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Wilder High School
School Info
Conference: 1AD1 Western Idaho Conference
Classification: 1A D1
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Head Coach: Kyle DalSoglio
Years as Head Coach: 9th Season
Previous Experience: Eastern Oregon University Assistant OL/TE
Record Last Year: 6-4
State Titles: 1988
Assistant Coaches:
Eric Lopez
Returning Players:
Oscar Puga, RB/LB, 12
Eziquiel Vargas, DB/WR, 12
Ismael Cortez, DE/OL, 11
Estevan Cortez, OL, 11
Israel Zavalza, OL/DL, 11
Dakota White, C/N, 11
Fonzi Jiminez, RB/DB, 11
Benji Escutia, RB/DB, 11
Abel Elizalde, DL/OL, 10
Pablo Martinez, QB/DB, 10
Norman Gonzalez, TE/DB, 10
Brandon Aguilera, RB, 10
Returning Players with Honors:
Eziquiel Vargas, First Team All-Conference WR/CB
Ismael Cortez, First Team All-Conference DE
Norman Gonzalez, First Team All-Conference TE
Oscar Puga, Honorable Mention All-Conference RB
Key Players lost from last year:
Caulen Michael, QB/LB, four year starter, All-State LB, Offensive Conference Player of the Year
Alex Bravo and Jacob Albor, three year offensive line starters
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Team Preview:
Written by: Sven Alskog
When you think of Wilder football Caulen Michael tends to be the first thing that comes to mind. Entering the 2017 season ninth year Head Coach Kyle DalSoglio has the task of figuring out how to replace that Conference Offensive Player of the Year productivity. That challenge is made more difficult considering Michael was a key cog on defense as well, earning All-State honors last season.
Along with the playmaker talent departing from the quarterback position, the Wildcats will also look to replace offensive linemen Alex Bravo and Jacob Albor, both three year starters.
Offensively there looks to still be enough in place to keep opposing defenses honest.
"Skill positions should be very talented," said DalSoglio. "The focus will be to get the ball to Eziquiel Vargas, Norman Gonzalez, Oscar Puga and Benji Escutia."
Getting them the ball will be the most important thing to get figured out for Wilder, with a good competition going on for the quarterback position.
"Quarterback play will decide everything for us. Not sure who the starter is at this point, but it will be between a freshman or sophomore," added DalSoglio. "We will have plenty of weapons around that position, but in the end [the] quarterback will have a lot on their shoulders this year."
On the other side of the ball more depth exists, which should help to keep everybody as fresh as possible for the 1A level.
"We will have good depth, so being able to keep guys fresh with subs without losing ability will help us a ton," said DalSoglio.
An area of note for improvement for Wilder will be on the defensive line, where Ismael Cortez, Israel Zavalza, Dakota White and Abel Elizalde look to lead the way.
Throughout the roster it is a youthful group, meaning there will be some growing pains, however the end result could be well worth it in the long run.
"We are very young this year and I’m excited to see who will step up and lead us after losing Caulen Michael," said DalSoglio. "We’ll only have two seniors, so there is a ton of playing time for underclassmen. Our numbers won't be as high as they normally are, but the overall player ability of this team will be very high."
Wilder is scheduled to get the season started with a home battle against Cascade on August 25, with the annual highlight of the schedule coming in the final week of the year at Notus.
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