KingCo 3A/2A team capsules

* returning starter

Bellevue Wolverines

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Butch Goncharoff (11th year), 117-11 record

2009: 12-2 overall, 6-0 league, Class 3A state champion

Key returners: QB/DB Kendrick Van Ackeren*, Sr.; OL/DL Marcus Henry*, Sr.; RB/DL Joey Mangialardi*, Sr.; TE/LB Elan Richard*, Sr.; WR Evian Richard, Sr.; DB Michael Foreman, Sr.; LB/TE Will Bissell, Sr.

Impact newcomers: DB/QB Tyler Hasty, Jr.; LB/TE Sean Constantine, So.; OL/DL Jake Eldrenkamp, Jr.; OL/DL Michael Kneip, Jr.

Outlook: Bellevue is the gold standard in 3A, having won seven of the past nine state titles. This year's squad is young, but Van Ackeren and Mangialardi are back to lead the Wolverines' potent Wing-T offense.

Interlake Saints

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Jason Rimkus (1st year)

2009: 7-4, 3-3

Key returners: QB/DB Matt Malos*, Sr.; OL/DL Colton Faber*, Sr.; DB/WR J.T. Capers, Sr.; WR/DB Scotty Gehlhausen, Sr.; LB/RB Jacob Marks, Jr.; LB/RB Alex Giseburt, Jr.

Impact newcomers: LB/TE Dominic Jackson, Sr.; OL/DL Sean Foy, Jr.; WR/DB Kamana Adriano, So.; OL/DL Ernesto Concilla, Jr.; WR/DB Ryuji Kowashima, Jr.

Outlook: The 2A Saints are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances. Rimkus is a first-time head coach who spent last season coaching Bothell's defensive backs. He inherits one of the league's best offenses and veteran Malos at QB.

Juanita Rebels

Location: Kirkland

Coach: Shaun Tarantola (3rd year), 13-7

2009: 7-3, 3-3

Key returners: C/DT Cody Treddenbarger*, Sr.; RB/DB Jerimiah Laufasa*, Sr.; QB Derek Kaufman*, Sr.; DB Andre Casino*, Sr.; OL/DL Nick Ramirez*, Sr.; OL/DL Sam Shirley*, Sr.; OL Nathan Dean*, Jr.; OL/DL Christian Catalan*, Sr.; TE/DE Matt Nilsson*, Jr.; LB Charles Benjamin*, Sr.; WR Austin Hiliker, Sr.; OL/DL Hobie Sisk*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: TE/LB Jarrett Finau, Sr.; RB/LB Siti Tamaivena, Sr.; WR/S Suli Tamaivena, Sr.; OL/DL Dom Chadwick, Jr.; RB/DB Ryley Caldwell, Sr.; RB/LB Darrin Laufasa, So.; WR/DB Mitch Gebe, Sr.; QB/S Cameron Williams, Sr.; WR Kevin Lu, Sr.; WR/LB Ryan Reid, Jr.

Outlook: In just two years, Tarantola has brought winning ways to Juanita. Laufasa is one of the top running backs in the league, and Kaufman's poise under center could lead the Rebels to their first playoff appearance since 1994.

Lake Washington Kangaroos

Location: Kirkland

Coach: Steve Supple (1st year)

2009: 1-8, 1-5, KingCo 4A

Key returners: RB/FS Alex Donnelly*, Sr.; DE/OT Jack Michaels*, Jr.; OT Michael Anderson*, Jr.; WR/DB Anthony Frakes*, Sr.; DR/WR Robert Reyes*, Sr.; DL/OL Jack Anderson*, 6-1, 215, Sr.; OT/DT Ben Pliska, 6-4, 235, Jr.

Top newcomers: QB Spencer Jackson, Sr.; QB Shawn Grey, So.

Outlook: A first-time head coach, Supple cut his chops as defensive coordinator at Redmond, Eastlake and Interlake. He takes over a rebuilding Lake Washington program that moves down to 3A.

Liberty Patriots

Location: Issaquah

Coach: Steve Valach (12th year), 57-57

2009: 12-2, 5-1, state runner-up

Key returners: QB Trey Wheeler*, Sr.; RB/DB Chandler Jenkins*, Sr.; DB/WR Jake Bainton*, Sr.; DE/TE Jacob Daniels*, Sr.; DT/OL Jalen Robinson*, Jr.; LB/RB Jay Chakravarty*, Sr.; DB/WR Devin Bennett*, Sr.; DB/WR Anthony Olobia, Jr.; LB/OL Brandon Ryberg, Sr.; DB/WR Josh Gordon, Jr.; DE/OL Craig Were, Sr.

Impact newcomers: DL/OL Kevin Ahrens; DE/OL Drez Henfield, Sr.

Outlook: The Patriots lost to Bellevue twice last season, including 23-17 in the 3A title game. But this group is used to winning and returns three of the league's best offensive weapons in Wheeler, Jenkins and Bainton.

Mercer Island Islanders

Location: Mercer Island

Coach: Brett Ogata (2nd year), 4-6

2009: 4-6, 1-5

Key returners: QB Jeff Lindquist*, Jr.; OL/LB T.J. Blackburn*, Sr.; OL/DL Max Dammeier*, Jr.; WR/DB Ben Emanuels*, Sr.; OL/DL Gavin Grob*, Sr.; K/P Alex Wood*, Jr.; WR/DB Alex Rorem*, Sr.; WR/DB Connor Bernal*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: RB/LB Tyler Borer, Sr.; RB/LB Cameron Ogard, Jr.; WR/LB Reid Jackson, Sr.; WR/DB Kyle Reitinger, Jr.; RB/LB Blake Johnson, Jr.; WR/LB Nicky Sinclair, Jr.; OL/DL Alex Emanuels, So.; OL/DL Sean Pyne, So.

Outlook: The Islanders made strides in Ogata's first year, and Lindquist returns at quarterback to further aid the turnaround. It's another strong year for the conference, however, and Mercer Island might be one more year away.

Mount Si Wildcats

Location: Snoqualmie

Coach: Charlie Kinnune (19th year), 91-83

2009: 6-5, 3-3

Key returners: RB/DB Matt Bankston*, Sr.; QB Ian Ilgenfritz*, Sr.; OL/DL Alec Deichman*, Sr.; RB Shelby Williams, Sr.; OL/LB Tino Paohirinanh*, Sr.; WR/DB Kaleb Huerta, Sr.; TE/DL Joe Farmer*, Sr.; K/P Cameron Van Winkle*, So.; TE/LB Taylor Mitchell*, Sr.; OL/DL Jimmy Owen, Sr.; OL/DL Kasey Channita*, Sr.; TE/DL Jarrett Adams*, Sr.; RB/LB Zach Storm, Sr.

Impact newcomers: WR/DB Trent Riley, So.; RB/DB Aladdin Schirmer, Sr.; OL/DL Kolton Auxier, Jr.; RB/DB Connor Deutsch, Jr.; OL/DL Josh Mitchell, Jr.; OL/DL Brian Copeland, Jr.

Outlook: Mount Si has been to the state playoffs three times in the past four years, but has only one trip to the quarterfinals. The Wildcats could get another shot with six starters back on each side of the ball.

Sammamish Totems

Location: Bellevue

Coach: Brian Tucci (2nd year), 3-7

2009: 3-7, 0-6

Key returners: LB/RB Taylor Ragan*, Sr.; LB/K Chris Lider*, Sr.; OL/DL Dane Archer*, Sr.; OL/DL Shane Kuloloia*, Jr.; WR/DB Austin Lee*, Jr.; OL/DL Chance Griffin*, Jr.; RB/LB Acie Black*, Jr.; WR/DB Joey Sullivan*, Jr.; RB/LB Nick Myers*, Jr.; QB/S Andrew Engles*, Jr.

Impact newcomers: OL/DL Mathew Richard, Sr.; OL/DL Ross Anderson, Sr.; WR/S David Stevens, Jr.; OL/DL Jacob Shenderovich, Jr.; WR/DB Andy Luna, Jr.; RB/LB Devante Brown, Sr.; RB/LB Sean Smith, Sr.

Outlook: Sammamish tripled its win total in Tucci's first year, but the Totems haven't won a league game in nearly four years. There is momentum, though, after Sammamish won its final two games of 2009.

Derek Belt