By Jennifer Jimenez
Mail | Twitter: @SCW_Independent

In less than two hours, the Northwest Christian High School football team will host Walden Grove for the first game of the 2023-24 season.

With an early start to this season, this group has been working since July to prepare. Carter McWilliams, Northwest Christian center, said preparing in the heat has forced the guys to be more focused.

“Mentally we had to stay locked in and coaches were on us to keep hydrated and work through the heat,” he said.

Even though this is week one, McWilliams said the team will prepare the same each week and never stop playing, which is the Northwest way and the culture of the program.

Northwest Christian head coach David Inness said the only practice option is after school with players from various parts of the Valley. But the program has operated with half pads and helmets off for more than 10 years, just to keep players healthy.

“I do not have 150 guys, instead I have 75 in the program with only 200 boys in the whole school,” he said.

Inness said the team can scheme anyone, but most teams have players who play only one side of the ball and are massive.

Last year, the team finished 8-3 and ended the season earlier than the players wanted to.  Cole Muscari , senior, said when the game ended the group knew there was more left in the tank and throughout the off season has prepared and been working hard all summer and tonight is finally a chance to go out and prove the hard work is paying off.

Inness said this group of player is selfless and just want to get the job done. With several multisport athletes, athleticism runs deep throughout the roster. And the leadership the group shows and spiritual connection makes a difference.

“None of us are perfect, but we bring an environment where they foster growing in our faith and that is something we can come together in and push each other off the field, which helps with trust on the field,” Muscari said.

Make no mistake. This team hold each other accountable and with the understanding these guys love and care for each other, it makes it easier to pick each other up.

Innness said he will look to guys like Walker Wisely, senior, to help defensively on the line, as well as Marshall Gillette, senior, to play a significant role on the team.

“We don’t ever talk about winning them all just try to prepare for each week. These guys are committed to watching film and they are asking legit questions to be prepared,” Inness said.

Quarterback Evan Tarasenko, who moved from Maui, Hawaii this past May, has been a great attribute to the team this season. Inness said he has jumped on to this team spiritually, vocally and as motivator. Not to mention he is a good football player.

“It has been cool to get someone so well rounded to jump in who have been together since junior high and the next thing you know he is leading on this team,” Inness said.

Inness said this season just comes down to whether the team can remain healthy and how impactful the line can be.

The team will travel the next two weeks of the season, first to Tucson to face Sahuaro in week two and then Prescott in week three.

Jennifer Jimenez
Reporter | Sun City West
@SCW_Independent

jjimenez@iniusa.org

Meet Jennifer

In 2020, Jennifer Jimenez began working for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA. She began her career as a sports reporter in Peoria and Glendale, covering the very same schools she used to compete at.  During this time, she also worked for television news, magazines and sports radio stations.

Community: Jennifer is a member of the Hall of Fame at Peoria High School where she graduated in 2001, alongside her father Joe Hernandez. She serves youth soccer players as a pro-trainer and coach.  

Education: Grand Canyon University 2005 B.A. Liberal Arts

Ranom Fact: She has a street named after her in south Peoria “Jennifer Rose Court.”

Hobbies: Country dancing, coaching soccer, teaching private swim lessons and running are things she does for fun.