Last season’s Swamp Cup was a bitter pill for the Centralia Tigers. Not only did they lose 55-7 to W.F. West, their closest rivals, for the 14th straight time, but it capped off a winless season that saw the Tigers score more than seven points just twice.
For the second straight year, a new coach will try to instill a new sense of belief, but this year it’s a coach many Tigers are familiar with.
After 28 years as an assistant coach, Jon Rooklidge is the new Tiger head coach, and the hope is that the team will improve throughout the season and be more competitive on a week-to-week basis this fall.
“We’ve got room to grow, and that’s our emphasis, is growth,” Rooklidge said. “That’s our mindset. Can we grow every day and can we get better every day?”
Even with the departure of all-league offensive linemen Carlos Vallejo, over a dozen starters from last season return, including quarterback Landen Jenkins, who will likely split time this fall with Terrell Sanders.
There is some depth at the skill positions as well, with Blake Seymour, Kellen Rooklidge and Donovan Galloway leading the backfield and Talan Sayers and Dustin Ingles lined up out wide.
The Tigers are hoping that their injury luck balances out this season, as they had several key players miss significant time last season, injuries that quickly churned through what depth they had.
While the rash of injuries was tough to slog through, Rooklidge noted that it was beneficial for younger players to see the field.
Rooklidge acknowledged that there is a sense of urgency to get back in the win column, but he said the overall focus this year is about setting the foundation for the future.
“Right now, what we’re worried about is ourselves,” Rooklidge said, “We’re worried about getting better on a daily basis, growing, and establishing our own culture.”
