58
SPEAKER_03: I mean, I gotta keep my own goals for.
44:00
SPEAKER_03: For the season, but it means nothing if they're not on the same page.
44:03
SPEAKER_03: And so we work.
44:05
SPEAKER_03: And we turned that around the next day.
44:07
SPEAKER_10: That's you mentioned a few times pressure.
44:10
SPEAKER_10: Is that the pressure you think the girls feel internally, externally?
44:15
SPEAKER_10: Where's where does that come from, do you think?
44:17
SPEAKER_03: I would have always said I think internally, um until maybe recently, but I think we have a group of high achieving kids, and I think I mean I can relate to that being I mean semi-young still, but that if I had that feeling of being a high schooler alone and then being a female alone and then wanting to achieve all these great things.
44:40
SPEAKER_03: I mean, even if you look at academically our team, it's like you know, 12 of the 16 are 4.0 students.
44:46
SPEAKER_03: It's just that they do put that on themselves, but that comes from families with high expectations and good morals, and you know, pushing kids to do good things.
44:54
SPEAKER_03: So we have a pretty pretty solid group of people that back these kids.
44:59
SPEAKER_03: Um, and so of course there's external, you know, what's gonna be on social media, what's gonna be posted on this or whatever, but I think I would say primarily the internal.
45:10
SPEAKER_03: I don't know what goes on in people's home lives and stuff, but I think a lot of it's they want to perform well for because it means something to them.
45:17
SPEAKER_10: Are you and the girls still having fun?
45:19
SPEAKER_03: Oh yeah.
45:20
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
45:20
SPEAKER_03: All that being said, to me, the hygiene, you know, component of that and having success is what's fun.
45:26
SPEAKER_03: That's what drives me.
45:27
SPEAKER_03: That's um, we talk about like player experience.
45:30
SPEAKER_03: Player experience to me, if I'm on a team that's kicking everybody's butt, that's a great player experience.
45:35
SPEAKER_03: I don't even care if I'm sitting on the bench and I'm kicking everybody's butt, that's a really good time for me.
45:40
SPEAKER_03: So um that's not true for everybody, but that's kind of my philosophy on it.
45:44
SPEAKER_10: So let's talk real quick about the the postseason.
45:49
SPEAKER_10: I know you can't look past what's going on tonight in this reference.
45:52
SPEAKER_10: Ike will have one more game this weekend before it all gets shuffled, and then of course you got the the play-in round for the big nine, and then you've got the district championship or that you hope to be hosting uh a game type of is is that how it's working?
46:08
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, so right now no matter what, us and Ike play again next week for the district championship.
46:14
SPEAKER_03: So we're one and two.
46:15
SPEAKER_03: I think we're a bit ahead of everybody else by at least four wins.
46:18
SPEAKER_03: So um no matter what, it's us and Ike next week as well.
46:21
SPEAKER_03: So back to back Ike.
46:23
SPEAKER_03: Um we've talked about it.
46:25
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, you've had that before.
46:28
SPEAKER_03: I think that happened with us and Eastmont last year with back-to-back weeks.
46:31
SPEAKER_03: And that's that's just tough.
46:33
SPEAKER_03: Even on both sides, it you know, whatever happens tonight, it's it's tough to turn around and do that a third time or to do it a second time, you know, whatever it may be.
46:40
SPEAKER_03: Um and it's you know, the the beauty of like the King County leagues and stuff is they play everybody one time.
46:47
SPEAKER_03: It's I mean, as much as I love these people, it's like, man, I'd like to see some fresh faces.
46:54
SPEAKER_03: So it's I think the girls get excited to go play like a Lake Stevens or a Mead because it's like something new, new field, new travel, new restaurant to stop at, or whatever.
47:04
SPEAKER_03: So um, yeah, we've hit up that Fred Meyer and Yakma far too many times.
47:09
SPEAKER_10: But you mean there's not the miners afterwards like everybody else does?
47:12
SPEAKER_03: The gut bomb on the it's worth it.
47:15
SPEAKER_03: But but yeah, I think that's a challenge in itself.
47:18
SPEAKER_03: So um and then depending on the outcome of that game, you play another team for the third time or you you get a move on.
47:25
SPEAKER_03: So um that's next week's up up in the air.
47:28
SPEAKER_03: We'll see.
47:28
SPEAKER_10: I know that you'd been hoping to, you know, you get that far hoping to host a state playoff game.
47:35
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
47:35
SPEAKER_10: Don't know if that's happening.
47:36
SPEAKER_10: And uh you know, I was just talking with a football coach about it, and they have the RPI, but they don't really use it a lot for the seating.
47:44
SPEAKER_10: Do they use it for soccer or not?
47:46
SPEAKER_03: A little bit.
47:47
SPEAKER_03: It's honestly kind of a joke.
47:49
SPEAKER_03: It's it's pretty inaccurate.
47:51
SPEAKER_03: It does mean something, but it gets shuffled all around.
47:54
SPEAKER_03: Um I mean, at one point I think last year we were ranked one, and I mean, truthfully, we're not the number one team in the state, and they didn't know that at the beginning of the year.
48:03
SPEAKER_03: It's just it's it's an algorithm and it it's useful to an extent, but uh, there's a committee that determines everything at the end of the season.
48:11
SPEAKER_03: And um I I think uh truthfully, uh if you look at our history the first round of the state, having the home game hasn't actually made a difference.
48:19
SPEAKER_03: So I maybe we'll mix it up.
48:21
SPEAKER_03: Maybe we want the awakening.
48:22
SPEAKER_03: We'll take the 16th seed and see what happens.
48:25
SPEAKER_10: Uh we've got uh Finley coming in next.
48:27
SPEAKER_10: Tell me a little bit about her.
48:29
SPEAKER_03: Finley's been awesome.
48:30
SPEAKER_03: It's her um third year on varsity.
48:32
SPEAKER_03: She got named team captain this year, so um, it was very apparent throughout the summer.
48:37
SPEAKER_03: She was not a captain this summer, but uh just that kid that like grabs the you know, the kid that's never been here before, brings him into a juggling circle.
48:46
SPEAKER_03: Um big personality.
48:49
SPEAKER_03: Always I was telling my husband that this morning, I don't think there's a game that Finley's played in where she didn't have a thousand percent energy and effort.
48:57
SPEAKER_03: Um, and even in that last, you know, the I game, she's the one I pointed to in the locker room and said, Except for you, you know, you did.
49:04
SPEAKER_03: You had that that like bring them up, you know, you're down by five, and it's like, hey, let's go.
49:09
SPEAKER_10: And and she's like, as a coach to have a player like that.
49:12
SPEAKER_10: You'd love to have a whole team like that.
49:14
SPEAKER_03: I do have a whole team like that.
49:15
SPEAKER_03: That's what was so weird about that game.
49:18
SPEAKER_03: They all are that.
49:19
SPEAKER_03: I love this group.
49:20
SPEAKER_03: Um, and so that was just an off day.
49:23
SPEAKER_03: But she she's consistently brought that, and everybody, you know, all the teams, all the parents, they love her, and she's just one of those people that just never in a bad mood.
49:31
SPEAKER_03: She's always positive and has something good to say.
49:33
SPEAKER_10: So Finley's coming up next.
49:36
SPEAKER_10: Uh good luck tonight.
49:38
SPEAKER_10: That was two nights ago by the time this dropped.
49:42
SPEAKER_10: So it's a weird deal.
49:43
SPEAKER_10: We'll we'll keep you up to date on postseason and all that kind of fun stuff as well.
49:47
SPEAKER_10: Ashton, I appreciate you taking the time to do this.
49:49
SPEAKER_10: I know that your schedule is pretty hectic and everything else.
49:52
SPEAKER_10: So I appreciate it.
49:54
SPEAKER_03: Thanks for doing this for us.
49:55
SPEAKER_03: I think it's awesome.
49:56
SPEAKER_03: You bet.
49:56
SPEAKER_10: Ashton Kirkpatrick joining us here on the Wanatchue Panther Podcast.
49:59
SPEAKER_10: We will talk with Finley uh Smith coming up.
50:02
SPEAKER_10: Junior, senior?
50:03
SPEAKER_10: Junior.
50:03
SPEAKER_10: Junior.
50:04
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
50:04
SPEAKER_10: Junior, Finley Smith coming up next here on the Wannachie Panther Podcast.
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51:06
SPEAKER_10: It's the Win At You Panther Podcast here on KKRV 1047, and we have the person that we're just talking about with her coach.
51:13
SPEAKER_10: Uh, we've got Finlay Smith.
51:15
SPEAKER_10: I almost called you Ashley again for whatever reason.
51:18
SPEAKER_10: That's your sister?
51:18
SPEAKER_06: Yes.
51:19
SPEAKER_10: Okay, is she older, younger?
51:20
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I have two older sisters.
51:21
SPEAKER_06: Oh, okay.
51:22
SPEAKER_10: Are you the youngest?
51:23
SPEAKER_06: I am.
51:24
SPEAKER_10: You are.
51:24
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
51:24
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
51:25
SPEAKER_10: Does that mean see, I don't know.
51:27
SPEAKER_10: I have a younger sister, older brother, and I don't know if I picked on her so much.
51:33
SPEAKER_10: With with you having older sisters, did you get picked on being the youngest?
51:38
SPEAKER_06: I don't think I get picked on.
51:39
SPEAKER_06: I feel like I'm extra overprotected over.
51:42
SPEAKER_10: Oh, so you're the baby.
51:44
SPEAKER_10: Okay, mom and dad always watching out for you.
51:47
SPEAKER_10: Of course.
51:47
SPEAKER_10: What's the age difference between you guys?
51:49
SPEAKER_06: Um, I'm 16.
51:50
SPEAKER_06: My middle child Ashley is 19, and my oldest is 21.
51:54
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
51:55
SPEAKER_10: So she's off in college doing her thing.
51:57
SPEAKER_10: Oh, they're both in college.
51:58
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
51:59
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
51:59
SPEAKER_10: Uh were they soccer players as well?
52:01
SPEAKER_06: They both were.
52:02
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
52:03
SPEAKER_10: And was it like a no-brainer that you just followed their footsteps?
52:07
SPEAKER_06: Pretty much.
52:08
SPEAKER_06: I mean, I've my parents had me try other sports.
52:11
SPEAKER_06: Both my parents were collegiate athletes, but soccer has always been it for me.
52:15
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
52:15
SPEAKER_10: Did they play soccer?
52:17
SPEAKER_06: Neither of my parents did.
52:18
SPEAKER_06: Oh, okay.
52:19
SPEAKER_10: So when did you know that, oh, I kind of like this?
52:22
SPEAKER_10: How old were you?
52:23
SPEAKER_06: I was probably six years old.
52:25
SPEAKER_10: Really?
52:26
SPEAKER_10: Okay, so that's going back what it was.
52:27
SPEAKER_06: Yes.
52:28
SPEAKER_10: So then you've been involved in in the local leagues, you've been involved in maybe travel soccer too?
52:34
SPEAKER_06: Yes, for sure.
52:34
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
52:35
SPEAKER_06: I play for Wenatchee FA, and then I've always played for Wenatchee FC, and I played for Three Rivers, which is down in Tri-Cities.
52:42
SPEAKER_10: Wow.
52:42
SPEAKER_10: So you've had a lot of soccer.
52:44
SPEAKER_10: Yes.
52:44
SPEAKER_10: And you're not sick of it?
52:45
SPEAKER_06: Not yet.
52:47
SPEAKER_10: Well, your coach was just saying how she loves having you on the team because you are miss 100,000 percent energy all the time.
52:54
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
52:55
SPEAKER_10: Do you do you is that true in your whole life or just in soccer life?
52:59
SPEAKER_05: I think that's my whole life.
53:01
SPEAKER_05: Oh, really?
53:01
SPEAKER_05: I love it, yeah.
53:02
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
53:02
SPEAKER_10: All right.
53:03
SPEAKER_10: So you are you a morning person?
53:05
SPEAKER_10: Are you an afternoon, evening person?
53:07
SPEAKER_06: I love waking up early.
53:09
SPEAKER_06: Like uh we uh in the summer we wake up for at 6 a.m.
53:13
SPEAKER_06: for practice for conditioning, and that's my favorite time of day.
53:16
SPEAKER_10: And you're happy about doing conditioning at 6 o'clock in the morning or whatever time you have to show up at the Really?
53:22
SPEAKER_10: So you're you're all in.
53:24
SPEAKER_10: So okay, conditioning for soccer.
53:25
SPEAKER_10: What is that?
53:26
SPEAKER_10: That's just running, right?
53:27
SPEAKER_06: A whole lot of running.
53:28
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
53:29
SPEAKER_10: Now, Ashton was telling me though, that over the years that they've also implemented weight training as part of that soccer prep.
53:40
SPEAKER_10: Have you done that as well?
53:42
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, we just started in the summer and um we did weights every day for about like an hour, and then like every other day we would do some conditioning either at the track or at the soccer field.
53:53
SPEAKER_10: So is that all lower body or are you doing upper body too for that?
53:56
SPEAKER_06: I do like every day while the high school has a strength coach, and so we just did like full body like every day.
54:03
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
54:04
SPEAKER_10: Yeah.
54:04
SPEAKER_10: Because I guess, you know, for those I don't I've never played soccer.
54:08
SPEAKER_10: I don't understand soccer very much, but I still like to talk about it, especially with somebody like him.
54:13
SPEAKER_10: So core what what is I mean, legs seems like that's an obvious as far as strength, uh endurance, that type of thing.
54:22
SPEAKER_10: But what else helps you in the world of soccer?
54:24
SPEAKER_06: Um what helps us a lot.
54:26
SPEAKER_06: We do a lot of core training, and we do a lot of um we do lots of burpees as punishments as practice.
54:33
SPEAKER_06: Um but core just helps you a lot, just like for balance and um like throw-ins, all that all that stuff.
54:40
SPEAKER_10: Oh, sure, sure.
54:41
SPEAKER_10: Okay, all right, that makes sense.
54:42
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, and the the battle one-on-one for balls, right?
54:46
SPEAKER_06: I mean, because there's a lot of this going on and everything else, right?
54:49
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
54:51
SPEAKER_10: So Okay, you talked about burpees, I gotta ask.
54:54
SPEAKER_10: After the Eisenhower game, where it didn't go your way.
54:57
SPEAKER_06: Right.
54:58
SPEAKER_10: So did you guys get punished for that?
55:01
SPEAKER_06: We did not.
55:03
SPEAKER_06: We had I know.
55:04
SPEAKER_06: We had a team meeting and we basically got together and we just talked about how we can make sure that will never happen again.
55:11
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
55:12
SPEAKER_10: So yeah.
55:12
SPEAKER_10: How has it been since then?
55:13
SPEAKER_10: That was a few weeks ago.
55:15
SPEAKER_06: Uh-huh.
55:16
SPEAKER_06: So about two days or three days after uh that loss, we played Lake Stevens, which is one of the top teams in the state.
55:24
SPEAKER_06: Um, and we went down and we were just like, we have nothing to lose, like our winning uh streak is over, so let's just go out and like let's just ball out, and that's what we did.
55:36
SPEAKER_06: So we've kind of just been going into every game, like, with no pressure on our backs to keep a winning streak.
55:41
SPEAKER_06: And I think it's made us play a lot better.
55:44
SPEAKER_06: Like we're playing with so much freedom and we play with a lot of intensity.
55:48
SPEAKER_06: And one of the things that we talked about in that team meeting was having lots of hype for each other.
55:53
SPEAKER_06: So every time our name gets called, or every time somebody like slides to keep the ball in bounds, we're all screaming and we're all celebrating.
55:59
SPEAKER_06: So that's very helpful.
56:01
SPEAKER_10: That um your coach talked about pressure and about how maybe the pressure got to be a little too much.
56:08
SPEAKER_10: And I asked her if that was an internal pressure or an external pressure.
56:13
SPEAKER_10: What do you think?
56:14
SPEAKER_06: I definitely think it's an internal pressure.
56:16
SPEAKER_10: That's what she said.
56:17
SPEAKER_06: Uh-huh.
56:18
SPEAKER_06: Um, we have this thing that Ashen keeps talking about.
56:22
SPEAKER_06: It's like a self-not like a self-image, but we all just get on ourselves for caring about what other people think.
56:29
SPEAKER_06: So that's why we play a lot better at away games.
56:32
SPEAKER_06: Because I think that everybody's just like looking at the crowd or like whatever people are gonna think of them for like trying too hard or something like that.
56:40
SPEAKER_06: Okay.
56:40
SPEAKER_06: So yeah, definitely internal.
56:42
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
56:42
SPEAKER_10: So you've got the well, and this is weird because this doesn't drop until Thursday.
56:48
SPEAKER_10: So the games tonight, as we record this, you got Ike again, but it's on the road.
56:55
SPEAKER_10: So does that with that and that internal pressure, does that kind of free you guys up knowing it's on the road?
57:01
SPEAKER_06: And I definitely think so.
57:03
SPEAKER_06: I mean, we don't know anybody that's there.
57:05
SPEAKER_06: We'll never see any of those student section people ever again, probably.
57:10
SPEAKER_06: Well, until next year.
57:11
SPEAKER_06: But I think it'll be super fun.
57:14
SPEAKER_06: I mean, we have nothing to lose at this point.
57:16
SPEAKER_06: Like, I mean, we're obviously battling for like a league championship title, but we've already lost this team, so we really don't have anything to lose.
57:23
SPEAKER_10: And Coach was also saying that pretty much no matter what, win or lose tonight, that you're gonna play them again next week for the district championship just depends on whose field you're gonna play on.
57:34
SPEAKER_10: How hard is that to play a team that you've now will have seen three times or by the time you get there next week?
57:39
SPEAKER_06: I think it'll be pretty fun.
57:40
SPEAKER_06: We did that with ESMAT last year, and I think it's just fun because now both of us know how each other plays.
57:47
SPEAKER_06: But um yeah, Logan will be here this time.
57:50
SPEAKER_06: She wasn't there last time, so that'll be a pretty big advantage for us.
57:54
SPEAKER_10: Talk about that mental factor for Logan.
57:57
SPEAKER_10: We're talking about Logan Grostidier, who is a uh an Olympic ski person, right?
58:03
SPEAKER_10: I mean, basically, that's what she is, and that's what she's doing sometimes when she can't be with the team is she's traveling somewhere or something like that.
58:12
SPEAKER_10: Mentally, how is that to know that you've got Logan kind of in your back pocket that, oh, she's here, look out.
58:19
SPEAKER_06: Right.
58:19
SPEAKER_06: Um, I think it is pretty hard for us when she was gone the first time because we're all just trying to figure out how we can play without her presence on the field.
58:28
SPEAKER_06: And she's like one of our top goal scorers, so it's already kind of hard to play with that.
58:33
SPEAKER_06: But when she's not here, it requires the rest of our team to step up.
58:37
SPEAKER_06: So uh sometimes we can play good, like when she's not there, like we played Lake Stevens without her.
58:43
SPEAKER_06: Um, so everybody all just kind of steps up.
58:46
SPEAKER_06: But when she's here tonight, I think it'll be fun because Eisenhower doesn't know how to play us with her this year, so that'll be pretty fun.
58:54
SPEAKER_10: You talked about we talked about pressure, confidence.
58:58
SPEAKER_10: Do you guys have that confidence even if Logan's not there now at this point?
59:02
SPEAKER_06: I think we're getting there.
59:05
SPEAKER_06: I mean, we do.
59:06
SPEAKER_10: Because that's pretty important because you don't know what's gonna happen even for district playoffs and things like that.
59:12
SPEAKER_10: Right.
59:12
SPEAKER_06: Um, I think it's pretty hard to get that confidence, but um just because not just her on the field, but her off the field as a captain.
59:21
SPEAKER_06: Um, and it's just so weird.
59:23
SPEAKER_06: I mean, she's a senior this year, like she's all our program now has like kind of known.
59:29
SPEAKER_06: Um, but yeah, I mean she's great.
59:32
SPEAKER_10: But how important is communication on the pitch?
59:36
SPEAKER_06: Very, very, very, very important.
59:38
SPEAKER_06: We have a pretty quiet team, I would say.
59:40
SPEAKER_06: Like, I don't know if Ashton was talking about that, but we have a pretty like insecure team almost.
59:45
SPEAKER_10: Well, she was talking about how there's so many of you, and I don't know if this includes you or not, but uh like 4.0 students and and all so very cranial people that would probably tend not to be so vociferous.
59:59
SPEAKER_10: Is that true?
1:00:00
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
1:00:00
SPEAKER_06: Um with definitely um lack of communication on the field, and we all think a little bit too much, like we think about our zones too much, so we don't want to get in each other's space at all.
1:00:13
SPEAKER_06: Um which can be an advantage sometimes, and it definitely is, but um lack of communication, but we've definitely grown in that area like along the season.
1:00:23
SPEAKER_06: And especially since we're getting towards the end, I'd say we're all talking like quite a bit more.
1:00:28
SPEAKER_10: I you know, Ashton has admitted the fact that she's a tough coach.
1:00:32
SPEAKER_10: She she has high expectations and and those types of things.
1:00:36
SPEAKER_10: But she also talked about how you know she'll be dancing on the bus and and cutting up and doing stuff like that.
1:00:41
SPEAKER_10: So what is it like to play for her?
1:00:43
SPEAKER_06: Uh Ashton is definitely she's a great coach.
1:00:48
SPEAKER_06: I mean, um she's super hard on us, but it's because she knows that um she knows our fullest potential.
1:00:54
SPEAKER_06: I mean, she says all the time, like she knows how fast we can run, so when we're not sprinting, she knows.
1:01:00
SPEAKER_06: And I just like love that.
1:01:02
SPEAKER_06: And um I mean, I personally I respond to being yelled at.
1:01:07
SPEAKER_06: I like respond to that type of stuff.
1:01:09
SPEAKER_06: Um but she's super hard on us.
1:01:12
SPEAKER_06: But then after a win, like we're all dancing on the bus, we're all singing, and something that's really cool, like if I do something on the field, like she'll correct me, and then she'll go scream at the ref.
1:01:25
SPEAKER_06: So it's like kind of cool to know that she's she's always on my side, like she's always got our back for the ref, so specifically, and she'll always like yeah, she always has her back, which is awesome.
1:01:35
SPEAKER_10: Well, hopefully there's dancing and singing on the bus after the match tonight.
1:01:39
SPEAKER_10: Um what else do you do you play any other sports?
1:01:43
SPEAKER_10: Or soccer?
1:01:43
SPEAKER_10: It sounds like you don't have any time for anything else.
1:01:46
SPEAKER_06: Not quite.
1:01:47
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
1:01:47
SPEAKER_10: So if you have any free time, what do you like to do?
1:01:50
SPEAKER_10: Don't tell me play soccer.
1:01:52
SPEAKER_06: Okay.
1:01:54
SPEAKER_10: I mean, that's fine if you like to do that in your spare time, but yeah.
1:01:58
SPEAKER_06: I mean, I love soccer.
1:01:59
SPEAKER_06: I love running or walking on my treadmill after school.
1:02:03
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
1:02:04
SPEAKER_10: Um So between soccer and that, how many miles do you think you put in a week?
1:02:09
SPEAKER_06: Ooh.
1:02:10
SPEAKER_06: With not including like practices or games.
1:02:12
SPEAKER_10: No, no, everything.
1:02:13
SPEAKER_10: I mean, everything included.
1:02:14
SPEAKER_10: Do you have a Fit Watch that you go, yeah, wow, that was twenty million steps this week?
1:02:20
SPEAKER_06: I don't.
1:02:21
SPEAKER_06: I couldn't even guess, yeah.
1:02:23
SPEAKER_10: That would be interesting.
1:02:24
SPEAKER_06: Uh-huh.
1:02:25
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
1:02:25
SPEAKER_10: So you like to run, you like to jog, you like to do that.
1:02:28
SPEAKER_10: Anything do you have like a pastime, hobby, anything?
1:02:32
SPEAKER_10: Animals, pets?
1:02:34
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, I have two dogs or one dog now, but I love I know.
1:02:39
SPEAKER_10: Did we lose one like recently?
1:02:41
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, last week.
1:02:42
SPEAKER_06: Oh, yeah.
1:02:42
SPEAKER_06: But it's okay.
1:02:43
SPEAKER_06: He was pretty old, so it was just he's in a better place.
1:02:47
SPEAKER_06: Definitely in a better place.
1:02:48
SPEAKER_06: Um, I love doing that.
1:02:50
SPEAKER_06: I love being at my church.
1:02:51
SPEAKER_06: I go to Sage Hills.
1:02:53
SPEAKER_06: I love being there.
1:02:54
SPEAKER_06: Um, I love volunteering.
1:02:56
SPEAKER_06: I love packing up food and giving it out to the homeless.
1:02:59
SPEAKER_06: That's what my youth group does.
1:03:01
SPEAKER_06: Uh recently, we just did that.
1:03:03
SPEAKER_06: And yeah, I love hanging out with my friends and my family.
1:03:06
SPEAKER_10: So do you have a nickname?
1:03:07
SPEAKER_10: I've been asking everybody about nicknames.
1:03:10
SPEAKER_10: Do you have a nickname?
1:03:11
SPEAKER_06: Oh, I go by Finn.
1:03:12
SPEAKER_06: A lot of people call me it.
1:03:13
SPEAKER_06: Just on the soccer field, it's short.
1:03:16
SPEAKER_10: Sure.
1:03:16
SPEAKER_10: Mm-hmm.
1:03:17
SPEAKER_10: Sure.
1:03:17
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
1:03:18
SPEAKER_10: Do you match your play to being a fin like a shark?
1:03:22
SPEAKER_10: Are you kind of I hope.
1:03:26
SPEAKER_05: I hope so.
1:03:27
SPEAKER_05: I hope people say that.
1:03:29
SPEAKER_10: Kind of fun.
1:03:30
SPEAKER_10: All right.
1:03:30
SPEAKER_10: All right.
1:03:31
SPEAKER_10: Sounds good.
1:03:31
SPEAKER_10: Well, Finley, thank you for taking the time to do this.
1:03:34
SPEAKER_10: Uh, best of luck two nights ago, tonight, whatever, for I guess Eisenhower.
1:03:39
SPEAKER_10: And then uh uh in the playoffs next week.
1:03:42
SPEAKER_10: It's happening, so best of luck there too.
1:03:45
SPEAKER_10: Thank you so much.
1:03:45
SPEAKER_10: You bet.
1:03:46
SPEAKER_10: Finley Smith joining us here on the Winanch You Panther podcast.
1:03:48
SPEAKER_10: Hey, coming up next week, uh, we do have Steve Roche with Cross Country.
1:03:52
SPEAKER_10: They're gonna be fresh off the district uh meet and getting ready for state.
1:03:56
SPEAKER_10: We'll also talk about uh girls swim and dive.
1:03:59
SPEAKER_10: They're coming off district, getting ready for state as well.
1:04:01
SPEAKER_10: It's that time of year.
1:04:02
SPEAKER_10: Um, we're gonna also talk about and talk to the instructor for ColorGuard as well as one of the Color Guard members.
1:04:11
SPEAKER_10: And that will be a first for me, so I'm really looking forward to that.
1:04:14
SPEAKER_10: So, do you know anybody on the Color Guard?
1:04:16
SPEAKER_08: I don't.
1:04:17
SPEAKER_10: Okay.
1:04:17
SPEAKER_10: Well, then you watch that podcast and you'll learn more about it.
1:04:20
SPEAKER_10: All right.
1:04:20
SPEAKER_10: We'll uh see you again next time here on another edition of the Winatchie Panther Podcast on KKRV one oh four seven.