2023 Redwood Football Preview: Tradition inspires Rangers winning culture
Tradition.
Dictionary.com defines the nine-letter noun as "the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way."
At Redwood High School, the campus and student body are built around its storied tradition, which dates back to 1955 when the school was founded.
But for a time, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that tradition was in limbo with students learning virtually away from campus and classrooms, which hindered their experiences to socialize with their peers in school as well as their ability to participate in extracurricular activities.
Teachers and staff had to reintroduce the concept of tradition when students came back onsite during the 2021-22 school year. On the football field, coaches had to do the same — instill tradition and pride in their athletes.
Today's senior class, which was part of that initial freshmen group that did not officially step foot full-time on campus until their sophomore year, is now leading that charge of reestablishing tradition for those who come after them.
"We want to win but I want to bring the team closer," Redwood senior defensive end Kai Preisendorf said. "I want to leave something behind, and start those traditions because during COVID, we lost a ton of traditions that I didn't even know of. I kind of want to place more in. I want to bring the team over to swim at my house at some point. I want to just make us more of a family."
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Preisendorf headlines a strong Redwood team that is coming off an 8-3 record and an outright East Yosemite League championship. The Rangers advanced to the Central Section Division I playoffs last season.
Preisendorf, a 2022 All-EYL pick, will lead the Rangers' 4-2-5 defense. He has tallied 16 career sacks and 84 total tackles and is also expected to line up at middle linebacker in certain packages this season.
A two-sport athlete who is also a standout wrestler, Preisendorf was selected as a team captain for the 2023 campaign. He heads into his senior season as a three-year starter and also handles the Rangers' long-snapping duties.
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Preisendorf will line up on offense this fall, too, and will likely see snaps at tight end and fullback. He has received some recruiting interest from several Football Championship Subdivision schools (formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA).
"Actually with Kai, every day I think of something new I can do with him because of his size and his intelligence," Redwood head coach Kevin Scharton said.
Including Preisendorf, Redwood returns five players who have started since their sophomore year in receiver Moses Burk, lineman B.J. Wainwright, receiver Evan Galley, and running back Alex Perch.
Burk led the team in receiving last season and is set to anchor a promising unit that also includes Galley. Burk and Galley both earned All-EYL honors last season with Burk garnering first-team recognition. The two combined for nearly 1,200 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in 2022.
Wainwright is expected to provide leadership for the offensive line after earning back-to-back all-conference choices the past two seasons.
"It's really great honestly," Wainwright said. "I've enjoyed playing offensive line as a guard, as a tackle, even at practice at center. I know the ins and outs of coach Scharton's playbook, and I feel like it's just really amazing to be that guy that the offensive line leans upon. I have guys playing left tackle, center, right guard, they'll ask me, 'What do I need to do right here?' Or stuff like that. Get my input and it feels really great to lead guys and build them together because as an offensive line, you just can't really be like five great players. You have to be one super cohesive and strong unit because if you aren't, you're just not gonna win games. You can't throw the ball without an offensive line and run the ball without an offensive line. We don't have an offense without us."
Junior Erik Rico is projected to start at quarterback. He was a starting pitcher and third baseman on the Rangers' EYL championship baseball team in the spring as a sophomore and directed last season's junior varsity football team to an 8-2 record.
Perch will likely be the team's featured back this season and will start in the backfield alongside fullback Jacob Florez, who is also a three-year varsity player.
Defensively, the Rangers have experienced returning players in defensive tackle Jordan Nguyen, outside linebacker Xavier Perez, strong safety Brandow Woodrow, and cornerbacks Isaia Galaviz and Dallas Harris. Galaviz tied for the team lead with two interceptions last season, and Woodrow finished eighth on the team with 33 tackles.
"I think this is going to be a special team," Scharton said. "I think this team can go as far as they want."
More: 2023 East Yosemite League Football Preview: 54 names to know, team capsules, schedules
Scharton, a veteran head coach who has held that title since 2002, is entering his fifth season at his alma mater Redwood. During that stretch, he has compiled an overall head coaching record of 165-70, which includes a 17-year tenure at Dinuba.
Under Scharton, the Rangers are averaging 7.3 wins per season.
Redwood kicks off the 2023 season at Centennial on Aug. 18 in Bakersfield.
"We have to do the right things," Scharton said. "We have to love each other. We have to stay connected. One heartbeat. All that team stuff. It really does work. We're just going to see if we can just put it all together and make the best run that we can."
Redwood Rangers
Head coach: Kevin Scharton, fifth season
Coaching staff: David Clements (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Brian Rodriguez (offensive line), Brad Pendergast (receivers), Michael Wright II (defensive backs), Joey Chica (outside linebackers/kickers), Cole Sprague (defensive line), Jacob Huerta (running backs)
Roster size: 61
Base offense/defense: Pro-style/4-2-5
2022 record: 8-3 (lost to Central in the Central Section Division I first-round playoffs)
Impact players: WR Moses Burk, DE Kai Preisendorf, OL BJ Wainwright, WR Evan Galley, RB Alex Perch, QB Erik Rico, FB Jacob Florez, TE Nathan Kinser, DT Jordan Nguyen, OLB Xavier Perez, SS Brandow Woodrow, CB Isaia Galaviz, CB Dallas Harris
Projected starting lineup
Offense
QB: Erik Rico
FB: Jacob Florez
TB: Alex Perch
WR: Evan Galley
WR: Moses Burk
TE: Gabriel Ward or Nathan Kinser
OL: Samuel Ortega
OL: BJ Wainwright
OL: Hunter Pruitt
OL: Anthony Galeana
OL: Christian Carlos
Defense
DE: Kai Preisendorf
DT: Jordan Nguyen
DT: Moses Saulsbury or Jesse Bautista
DE: Chase Dempsey
LB: Alec Harrold
LB: Enrique Segura
OLB: Xavier Perez
CB: Dallas Harris
CB: Isaia Galaviz
FS: Cash Rico
SS: Brandon Woodrow
Schedule
Aug. 18: at Centennial-Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25: Clovis North, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Tulare Union, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: at El Diamante, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Porterville, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Monache, 7:30 p.m.
Oc.t 20: at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Mt. Whitney (Cowhide), 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 2023 Redwood Football Preview
