The 2025-26 Athletic Year is underway, and football teams across the state took to the field for the first time on Wednesday.

W.F. West was one of those teams, as the Bearcats ran through a two-hour, 15-minute practice in the outfield of the turf baseball diamond and the grass beyond the left field fence.

“It’s good to be back,” W.F. West coach Dan Hill said with a smile.

The Bearcats have become accustomed to deep postseason runs in recent years, making it to the state semifinals in two of the past three seasons.

Here are three observations from their first practice of the fall:

New core taking the lead

If W.F. West makes another playoff run, it’ll be with a new core leading the way.

Eight two-way starters, including Evco and All-Area MVP Gage Brumfield, graduated in the spring, leaving plenty of snaps and a few leadership roles to fill.

On Wednesday, the new crop of leaders made their mark. Graysen Serl and Miles Martin led the way in the skill position drills, while Grady Oien and Peyton Santiago led the linemen drills.

Connor Coleman, who started games as a sophomore, also made his return to the football field after missing his junior season with a torn ACL.

“I think you got to make your own mark on things,” Martin said. “It’s gonna be a different crew, but all of our goals throughout the season are the exact same.”

Sophomore QB taking the reigns

Sophomore Wyatt Hoffman backed up Brumfield last season, and he earned playing time in several games throughout the fall.

His most notable performance came against Black Hills, when he threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant W.F. West victory.

Hoffman impressed during passing drills, showcasing impressive arm strength on throws outside the numbers and downfield.

“I’m very excited,” Hoffman said. “I feel like I got a really good group of guys around me, older kids that have experience on the field from last year. I think we can do good things on offense this year.”

Emphasis on defensive communication

Communication is key for any defense, especially one with so many players stepping into bigger roles.

After a long offensive drill, the defense put on their orange caps, and the focus on passing off coverages began.

“We’ve got to make sure our guys are aligned and assigned,” Hill said. “That will be first and foremost. We gotta get everybody mentally ready to go so we can play fast and not have to think when the time comes.”