New Cougar

BJ Guerra is the player you want on your defensive line in the fall.

He is big, strong, fast and focused.

This coming football season BJ will play in the crimson and gray of Washington State University.

BJ's senior season at Moses Lake High School was spent as a core member of the defensive line. His focus and dedication, along with that of his teammates, propelled the Chiefs deep into the post-season where they eventually lost to then top team in the state Gonzaga Prep on a bitterly cold, blustery night in November.

Football has been BJ's sport since seventh grade, with an eighth grade hiccup that included his family relocating to Moses Lake, forcing BJ to miss most of the eighth grade season.

"I'm just a natural at football," said BJ. "I get frustrated playing basketball but when I'm out on the football field I'm just having fun."

This year's football season was different, with frustration creeping in off the field.

"Without sounding cocky, this season I felt I was one of the best defensive linemen in the state and I wanted more offers," BJ said. "WSU was the only program that really kept in contact with me."

Despite some of his frustrations about offers, BJ is confident he made the right choice — a choice that keeps him close to home and emphasizes excellence in education as well as in football.

"The number one thing at WSU is to get a degree and I'd like to do something with sports; maybe sports medicine or psychology," said BJ.

His official visit to campus was Jan. 19 through 21 during which BJ met with the coaches and players to get a feel for the staff.

"Getting to spend time with the team I could see that they were like a big family and that while they were relaxed and having fun, game time is different," BJ said. "They all work hard and I think the thing is not to worry about the ups and downs of the game. To keep your emotions under control and just go out and play."

Football is a way of life for BJ who spends Saturdays in the fall watching college games and being lazy at home. This coming season, it will be a different story.

"They told me not to expect a redshirt but I think most of the pressure comes from myself," said BJ. "I expect a lot of myself."

Those expectations developed after a little bit of faltering as a freshman and sophomore in high school and have been polished by finding a middle ground between school, football, family and friends in his junior and senior years.

"It's not that hard to find a balance between school and football," said BJ. "It gets hard when you get lazy or get caught up in hanging out. You kind of have to be disciplined about it."

When his stint on the basketball team concludes this spring, BJ will go back to staying out of trouble and begin working out in preparation for his move to Pullman over the summer.

Before beginning his freshman year at WSU, BJ will play in the WIAA East-West game in Everett June 30.

"Coach Kittrell says it's one of the biggest opportunities of your life and that you make a lot of relationships there," said BJ of the invitational game that highlights the best players in the state.

After East-West game, it's off to WSU and possibly bigger games. BJ, like most football players making the jump into the college ranks, has his eye on the NFL and particularly the Chicago Bears.

"The coach of the Bears is Christian and my grandma, our whole family, is Christian and she called me one day and said she had a feeling I would play for Chicago," BJ said.

With his goals set so high, BJ said a piece of wisdom he would give to the next generation of Moses Lake football players was not to limit their expectations for themselves.

If the unimaginable happens and BJ finds himself unable to play football he says he would still like to be involved in football.

"If possible, I'd stay at WSU or come back here (Moses Lake) and help," said BJ.

No one can see into the distant future but the immediate future looks to be a bright one for Washington State's newest Coug.

BJ signed his letter of intent for Washington State University Wednesday, Feb. 7.