Program cornerstones Jacob Meldrum, Hunter Howell and Kieler Jackson will not be walking out of the tunnel onto the Rainier High School field this fall.
But even without the legendary Mountaineer trio, the coaching staff believes the 2025 season will be a reloading year, not a rebuild.
Players are bought in, with the upperclassmen attending summer workouts on a 100% rate, according to head coach Andy Bartell. That leadership has rubbed off on the younger players.
“It’s been one of our best offseasons in recent memory for being in the weight room and working through the whole summer,” Bartell said.
Here are three takeaways from Rainier’s second day of fall practice on Aug. 21.
Kaynen Barger will be a difference maker, eventually
The biggest acquisition of the offseason was Yelm transfer lineman Kaynen Barger, who earned significant snaps on offense as a freshman for a Class 4A Tornados team that advanced to the state Round of 32.
Due to transfer rules, Barger is ineligible to suit up for the Mountaineers’ first four games, which includes Central 2B League contests against Morton-White Pass and Onalaska. But the state champion power lifter nicknamed “Tootsie” will bring strength to a team that already returns four experienced linemen. For example, after a linemen drill toward the end of the practice, Barger didn’t appear winded while others took a seat in the grass to catch their breath. He’s motivated by the dream of postseason success, which Rainier has not had in recent years.
“I want to make it to state. I want to win state. I want to bring a strive to be great like Yelm had,” Barger said. “I want to bring that to Rainier now.”
Quarterback battle is fascinating
Meldrum is no longer the gunslinger for the Mountaineers after four years manning the offense. His replacement is still up in the air, although Bartell said the team may feature multiple quarterbacks in the first two non-league contests against Tenino and Raymond-South Bend.
Freshman Jackson Stockdale took the most reps at camp, and he and former linebacker Bryce Keller were competing side by side during practice, flashing comfort and accuracy with some throws and inexperience with others.
Sophomore Riley Lynch is the lone quarterback on the roster who earned snaps last fall behind Meldrum.
“[Stockdale] has shown that he can handle it, but it’s a lot different when the lights are on. That’s when the bullets are flying,” Bartell said. “[Bryce] mostly played defense for us last year but had played some junior varsity and youth ball, so he’s not too foreign to the position. He can run the ball a little bit. He’s a bigger kid, and he can play some fullback when he’s not at the quarterback position.”
Defense brings rare experience at all three levels
In the past couple of seasons, the Mountaineers have struggled on the defensive end, especially against powerful offenses like Onalaska, Adna and Toledo.
This year’s unit features plenty of experience and versatility, headlined by senior perennial all-league outside linebacker Dorien Cano and senior free safety Jayden Alegarbes. Bartell wants his defense to be not only aggressive throughout the year but in good condition, looking to avoid being worn down by tough opponents late in the season.
“We want to attack. You’ve gotta have all 11 guys at the ball, flying to the ball and trying to get a hat on a guy,” Bartell said.
