High-school Football | Bellevue excited about prospects

Expectations were high all over the state when high-school football practice began Wednesday, but nowhere quite like Bellevue High School, where winning has become second nature.

The Wolverines have won five Class 3A state championships the past six years, compiling a record of 74-4 since 2001.

Bellevue senior lineman David DeCastro, who has committed to Stanford, was excited to get back to work and couldn't wait for the first game Aug. 31.

"The expectations are always there at Bellevue to win a state title," DeCastro said. "Anything else is worthless."

But Bellevue coach Butch Gonchoroff said adding another trophy is not the ultimate goal.

"We never talk about state titles," Gonchoroff said. "We always talk about hitting our ceiling every year. This is a really fun time of year, and everyone is excited to get started. It's just fun to get back to practice and fun to begin our year."

Bellevue opens its season Aug. 31, with a key KingCo 3A Conference game against Skyline at 7:30 p.m. The season opens Aug. 30 with seven games.

The defending champions will be without four-year starting quarterback Eric Block, who has graduated and accepted a scholarship to Washington State.

Juniors Tommy Castle and Cam Warren are scheduled to compete for the starting job.

"Obviously, things will be much different without Eric," Gonchoroff said, "but we think Tommy and Cam can do the job, and I imagine both will play."

DeCastro said he thinks the Wolverines will get plenty of leadership from the position to keep the winning Bellevue tradition alive.

"Even though Eric will be hard for anyone to follow, Tommy has many of the same characteristics," DeCastro said. "He's smart, he's composed and he's a good athlete, too."

Gonchoroff said there are about 130 players out for football at Bellevue and he must replace 19 starters from the team that went 14-0 last season.

"For us this year, it's all about taking baby steps and getting better," he said. "We have some good players, and that gives us a chance."

Other defending state champions are Oak Harbor in Class 4A, Lynden in 2A, Meridian in 1A, Asotin in 2B and St. John-Endicott in 1B.

DeCastro said Bellevue uses its winning tradition to full advantage. The team has made the playoffs six seasons in a row, going 21-1 in the postseason over that span while outscoring the opposition 791-249.