Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West High

Head coach: Garrett Hartwig (5th season, 33-16)

Assistant coaches: Tyler Meade, Andrew Durham, Josh Flammang, Travis Meade, Chad Geary, Paul Breitbach, Sam McLeran, Joe Mott, John Gluesing

Last season: 12-1 (Class 4A Runner-up)

Returning Starters: Cole Mabry, Sr., LB; Jason Strunk, Sr., DL; Landon Green, Sr., DL; Josh Halverson, Sr., DL; Owen McAreavy, Sr., LB/FB; Brendan Mott, Sr., LB; Ian Gluesing, Sr., OL; Jalen Gaudet, Sr., WR; Marshall Blatz, Sr., OL; Joe Westemeyer, Sr., OL; Noah Breitbach, Sr., TE

Other returning letterwinners: Joey Kuehn, Sr.; Nick Biancuzzo, Sr.; Noah Aanastad, Sr.; Mason Sorge, Sr.; Justin Thomas, Sr.; Nick Johnson, Sr.; Peter Breitbach, Sr.; Devlin Lockman, Sr.

Newcomers to watch: Tate Crane, Jr.; Grant Henderson, Jr.; Will Hoeft, Jr.; Marcus Morgan, Soph.; Xarmento Lubeulo, Jr.

Playoff history: 16 appearances (1994-1999, 2002-2003, 2009, 2011-2017). West High won Class 4A state titles in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

District: Class 4A, District 4

District favorites: Two-time defending Class 4A runner-up West High is 22-4 over the past two seasons and a heavy favorite to earn an automatic playoff berth as District 4 champ.

Circle the date: August 31 at Bettendorf. West High goes on the road in week two for a rematch of last year’s state semifinal won by West High 23-0.

Headliner: Army commit Cole Mabry (6-2, 190) has 120 tackles the past two seasons and ranks among the best defensive players in the state.

Unsung hero: Senior Ian Gluesing (6-3, 200) became a stalwart on the West High offensive line last season starting 12 games at left tackle and earning second-team team all-district honors.

Keep an eye on: At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds senior Jalen Gaudet wide receiver is a nightmare for opposing defenders and caught 42 passes for 634 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.  

Biggest question: Who replaces Evan Flitz at quarterback? Flitz leaves big shoes to fill after throwing for better than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns the past two seasons. West High has three capable replacements in seniors Joey Kuehn (6-1, 180) and Noah Aanestad (5-11, 160) and sophomore Marcus Morgan (6-0, 160) battling to lead the offense. 

Quotable: “There is no guarantee that you are going to have success in football the only thing you can do is give yourself a chance and you do that through hard work. What we’ve been able to do here the last few years do we have a blueprint for what we can do? You bet. Is it guaranteed? No.” – West High coach Garrett Hartwig

2018 Schedule

Aug. 24: North Scott

Aug. 31: @Bettendorf ­

Sept. 7: Southeast Polk

Sept. 14: @Dubuque Senior

Sept. 21: Pleasant Valley*

Sept. 28: @Linn-Mar*

Oct. 4: @Davenport North*  

Oct. 12: Muscatine*

Oct. 19: City High*

*- District Game