SEQUIM — The Sequim Wolves return an experienced, senior-laden team with a chip on its shoulder after a quick playoff exit last year.
The Wolves had a bounce-back season in 2024, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2019. But the postseason run ended quickly with a 56-3 loss to W.F. West.
The bad news for the Wolves’ opponents this year is that the Sequim players are still mad about the game.
“They left that game with a chip on their shoulder,” said coach Ian Henley, in his second year leading the Wolves.
Despite the large number of seniors on this year’s team, the Wolves lost some important players from last year, including some of their biggest players on the offensive line. Probably their biggest loss was Braydan White, who made the Olympic all-league teams on both the offensive and defensive lines. Nemo Guzman, a 260-pound second-team all-leaguer on the offensive line, also graduated, as did a couple of other big kids from last year, Dylan Bowen and John Prorok.
Some of the kids taking over on the offensive and defensive lines include Gavin Albers and Eli Miller.
One of the biggest changes with the team is longtime head coach and last year’s offensive coordinator Erik Wiker is not coaching this year. Henley expected the Wolves to switch to a more traditional pro set type of offense, sometimes using two tight ends and sometimes spreading the field.
Last year’s star offensive player, Zeke Schmadeke, gained more than 1,000 yards rushing from the quarterback position, including a 230-yard effort in the final regular-season game against North Mason to lock up a playoff berth.
Henley said Schmadeke will switch to a running back/wide receiver position for the Wolves, occasionally moving to quarterback as well.
“We’re going to move him around and find ways to get him the ball,” Henley said.
Schmadeke formed quite a one-two punch with running back Liam Wiker, who is also back for his senior year. The duo should rack up a number of 100-yard rushing games this year.
Aron Golbeck is another returning running back, and Braydan Wopperer, who was with Port Angeles last year, is also on the Sequim roster as a running back.
Taking over at the quarterback position will be last year’s backup, sophomore Kaden Miller.
Miller lost a couple of last year’s big targets in Charlie Grider and Ethan Melnick, who were both more than 6 feet tall. This year’s receiving squad will not be as tall and the jump-ball plays might not be there. But the Wolves have a lot of speed and skill returning at the wide receiver/defensive back position in Malachi Hampton, one of the leaders of last year’s offense, and Adrian Aragon.
Also returning is all-league tight end Patrick Elias, who will also play inside linebacker. Andy Keeler is another tight end who will play outside linebacker.
The kicking game will be interesting with Joe Henninger being the latest kicker in his family. He will handle the kickoff duties. However, another strong kicker is sophomore Frederick Wilhelm, who, in kicking camps and competitions this past year, was ranked among the top 100 kickers in the nation.
Sequim has a large squad of 60 that has come out for football. Henley said that for the team to build on last year’s success, “the underclassmen will have to step up.”
Henley said the Olympic League will be tough as usual with North Kitsap, Bainbridge and Olympic expected to be at the top of the league. He said one of the goals of the Wolves this year is to be among the top three teams in the league to avoid playing a fourth-place district playoff game on the road.
“When you finish fourth, you’re probably going to play one of the top three teams in the state,” he said.
Sequim begins its schedule with a road game Friday against always-physical Forks at 7 p.m. Friday. Sequim doesn’t play its first home game until Sept. 19 with Elma visiting. The Wolves travel to Port Angeles early to play their rival on Sept. 26 and host a critical game Oct. 10 against powerhouse North Kitsap.
Sequim Wolves
• Head coach: Ian Henley, second year.
• Last Season: 5-5 overall, 3-3 (fourth) in the Olympic 2A League.
• Key Returners: Zeke Schmadeke, RB, QB, WR; Liam Wiker, RB; Malachi Hampton, WR, DB; Patrick Elias, TE, ILB; Aron Golbeck, RB; Adrian Aragon, WR, DB; Gavin Albers, OL.
• Newcomers: Kaden Miller, QB; Frederick Wilhelm, K.
• Strengths: A total of 16 seniors means this will be an experienced team. The Wolves return their dynamic offensive trio of Schmadeke, Wiker and Hampton, so offense should be potent.
• Outlook: It’s important to replace some outstanding offensive and defensive linemen who graduated, including all-leaguers Nemo Guzman and Braydan White. The team will definitely be in the mix for postseason, but can they crack the top three Olympic League powerhouses of Bainbridge, Olympic and North Kitsap?
• Schedule: At Forks, 7 p.m., Sept. 5; at Mariner, 7 p.m., Sept. 12; Elma, 7 p.m., Sept. 19; at Port Angeles, 7 p.m., Sept. 26; Bremerton, 7 p.m., Oct. 3; North Kitsap, 7 p.m., Oct. 10; at Olympic, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 17; at Bainbridge, 7 p.m., Oct. 24; North Mason, 7 p.m., Oct. 30.
