Steady with tradition
Lind-Ritzville quarterback Chase Galbreath drops back for a pass during practice.
Ian Bivona/Columbia Basin Herald
Defensive end Hunter Dinkins lines up for a drill during practice.
Running back Brody Boness takes a handoff during practice.
Senior Cooper Miller lines up at defensive back for a receiver’s drill.
Receivers work through the different routes of the route tree during practice.
Blake Esser pulls to the left side of the offensive line, holding his arms out during a walk through play.
RITZVILLE – After receiving a top-four seed in the 2B playoffs a season ago, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos are preparing in hopes of another successful season – now with first-year head coach Brendan Bermea at the helm.
“It feels great every year to be back out here,” Bermea said. “I wouldn’t do anything else in the fall.”
Bermea brings coaching experience from both high school and middle school levels to Lind-Ritzville, and now fills in behind two long-time Bronco head coaches.
“There’s a great culture here – Coach (Greg) Whitmore ran a great program, and before then coach (Mike) Lynch – so this place has had a great program for the last 40-50 years,” Bermea said. “There’s a lot to build on from what they have. It’s not a place you come in and try to change things.”
The Broncos and Bermea alike have had months to get to know each other now, by attending camps and through spring practices.
“It’s been great, I was able to join them halfway through spring practice,” Bermea said of the offseason work. “I was able to go to (Central Washington University) camp with them, and we really started working things out. Seeing how things were done before, and then try to insert myself in rather than change a lot of the things.”
With the lasting legacies of Lynch and Whitmore, Bermea isn’t looking to change much that occurs within the program.
“There’s going to be a little bit of me, but there's going to be a lot of what they have done in the past,” Bermea said. “A lot of the same principles governing this team.”
After finishing 8-0 in the regular season in 2021, senior quarterback Chase Galbreath and company are looking to continue where they left off once the season begins on September 2.
“We had a good league part of our season, we gotta finish stronger in the postseason,” the six-foot-five quarterback said. “We have to understand there’s bigger things than what’s just in our league.”
Senior leadership is an important aspect of any high school sports team, and Lind-Ritzville follows suit with seniors stepping up.
“Chase Galbreath, his leadership and his ability is awesome,” Bermea said. “I have great seniors; Hayden Melcher, he’s had big moments; Hunter Dinkins; so many guys, especially our older guys, have done a great job with this transition.”
Lind-Ritzville’s roster is composed of players of all ages, not a senior- or underclassmen-heavy team, which Bermea said he feels is helpful.
“I think it does (help),” Bermea said. “When you start teaching things, you have a great group. You’re not just teaching it to a bunch of seniors who are going to be gone. (We’re implementing) things for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen to carry on.”
The leadership of older players is seen following practice sessions, with captains leading a players-only meeting on the field to discuss happenings with the team.
“I think it shows that the other part of the team can listen to the captains and can respect that, and understand that there is leadership in the team,” Galbreath said.
Lind-Ritzville will begin its season at home against Colfax on September 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
Schedule
Sept. 2 - vs Colfax - 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 - @ Liberty - 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 - vs Tri-Cities Prep - 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 - vs Davenport - 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 - @ NWC - 1 p.m.
Oct. 7 - vs Chewelah - 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 - @ Reardan - 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 - @ Asotin - 1 p.m.
Roster
2 Zach Klien, Sophomore
7 Hunter Dinkins, Senior
10 Jayce Kelly, Sophomore
11 Travis Redburn, Junior
12 Ledger Kelly, Freshman
13 Nick Labes, Senior
15 Chase Galbreath, Senior
20 Cooper Miller, Senior
22 Seth Miller, Senior
24 Brock Kinch, Junior
25 Brody Boness, Sophomore
26 John Branham, Junior
28 Peyton Norton, Senior
30 Hayden Melcher, Senior
32 Kaleb Kuykendall, Freshman
33 Drake Lasen, Sophomore
34 Brenik Esser, Freshman
35 Tahj Knippling, Junior
40 Turner Slack, Freshman
42 John Stromberger, Sophomore
44 Bridger Moore, Junior
45 Waylon Rosman, Freshman
50 Jackson Nichols
51 Traye Redburn, Junior
52 Lance Williamson, Junior
55 Blake Esser, Senior
56 Hayden Stone, Senior
60 Alexis Mendoza, Sophomore
62 Carson Kubik, Sophomore
64 Jerod Harder, Freshman
65 Shawn Steinberger, Junior
68 Hayes Hennings, Freshman
70 Brock Tracy, Sophomore
71 J.P. McAnally, Sophomore
72 Michael Fortin, Senior
73 Cameron Olson, Sophomore
88 Caden Bates, Freshman
