Curtis HS Returning Some of WA’s top Young Talent
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Curtis went 6-4 last season losing in the first round of the playoffs to Federal Way. That being said as you can expect them to make some noise this coming fall, returning some of Washington’s top young talent and the…
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Continue ReadingCurtis went 6-4 last season losing in the first round of the playoffs to Federal Way. That being said as you can expect them to make some noise this coming fall, returning some of Washington’s top young talent and the reigning Co-Conference Player of the Year in Rocco Koch Rocco Koch 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Curtis | 2024 State WA .
The 6-1 200-pound QB accounted for 2600 yards and 30 TDs (21 passing, 9 rushing) on his way to sharing the POY honor with standout Junior QB Jake Schakel Jake Schakel 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Emerald Ridge | 2024 State WA of Emerald Ridge. Koch’s influence can’t be understated as the Vikings could have easily been 8-2, dropping close ball games to Sumner by 7 and GK by 5.
We’ve talked at length about Xavier Ahrens Xavier Ahrens 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Curtis | 2025 State WA , who projects as one of the top 25’s in the NW, earning 1st team all-league DB and 2nd team WR accolades in the 4A SPSL as a sophomore. He is an unquestioned D1 guy who might be the next athlete in the class to land an offer. On the season he returned kicks for TDs, scored numerous times offensively, and played lights out on D returning multiple INTs for touchdowns.
Fellow Sophomore’s Jayden Rice-Claiborne Jayden Rice-Claiborne 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Curtis | 2025 State WA and Parker Mady Parker Mady 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Curtis | 2025 State WA are right there with Ahrens as two of the top 25s in the state. Claiborne has had one of the better off seasons of any player in WA, excelling on the 7v7 circuit as part of FSP, while garnering significant praise from his peers. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection at DB and showed off legit speed as a freshman on the track.
Mady is a multi-sport threat (baseball) and one of the more versatile athletes in the SPSL. His 2nd team all-league honors at WR and honorable mention DB accolades had him listed as one of the only kids in the conference to earn recognition on both sides of the football. Much like Ahrens, he was super impressive for such a young athlete.
Rounding out the 25’s is Micah Yanos Micah Yanos 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Curtis | 2025 WA , another honorable mention all-conference DB, who will help solidify the Vikings secondary as one of the best returning groups in Washington.
As good as the perimeter will be you don’t win without a line, which is where the Keown kids will step in. The 2x all SPSL lineman Nick Keown Nick Keown 6'2" | 230 lbs | OL Curtis | 2024 State WA 6-3 255 G/T 24′ had an outstanding junior season, along with Greg Keown 6-3 270 OL/DL 24′ who was an all-conference guy as well. Both will need to stay healthy and play out of their minds if they want to make a playoff run.
1st team all SPSL RB/LB Lyndon Tanoa Lyndon Tanoa 5'8" | 200 lbs | ATH Curtis | 2023 State WA is graduating and will be missed, along with two talented lineman in Kellen Hazen and Marques Watson. We hear a lot about others within the conference but not as much on Curtis. Expect that to be different with the POY Koch returning and a special 2025 group.