Kalani Umiamaka takes a lot of pride in his school, in his football program.
Perhaps the rest of Southwest Washington might not think much of the Heritage Timberwolves, but Umiamaka said he gets goosebumps when thinking about his team.
“There are (outsiders) who don’t believe in you, but we’re a family. We believe in each other. We believe in our coaches,” Umiamaka said. “Other people will dis us. But the love on this team means we’ll always be a family.”
Umiamaka earned second-team, all-league status last season for the Timberwolves, rushing for 938 yards and seven touchdowns — even though he was the player other teams keyed on just about every game. He also excels as a free safety for the defense.
The individual success, however, did not lead to a lot of wins. Heritage, 2-7 overall, went winless in the 4A Greater St. Helens League.
Still, Umiamaka never considered finding a different place for his talents. Heritage is where he wants to be, where he wants to lead, and perhaps come back to coach one day. He hopes to be able to say that it was his senior year that relaunched the program with new head coach Matt Gracey.
“I feel I have a duty to stay here and make the team around me be better,” Umiamaka said. “We’re all about a brotherhood. We all need each other.”
Gracey is Heritage’s third coach in the past four seasons. All new coaches can use a player such as Umiamaka.
“He’s just a good, solid football player, both sides of the ball,” Gracey said. “He’s doing a really good job as a leader, too.”
In fact, Gracey said he has been impressed with a number of players.
“All the guys have decided we want to do a lot better than the year before,” the coach said. “They’re doing an excellent job of picking each other up, being there for each other.”
Umiamaka said he wished he could have had Gracey all four years of high school. Instead, they are making up for lost time. Umiamaka said there already is a bond.
Every year, there has been a different type of motivation, Umiamaka said. This season, the seniors have decided to make sure they are having fun while working hard. No need to stress. Play the game. And prepare for the game.
“Games aren’t won during games,” Umiamaka said.
And for a senior on a team that has not won a lot in his career, there is more on the line than the 2015 season.
“It’s not just me helping my year. It’s helping the next year, and the next year, and the year after that,” Umiamaka said. “Help the program build.”
Umiamaka had three 100-yard games last season and three games in which he scored two touchdowns.
“I’m not getting the yards. My line is getting me the yards,” he said.
Interestingly, it was a quarter of defense from last season that stands out most in Umiamaka’s mind. It was Week 9 against first-place Camas. The Timberwolves held Camas to seven first-quarter points. Camas would win big that night, but it was a special quarter.
“That was an achievement, seeing these guys compete,” Umiamaka said.
One does not need to win a league championship to have pride.
“We have new coaches, and they believe in us, and I believe we are going to be good,” Umiamaka said.
