Tigercats football opens new chapter

First-year coach Justin Ziebel and the LWK Tigercats will debut a new chapter in the team’s eight-man history Friday night at their season opener at Washtucna. The T-cats will host the Wilbur/Creston Wildcats in a non-leaguer.

Ziebel was appointed this year to take the head coaching slot vacated by Jeff Nelson who led the program for 19 years. Ziebel, who commutes from Ritzville, was one of the assistants on the team last year.

The 2012 Tigercats finished third in the league last year and bumped Almira-Coule-Hartline in the first playoff round. Their season ended when they were defeated in the next round by Liberty Christian, the SE league dominators who went on to take the state title.

Eight seniors from last year’s playoff team graduated. Among the grads were veteran receiver Sam Harder and running backs Sawyer Hostetler and Johnathan Holdren.

"We did lose a lot of talent, but we also have some good players back and some new players who have a lot of promise" Ziebel said.

The Tigercats have 21 players out for the team this year. The turnout includes five seniors. One of the veterans is quarterback Joey Guske who made big advances last year at the helm of the T-cats.

Bo Rice, the leading tackler as a junior linebacker last year, returns as a senior and will also be used as a running back..

The other seniors are Colton Wolfe, Steven Erickson and Graham Biedel.

Erickson, a soccer transfer, was the team’s kicker last year until he was hurt. Biedel returns as a tight end and linebacker.

Jason Wigen, a junior lineman, will also be back in action. Ziebel credits Wigen with having the best working knowledge of the Tigercats’ playbook.

Tom VanCamp also returns a junior lineman, and Chance Rice is back as a junior receiver.

The Tigercats have one sophomore, four freshman and one eighth-grader on the team this year.

Seth Weekes, a member of the 2008 state title team, is assistant coach.

The new LWK coach again sees Liberty Christian as the top team for the SE Eights this year. Touchet could also be at the head of the pack in the 2013 race.

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