Whitmore honors players, thanks parents and community for their constant support

The banquet to honor the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos was a bit surreal. There they were again: players, coaches and families, to celebrate a perfect season and a WIAA 2B State Football Championship.

Head coach Greg Whitmore even acknowledge the strange sensation of back-to-back state championships. He joked that there wasn’t much that needed to be changed in his speech from the 2012 awards banquet.

13-0 again, Whitmore mused.

League champions again, he said.

State champions again! Whitmore added, followed by a collective outburst of applause.

The gathering was filled with recollections of two great seasons. There were shouts of approval when individual players received awards. A few times the room fell reverently silent when Whitmore spoke of the team’s seniors and the connection he has to them and the bittersweet realization they’ve played their last high school football game.

“Here we are. It’s one of those times that I knew was coming. I can’t say I have been looking forward to it,” Whitmore said. “I always like the celebrating. Especially a year like this. Again, it always means saying goodbye to a special group, because they are all special. I spent a lot of time with these kids. They’ve become my kids. Our kids. Probably outside of their parents we spend more time with these kids than anyone.”

A bit later in his speech, Whitmore shared how even referees praised the Broncos for their sportsmanship and for being fine young men.

“Referees would say, ‘It’s unbelievable coach, you have great kids.’” Whitmore explained. “That’s a tribute to the parents. Thank you for sharing your kids. We know they are basically clay. They are still being molded into adults.

“Yeah, football is important. But, state championships aren’t going to define these guys. We’re still molding these young lads into adults,” he added. “One of the most important things I do and most rewarding things is to be able to say I had a big hand on that mold on that clay and to be able to shape it. I can’t wait to see how it gets shaped and when it’s done it’s going to be awesome.”

Whitmore’s opening remarks were filled with gratitude for many, from the groundskeepers and announcers to his coaches and Bronc Boosters, to parents who provided heaters for the team on frigid game nights and all the fans who packed the Tacoma Dome for the championship game.

He tipped his hat in one important direction, recognizing his wife, Karen Whitmore, for her continual support. “We pretty much interrupt this marriage every year due to football,” he said.

The team has enjoyed tremendous fan support this season. Those fans have been led, home and away, by the cheerleaders and their new advisor Connie Galbreath. The spirit group has brought new life to the schools’ fight song, singing it and teaching it to the fans every time the team scored.

“Thank you Connie and all the cheerleaders,” he said. “What I really appreciate about them is they represent our school so well. They go up through the stands whether we are home or away picking up garbage. They are just great representatives and great ambassadors for our community.”

Before turning his attention to the players, Whitmore had big things to say about the community.

“I am so thankful for the community and all the support whether we win or lose,” he said. “The fire and police leading those parades. They did that for volleyball then they did it for us. They met us at 12:30 in the middle of the night and led us back into town in freezing weather.

“The crowd at the Dome was unbelievable, just unbelievable,” he said. “There were people there that I don’t even know. They used to live in Ritzville or they know someone who lives in Ritzville. We had one of the best crowds. There were times we couldn’t hear and you guys (players) couldn’t hear us. But that’s awesome. We felt that energy. That did a lot for us that last drive, holding them (Morton-White Pass) out.”

Next, when he turned his attention to the players, he made the biggest declaration of the night.

“You guys are the ones that get it done. You buy into what we sell as coaches. You make the commitment year in and year out,” he said. “You really don’t know how special this accomplishment is winning two back-to-back state titles. It’s never been done in Ritzville history back to back. It’s special you are going to savor it. You are going to go down as one of the greatest teams in Broncos history. In my mind you are the greatest team in Bronco history. I want to thank you guys for this ride. Without the talents, commitment, hard work and execution we wouldn’t get it done. Thank you very much.”

Every member of the football team earned a varsity letter this season, including freshmen and sophomores.

The underclassmen were acknowledged one at a time before Whitmore turned his attention to the juniors.

“A big part of our success next year will depend on your leadership, efforts, maturity and just how you do as a role model for these young kids,” Whitmore told them. “Good news is you have the ability. You just need to get it done for us.”

The seniors earned and received a significant amount of Whitmore’s focus and adoration.

“I see a lot of things. I see the majority of them in our third grade pee wee basketball uniforms,” he said. “I see the Rosalia basketball championship uniforms. I see us with medallions in Davenport.

“I see them in their junior high football uniforms having beat Colfax and going undefeated,” he continued. “I remember coach (Mike) Morgan from Colfax, he’s a good friend of mine, he said back in seventh grade and eighth grade…‘Man you have a special group there.’ I knew they were a special group because I spent so much time with them, coaching them in different sports. Basically treating them like my own kids. There is not a one of them I wouldn’t take in my house and let them stay with me. If they lost their parents, they would live with me because they are just great kids.”

Of the individual seniors, he said:

Layne Hawks: “Layne from the first day showed up and he was in the weight room all the time. He worked hard,” Whitmore said. “What I appreciated the most was his attitude. He gave it his all and he was a huge part of our success from leading us in the weight room to scout team to coming in to fill in when we needed him to. He is one of my favorite additions to Ritzville.”

Nicholas Quintana: “When Nick came out this year we knew what he could do. And we knew if Nick could be a player for us, we would be a better team,” Whitmore said. “He had an absolutely great season. In the end he was starting both ways a lot. He learned our offense really quick and he was tough.”

Dustin Norton: “I remember this kid from third grade. He would flash that dang smile. You just can’t be mad at him any more,” Whitmore recalled. “Success was going to depend on how well he was going to do for us at center. This year we told him, ‘You need to be the guy.’ He snapped it a lot of times and he did a great job for us. Had a great year.”

Logan Morley: “I’m really pleased with the year he had. He is a great special teams player for us. Solid, solid at receiver. Solid returner. One game I will always remember was against Northwest Christian, two interceptions and a punt return for a touchdown. I couldn’t have been happier for him.”

Jarradd Morley: “Never would I have known he was going to grow into the dominant defensive player that he turned out to be and he was, he was dominant,” Whitmore said. “Teams were scared of him. They had to double team him. He was our second leading tackler. He was our flag carrier. He was our biggest hugger. That’s one of my fondest memories of him. In the end zone he’s hugging every one.”

Bridger Smith: “I think Bridger is probably everyone’s favorite on the team. He’s a quality person, again, if you know his parents you know why. He’s quiet, but he’s a leader both in the classroom and out on the field,” Whitmore said. “He played every position probably except offensive line. This summer he played quarterback a little bit too. He was our fifth leading receiver. I’m going to miss him immensely for his smile and for his devotion for his unbelievable attitude. And, he did make the all-state hair team.”

Tyler Frederick: “As you all know, Tyler missed out on last year’s playoff run as far as being out on the field. I know it tore him up. It tore us up. Luckily we still got a state championship but we didn’t get there without him,” Whitmore said. “Last year he didn’t get the respect he deserved. Coach Aldrich and I knew he was one of the best offensive and defensive linemen we had. He is one of the best athletes we have. He could have played tight end. He could have played running back, full back. He could have played linebacker. Colleges are interested in him.

“We created a whole formation for him, the Freddy formation,” Whitmore added. “I don’t plan on changing the name of that as long as I’m coaching. I was pleased we could get him a touchdown on his birthday but I will really remember the joy that he got to be one of the dominant players on the football field for the state championships.”

Connor O Neill: “It’s amazing how many good athletes we have. This is one of the best athletes in the state. One of the best athletes and, I have coached some good ones, one of the best athletes I have ever coached,” Whitmore said. “Here’s a kid that, I think there was a doubt if he was even going to play football in his freshman year. This year he was the leading rusher with 1,164 yards. Second leading scorer with 19 rushing TDs and six receiving TDs, one punt return for a TD and second leading receiver. Connor was the spiritual leader and athletic leader out there. You just don’t replace that. Besides all the numbers, what an unbelievable nice guy he is.”

Dylan Hartz: “Obviously many of you know, we all know, he is one of the best athletes in the state. He’s recognized for that. He’s just as much a leader on the defensive side as the offensive side. He was our leading scorer. His stats were unbelievable this year. He completed 100 of 145 passed for 25 touchdowns and only three interceptions,” Whitmore said. “He was another coach on the field. He knew the game well. I always say for him, he sees things at a different speed. Football is a crazy sport. Things are just going like a blur but with him it is slowed down. He sees the whole picture. That’s what makes him such a special athlete. He kept us calm and poised out there. Never got rattled. once again he is one of the kids I don’t know if we’ll ever replace.”

Ryan Whitmore: “It’s not very often that you get to coach your son. It’s special to be able to coach your son. I know it was tough to play for your dad. It was fun coaching Cory. Cory was my first time coaching my son, so I learned a lot of what not to do. I know how tough it is. How much pressure there is,” Whitmore said. “I am proud he was elected a captain. He was our leading receiver. He had 29 catches for 516 yards and 11 TDs. I said before, his freshman year the honest truth is he didn’t have great hands. In four years through some hard work and practice he became really one of the dominate receivers in the state and as coaches would say, ‘No one could match up with a 6-7 kid.’

“He’s really special to me. I’m awfully proud,” the coach concluded.