Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West High

Head coach: Garrett Hartwig (9^th season, 54-31)

Assistant coaches: Tyler Meade, Andrew Durham, Josh Flammang, Stephen Breitbach, Paul Breitbach, Bobby Thompson, Carlos Honore, Corderol Campbell, John Kwaitkowski, Conner Greene, Ty Haren, John Gluesing, Tim Sturgell, Barry Westemeyer, Mitch Yoerger, Noah Breitbach, Brendon Panther, Demtrius Harper

Last season: 2-7

Returning starters: Christian Janis, Sr., WR/FS; Devontae Morris, Sr., RB/LB; Winner Ndjibu, Sr., DL/OL; Bryan Torres, Sr., WR/LB; Braden Gladwin, Sr., RB/DB; Ashton Honore, Jr., LB/RB; Zach Logsdon, Jr., LB/FB; Seth Overton, Sr., DB/WR; Dayne Van Dyke, Jr., DL; Ryne Vander Leest, Sr., LB/FB/TE; Mitch Frey, Sr., OL; Ryan Goodman, Sr., OL; Jack Wallace, Soph., QB

Other returning letterwinners: Daniel Robinson, Jr., DE; Tommy Kerns, Sr., TE/DE; Jesus Marungo, Jr., DE/TE; Izaiah Loveless, Jr., DB/WR; Jaxon Wells, Sr., DB/WR

Newcomers to watch: Mason Woods, Soph., WR/TE/FS; Todd Rent, Jr., DB/RB; Santana Miller, Jr., RB/LB; Kendall Woodson, Jr., OL/DL; Richard Wu, Jr., WR/DB; Nick Caylor, Soph., DE/TE; Kevin Mendoza, Jr., DL

Playoff history: 19 appearances (1994-1999, 2002-2003, 2009-2018, 2020). West High won Class 4A state titles in 1995, 1998 and 1999.

Circle the date: August 25 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. West High opens the season on a Thursday night at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids against a Cedar Rapids Kennedy program coming off a 10-1 season that ended in the 5A quarterfinals. How important have season openers been for West High? The Trojans are 5-3 in openers under Garrett Hartwig and every season that has started with a win has ended with a winning season and a combined 44-12 record. When West High opens with a loss under Hartwig it has never had a winning season and has a combined 10-19 record.

Headliner: Senior Christian Janis had his junior season cut short by a broken collarbone but is poised to become an impact player for the Trojans in his final season. Janis (6-3, 180) caught five passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in limited action a year ago and has the size and speed to be a force on both sides of the ball as well as in special teams.

Unsung hero: While they haven’t gotten a ton of attention senior Ryne Vander Leest and junior Ashton Honore have quietly become one of the most productive linebacker duos in the state. Vander Leest (5-11, 195) led West High with 67 tackles including 40 solo stops last season while Honore (5-11, 200) ranked third on the team with 35.5 tackles including eight for loss in his first varsity season.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore quarterback Jack Wallace (6-2, 215) got his feet wet at the varsity level a year ago and will look to take a major step forward in his second season under center. Wallace completed 43 percent of his passes as a freshman while throwing for 829 yards and five touchdown and also running for a score in eight games.

Biggest question: How far can West High climb? The Trojans will be improved in 2022, that isn’t much of a question the question is how many wins will that improvement equate to. With five playoff teams from a year ago on the schedule wins will be tough to come by however West High has proven in the past it can compete with anyone in the state. The talent returns for the Trojans to be among the most improved teams in 5A and once again be in the postseason hunt.

Quotable: “Guys have really worked hard and we are bringing back 13 different guys that all started a game last season,” West High coach Garrett Hartwig said. “The schedule is still tough, will we have a better record? Time will tell but it has been a great group to work with.”

2022 Schedule

August 25: at Cedar Rapids Kennedy

September 2: Muscatine

September 9: Dubuque Hempstead

September 15: at Davenport North

September 23: City High

September 30: at Davenport Central

October 7: at Bettendorf

October 14: Cedar Rapids Prairie

October 21: at Pleasant Valley

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