By Elizabeth Cummings
With plenty of experience, constant devoutness and a determined mind, Craig Shetterly heads up the Cedar Park Christian football team.
Previous coaching — at Mount Vernon High for two years and with various European teams in Germany for four years — has prepared Shetterly for his first head-coaching position.
As things at Mount Vernon changed, Shetterly saw an opportunity to coach at Cedar Park. A friend of his who works at Cedar Park introduced him to the school.
“My wife and I prayed about it, and decided this is where God wanted us to be,” Shetterly says. “Coaching is a great opportunity to bring out the best in guys. To find their best ability and bring them to perform at their peak.”
In the past four weeks, Shetterly has met and practiced with his new team.
During the summer, the Eagles practiced once a day, and the week before school, they practiced twice a day. As senior Anthony Dilio says, “This year, we have less water breaks.”
Within this short amount of time, Shetterly has already found that the football team shows “great integrity and character, and a genuine caring about each other.”
Shetterly’s biggest rival is Cascade Christian, probably because Cedar Park hasn’t been able to beat its foe. But “changing the pace of the game,” as Shetterly hopes to accomplish, could alter the rivalry.
Many players are also looking forward to the Cascade Christian game Sept. 27, with high hopes of winning.
With last year’s 6-4 record close by, Shetterly keeps his goals even closer: to win all of the big games, especially league, become a playoff team and set the pace for the future.
Warren Bezanson, a senior, talks about his coaches: “They have higher expectations than you have for yourself.”
Benzanson (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) is one of three returning seniors who will lead the Eagles’ offensive line. The others are Joel Roberts (6-3, 225) and Mark Iancu (6-0, 200).
As Shetterly kicks off the season, he expresses personal pride for having the opportunity to be a part of Cedar Park. Knowing that it is still a young program, he wants to “establish pride and tradition.”
Before games, Shetterly likes to give the athletes time to relax and go over fundamentals. Pep talks aren’t needed with players like these, “they (energize) on their own,” coach says. Bezanson says, “We say the Lord’s Prayer before the game.”
By the end of the year, Shetterly wants to, “look back and realize we were better than we expected; to be surprised.”
Which will not be hard to do with a coach like Shetterly, who describes himself as a person who works harder than any other coach, while his team works harder than any other team.
Shetterly and the Eagles are set to defend their team motto: “outwork everyone.”
The Eagles will kick off their season at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 against South Whidbey at Lake Washington High.
