By Oly Archibald
PORT ANGELES — The 2025–26 WIAA high school sports season is underway as student athletes at Sequim and Port Angeles high schools have been practicing for two weeks, with events beginning as early as tomorrow.
In high school football, the Sequim Wolves are seeing strong interest after last year’s surprising 5-5 season, which saw them finish third in the tough Olympic League and earn a state tournament berth.
Second-year head coach Ian Henley, who brought his “big boys football” persona with him from football-rich Fort Worth, Texas, has 57 athletes suited up in purple and gold. The big news out of the Wolves’ camp is that sophomore Kaiden Miller will take over the quarterback position from talented senior Zeke Schmadeke.
Miller, who has a stronger throwing arm but is still athletic enough to move in and out of the pocket, gives Sequim the luxury of moving Schmadeke around the field to create mismatches with linebackers. The Wolves will open the season Friday night at Forks, which went 3-7 last year.
Sequim Wolves special teams coach Cody Buckmaster has 57 players available for his units.
On September 12, Sequim will be heavy favorites against Mariner High School. That game will be played at Frank Goddard Stadium in Everett and broadcast here on KONP Newsradio.
Meanwhile, Dustin Clark returns for his fifth season as head coach of the Port Angeles Roughriders. The Riders are still smarting after last year’s 0-9 campaign. They open at home Friday night at Civic Field against Mount Baker, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. The Class 1A Mountaineers beat Port Angeles in last year’s opener, 49-22, but graduated 14 seniors, including their entire backfield. Friday’s game will be broadcast here on KONP Newsradio with Oly Archibald, Greg Thomas, and former Roughrider Parker Nickerson on the call.
Port Angeles Roughriders head coach Dustin Clark enters his fifth season at the helm
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In college football news, former Sequim Wolves kicker Jack Henninger has won the starting job for NCAA Division II University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Henninger and the Marauders opened with a 28-22 win over Midland College, with Henninger converting all four of his extra points. The Marauders travel to face Wayne State in Nebraska this Saturday night.
Former Sequim Wolf Jack Henninger has won the starting job for the University of Mary Marauders