Skyview’s Sawyer Muehlbauer adapts to 4A football on the offensive line in honor of teammate who passed away Oct. 10

For Sawyer Muehlbauer, football is about love.

The love for the game. The love of competition. The love for teammates – especially the love for teammates.

That love has been a heavy heart for the Skyview Storm since the death of teammate William “Liam” Sloan, who died unexpectedly in his sleep on October 10.

The heavy heart brings a bigger load for Muehlbauer, Skyview’s 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior nose tackle. Ahead of Saturday’s Class 4A first-round playoff game against Bothell (5-4) in Kiggins Bowl, Muehlbauer will make his fifth start at Sloan’s spot on the offensive line – right tackle. Before Sloan’s passing, the senior played just one offensive series all season.

Muehlbauer knows he now carries a big burden for a bigger reason. And that burden is worth bearing.

“It’s an honor to play this position,” he said, “and to play for him.”

Being a two-way starter on a Class 4A playoff team is one of many new things in recent months for Muehlbauer. He is also new to Skyview.

He grew up at White Salmon and previously played at tight end and defensive end the past three seasons at Class 1A Columbia High. In wrestling, he reached the 1A 190-pound finals at the Mat Classic in February, becoming the school’s first finalist in any weight class.

Fresh off wrestling at the USA Junior National Championships in Fargo, ND in July, Muehlbauer got an eye-opening experience with Class 4A football, starting with daily workouts in the weight room. During a lineman-only session, he met the Storm’s linemen.

Among them was Sloan.

Muehlbauer only knew Sloan for a few months, but the impression he leaves remains a lasting one. Their frequent conversations, from plays to blocking plans, are memories Muehlbauer cherishes. The light on Sloan’s work ethic and character has not gone out.

“He taught me a lot. I always asked him questions,” Muehlbauer said. “He was a funny guy, and very nice. He worked very hard every training session.”

That makes jogging for offense in games difficult, but also necessary, Muehlbauer said.

Recently, the program retired Sloan’s number 70. The jersey is currently being memorialized in a frame that will soon be on display in Skyview’s weight room, head coach Steve Kizer said. It will hang next to the No. 85 framed jersey in honor of the late Trey Foote. Skyview retired Foote’s song in 2006 after the safety’s two-year cancer battle.

Like other Storm teammates, Muehlbauer is motivated by Sloan when he takes the field.

“I feel like I have to do it right – for him,” he said. “I think he would be quite proud of the way I’m playing because I’ve done a lot better and improved a lot.”

The jump from 1A to 4A football meant a lot of adjustments, but success came quickly for Muehlbauer. Through 10 weeks, the senior has 69 tackles, including 10 for loss and four sacks at nose tackle after starting the season on defense.

Kizer isn’t surprised to see Muehlbauer’s immediate impact and credits the teen’s wrestling background as to why. His tenacity and motor skills are unparalleled, the coach said.

“You know what those wrestlers are like,” Kizer said. “They don’t get tired. … He plays every game as hard as he can. Wrestlers don’t play a role in that sport, and he does here in football.”

Muehlbauer plays football just like he plays wrestling.

“In wrestling it’s a short period, just like a football match,” he said. “A wrestling match is two-minute rounds, so you have to go hard all the time, and that makes it easier in football. … You have to go as fast as you can.”

Anything new for Muehlbauer this year? Experience play-off football.

Five Washington opponents Skyview (7-3) faced in the regular season reached the 4A or 3A state playoffs, including wins over current 4A round-of-16 team Graham-Kapowsin , Richland and Puyallup. In last week’s 33-0 shutout of Juanita for Muehlbauer’s first-ever playoff game, he recorded eight tackles, including two for loss.

Saturday against Bothell in Kiggins Bowl, he’ll want to carry another big load for a bigger reason.

For themselves. For his teammates. And for one teammate in particular.

Muehlbauer said: “I’m very excited about the next few weeks.”