The Quest of Arvada West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Arvada West Wildcats are a team with budding talent on pace to help usher in a new era of football in the 5A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arvada West is grinding out practices as they prepare for their season opener against ThunderRidge at home on Friday, August 25th. Head coach and Arvada West alum, Brad Pyatt, extended an invitation to come watch a practice to get a glimpse at what his program has been building these past years during his tenure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":949428,"width":137,"height":90,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Christopher-Roesener-middle-_-2024-LB-_-Arvada-West.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-949428" style="width:137px;height:90px" width="137" height="90" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chris Roesener (middle)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following are just a few takeaways after observing the Wildcats practice last week as they prepare for the season to kick off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior class has made significant advances in development, especially on the defensive side of the ball. <strong>Chris Roesener </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='626601' first='Tegan' last='Schantz']</strong> are under-the-radar difference-makers with high ceilings. They both look and move like veteran linebackers should, playing downhill against the run and disruptive in coverage when defending against the pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":949424,"width":134,"height":89,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Cooper-Greason-_-2024-DB-_-Arvada-West.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-949424" style="width:134px;height:89px" width="134" height="89" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cooper Greason</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cooper Greason</strong> is a safety with the athleticism and physicality that makes him a versatile part of a talented defense. His skills as a lacrosse player translate to the gridiron, helping his stock value as a potential sleeper prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a lot of youth on the team, with a good amount of starters from the 2026 class. Being young is what makes this roster so enticing when thinking about what 5A football will potentially look like in the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":949444,"width":137,"height":91,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Atticus-Tillman-_-2026-DB-_-Arvada-West.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-949444" style="width:137px;height:91px" width="137" height="91" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='777409' first='Atticus' last='Tillman']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='504133' first='Jaxon' last='Pyatt'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='777409' first='Atticus' last='Tillman']</strong> are two big-name sophomores with high expectations. Pyatt is an inside linebacker with imposing size and a tenacious playing style. Tillman is a long defensive back with fluid movements and outstanding skills that help him make plays on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second-year defenders <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283704' first='Kevin' last='Sanchez']</strong> (DL), <strong>Caleb Gomez</strong> (DB/OLB), and <strong>Azaris Sanchez </strong>(CB) are three young players expected to make significant impacts on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive side of the ball will feature left tackle <strong>Giovanni Panazzo</strong>, a 6-foot-6, 270lbs senior who recently announced his commitment to attend Wyoming next fall. At the helm of the offense will be the highly-touted sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='950754' first='Logan' last='Duhachek']</strong>, who is expected to emerge as another top QB for the state's sophomore class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":949448,"width":135,"height":90,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Adrian-Symalla-_-2026-RB_ATH-_-Arvada-West.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-949448" style="width:135px;height:90px" width="135" height="90" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='522704' first='Adrian' last='Symalla']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats are on the brink of having one of the more dangerous running back tandems in the state. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='522704' first='Adrian' last='Symalla']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='777538' first='Jaiden' last='Green']</strong> are two running backs that could be featured as every-down backs on their own but will share the workload as they potentially become one of the more dynamic backfields in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Symalla has a more downhill running style with the shiftiness to make more than one cut and the power to truck a defender. Green is a more fluid runner with excellent vision, patience, and explosiveness on a frame that makes him tough to bring down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":949450,"width":140,"height":93,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/Jaiden-Green-_-2026-RB-_-Arvada-West-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-949450" style="width:140px;height:93px" width="140" height="93" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='777538' first='Jaiden' last='Green']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tight End<strong> Deculeon Hatch</strong> is a 2025 transfer who will add size and power to a budding receiving core. Wide receiver <strong>Ayden Garcia</strong> is expected to make a huge impact this season as another go-to target in Arvada West's spread offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many of the young players on the roster are used to being on teams with elite talent, and this Wildcats team is certainly looking the part. Being loaded with young talent shows promise for the future of a program looking to rebuild a state-contending reputation and reinforce the fact that the Arvada area is a hub for potential recruits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the college scouts who come to Colorado, it would be beneficial to stop by Arvada West and see why there are a few out of state programs recruiting the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->