Hockinson incoming senior Sawyer Racanelli, a University of Washington football commit who led the Hawks to back-to-back Class 2A state titles, will miss the 2019 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Racanelli said the non-contact knee injury happened June 15, planting awkwardly on a comeback route during a multi-team spring scrimmage at McKenzie Stadium. This week, MRI results showed a high-grade ACL tear in the right knee.
Remaining upbeat Thursday, Racanelli is relying heavily on his faith to power through his first major injury in football.
“I feel more that God has a plan for this,” the 17-year-old said. “He’s an all-knowing and he knows this would’ve happened before it happened. I put trust in Him that this happened for a reason.”
Racanelli is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver and linebacker who became the first in-state commit for UW’s recruiting class of 2020 on May 17. He’s listed as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, a national recruiting website. UW plans to honor Racanelli’s scholarship, and he added could have reconstructive surgery as early as next week at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
Hockinson is aiming for its third consecutive state title this fall and owns the state’s longest active winning streak at 27 games. In 2018, Racanelli earned 2A state player of the year by the Associated Press helping Hockinson to its second consecutive undefeated season. He scored a 2A championship game record five rushing touchdowns in a 42-37 win over Lynden.
Entering the 2019 season, Racanelli was on pace to set the state’s all-time record for receiving yards. That mark is currently held by Prosser’s Cody Bruns, who had 5,177 yards from 2004-’07. Last fall, Racanelli had 101 catches for more than 1,700 yards and 35 total touchdowns in 13 games. He’s also ranked fourth all-time for single-season receiving yards.
Following the initial shock of the injury, Racanelli is now highlighting a number personal goals for the season in addition to his rehabilitation.
And it starts by being a player turned coach.
“I want to put as much of my knowledge as I can into (the younger kids) and get them to be themselves and perform at the highest level they can,” he said. “It’s a different position I’ve never been in before. I’m going to learn and try to be the best coach.”
CAMAS’ REIMER COMMITS TO MONTANA STATE: Camas lineman Rush Reimer verbally committed to Montana State on Wednesday. The incoming senior announced the news on social media. Reimer is the second 4A GSHL player to commit to a FBS or FCS school for football this month. Skyview’s Yaro Duvalko early this month committed to Utah State of the Mountain West Conference.
