Wahluke soccer coach expects to be competitive in tough league

MATTAWA — Wahluke boys soccer coach Cele Lopez said the 2026 season is shaping up to be competitive and Wahluke is going to be in the middle of it.  

“I think we're going to do just fine this year. We lost a few key players, but there are some freshmen coming up, and there's some other guys that have been stepping it up – they've been grinding over the offseason,” Lopez said. “I think we'll we're going to be just fine, at least at the point where we can be competitive.” 

With only a week of practice behind the team, Lopez said it’s too early to pick varsity lineup.

“There’s a lot of potential,” he said. “On my list for varsity (there are) at least, potentially, six freshmen on that. I'm not saying that everybody's going to be there, but they're going to be a serious consideration at least. I'm one of those coaches that kind of trust the young guys to step it up, and we work with them so they can be ready in a couple years.” 

The Warriors finished the 2025 season with a state quarterfinal loss to eventual champion University Prep of Seattle. Lopez said the Warriors benefit from the role soccer plays in the community. 

“I think Mattawa is always having some kind of success in soccer, because we are a soccer community. Most of the Hispanic families, they really like the sport, so (players are) always around competition, watching the parents play or watching siblings play. So, we're always around the sport,” he said.  

Wahluke plays in the South Central Athletic Conference against teams with similar backgrounds, which helps improve everyone’s game, Lopez said.  

“I think everybody's going to be super competitive. Some of the players, they say, ‘Oh, it's a 1A school.’ Man, don't get distracted because they’re small communities. There's really good talent, and most of the time there are really good teams here around the area, especially in our league,” he said. 

Many players have been working on their skills over the offseason, he said, and some are playing soccer with teams in the Quincy area. 

“We have six teams now, and it’s growing. That’s a huge help for the kids. When they get to real competition, they already have the basics and they already know what's going on,” he said. 

Good competition helps all teams, he said. 

“If Royal gets better, we're going to get better. If Quincy gets better, we're going to get better. We’re always (competitive) around the area,” Lopez said. “I think it’s going to be a fun year.” 

    The Wahluke goalkeeper works on his technique.
  

    Coach Cele Lopez works with Wahluke soccer players on effective defense.