Sprague could be an insider tip in Oregon high school football, led by a dominant line
The Metro Area Lineman Challenge.
It’s all there. And it’s true – or at least mostly true.
The event featured some of the best high school football players from teams in the metropolitan area, with one exception – a team from outside the Portland metropolitan area. That was Sprague, and the Olympians arrived with a lot of motivation and a desire to prove something.
“We want to show what we can do,” Sprague senior-to-be Aedan Saele said during the 2024 Metro Area Lineman Challenge held last month at Hare Field in Hillsboro. “We’re here to compete with all these top schools up here in the Portland area. We want to say, ‘Hey, we’re from Salem, but we can still win. We can compete.'”
“Yes, that’s motivation,” said Trae Mackaravitz, Sprague’s future senior. “We want to show what we’re all about.”
It was clear right from the start that the Olympians wanted to do their best in the competition, which included disciplines such as the 35-meter dash, shuttle run, high jump, standing long jump, bench press, farmer’s carry, tractor tire flip, two-man sled relay and team tug of war.
“I think that means a lot to us as a team, especially out here with the linemen,” said Saele, who will play tight end and linebacker for the Olympians in the fall. “You don’t get a lot of recognition. Your job is to be a guy who gets his hand in the dirt and plays smash-mouth football.”
“It’s going pretty well,” said Mackaravitz, who will play offense and defense for the Olympians this season. “I think I could do a little better in some events, but our team looks great. I’m really proud of everyone.”
Sprague finished fourth (out of 17) in the final team standings with 49 points. The Olympians finished behind champion Sherwood with 78 points, Sunset with 64 points and Lake Oswego with a total of 55 points. Sprague finished ahead of defending champion Tualatin, who finished fifth with 39 points.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Saele, who earned honorable mention in the South Central Football Conference as a linebacker during his junior season, shined for the Olympians, finishing fourth among all competitors in the lightweight division and fifth overall.
“I think I’m having a pretty good day. I’m having a lot of fun out here with my teammates and competing against them,” he said. “I’m trying to focus on myself, watering my own garden and not worrying about other people.”
Saele posted a standing broad jump of 100.5 inches, ranking fifth among all competitors. His vertical jump of 30 inches was fourth, and his shuttle run time of 4.46 seconds was second best. Saele completed 18 reps of 185 pounds on the bench press, a 40-yard sprint time of 5.12, and 10 somersaults on the tractor tire flip.
“It’s nice to get a chance to show what you can do,” Saele said. “There aren’t many opportunities like this in Oregon, so it’s great to be a part of it. I’m glad it’s here.”
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Mackaravitz, who earned honorable mention as an all-conference tackle as a junior, also improved, finishing fifth in the heavyweight division’s individual standings.
“My best event was the bench press – I did 20,” Mackaravitz said. “I could have done more, but my arms were pumping.”
His 20 lifts in the bench press were the best of any Olympian and ranked seventh among all competitors. Mackaravitz achieved a distance of 80 yards in the farmer’s carry, which earned him the team lead and seventh place overall.
Rising junior Carter Wilson of Sprague also posted a best of 80 yards in the farmer’s carry. Rising senior Cameron Larson had an impressive performance with 16 bench press lifts, a standing broad jump of 91.5 inches, a high jump of 26 inches, 60 yards in the farmer’s carry and 11 flips in the tractor tire flip, tying him with Mackaravitz, rising junior Bohdi Jones and rising sophomore Emmett Hunsaker for the team’s best performance in the event. Rising senior Ty Moseby posted 17 bench press lifts and rising junior Jacob Makarenko posted 11 bench press lifts, 10 tractor tire flips and 62 yards in the farmer’s carry.
The Metro Area Lineman Challenge was part of a big and busy summer for the Olympians. Saele, Mackaravitz, rising senior Trayton Futi and rising senior Kenya Johnson played in the Les Schwab Bowl, with Johnson scoring an interception return touchdown for the winning Team Columbia.
Sprague appears to have a strong group of players returning this season. Johnson was named second-team all-conference as a running back last year. Futi was named second-team all-conference as a defensive back and quarterback prospect Dukatti Witherspoon received honorable mention, as did receiver prospect Aidan Andresen.
All of this has the Olympians, who had a 2-7 record last year, excited about the upcoming high school football season.
“It looks great,” Saele said. “We were four at the Les Schwab Bowl. We worked hard all June and July and have all of August ahead of us. Our guys are doing great things and our linemen are working hard every day. We were at Linfield Camp, which was a four-day, tough battle.”
Sprague opens its season on August 30 when it hosts Newberg in a non-league game.
“I’m really excited,” Mackaravitz said. “Our whole team is full of stars and people I’ve been on a team with for most of my life.”
To get live updates on your phone – and follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone app | Download Android app
