The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
“I want to make a statement Friday night that Wilson is a force.”
First-year head coach Raudric Curtis is gearing up with his squad for the Bruins’ season opener, and they’re ready to make some noise. Wilson is on the road for their first game of the season as they travel to take on Portola at 7 pm.
This game is likely to have a ton of heart in it, as Wilson is looking to avenge their CIF championship loss that ended their year in 2024. On the other end, Portola is riding a high as they won their own CIF championship after defeating El Rancho 31-14 in the title game.
Both teams will want to carry their momentum over into this season after their deep playoff runs. The Bruins and Bulldogs both have the tools to do so and will look to rely on their returners to lead the way.
Portola has some huge names returning for them on both sides of the ball. Senior wide receiver Malachi Moore, an All-CIF player, will lead the offense alongside senior running back Timmy Grettenberg.
Moore also plays defensive back and will be a part of a powerful defense spearheaded by senior linebacker Maxwell Mapstone, the CIF Division 11 defensive player of the year. Mapstone is another two-way Bulldog, as he also plays tight end.
Wilson will rely on their returning seniors to lead the way and set the tone for the season. They’ve got a strong trio in Thomas Jones, Jagger Kohagura and Mack Cooper.
Jones and Kohagura will be dangerous on both sides of the ball. Jones is expected to be a speedy threat at wide receiver while also playing defensive back for the Bruins. Kohagura is the team’s starting tight end alongside being a crucial part of the defensive line.
Cooper will lead Wilson’s offense and continue to build on the success he had last season. As a junior, Cooper had 2,716 passing yards and 21 touchdowns across 14 games, averaging 194 yards per game.
Curtis is expecting his senior captains to build on the culture his staff has been trying to implement at Wilson. There’s a ton of details that add into this mission, from the effort in the weight room to weekly goal reflections. Curtis is hoping to see all the work his program has been putting in pay off in their season opener.
“The buzz and effective development over the offseason and summer have built up a great deal of confidence that we can attain our goal, and I, for one, can’t wait to see us perform,” Curtis said.
