Note: Olympus finished with a 4-6 overall record in 2014 and tied for fifth in Region 7 with a 2-4 record. It did not qualify for the playoffs.
SALT LAKE CITY — A year removed from failing to qualify for the postseason, Olympus has worked and worked this offseason with the hopes of getting back on track this year.
Despite returning just eight starters from last year’s squad, the Titans have some talented skill players and head coach Aaron Whitehead has really liked what he's seen from his team so far.
“The kids have worked really hard. Any time Olympus has had success, the nature of that success is always the kids, and this is a really great group. I really enjoy working with them and anything they achieve this year will be a direct result of the hard work they have put in. They’ve put in a lot of work and I’m really excited for this group,” he said.
Despite feeling extremely pleased with his team's efforts and attitude so far in the offseason, Whitehead knows his team has some work to do.
However, after struggling to establish a true game manager last year, the Titans do, however, have had a solid group of kids (four) competing for the starting QB job this summer and have come a long ways since last season's well documented difficulties.
The Titans do, however, have a solid group of kids competing for the starting QB job this summer.
“We do have some guys who are returning and we have four quarterbacks. A.J. Wiseman, who throws a really good ball, will be the senior. Tyler Smith and Noah Schuman are both juniors and then we had a kid transfer in from California, Sawyer Pierce, who is also very athletic. So it will be interesting to see how the quarterback thing pans out, but it’s really fun. They all bring great things to the table,” said Whitehead.
Olympus returns just four starters on offense, led by top running backs Quinn Meier, Tommy Paulsen and Ben Bywater, and will need several young newcomers to really rise to the occasion and fill the holes on both sides of the ball.
Last season, Meier was second on the team in rushing (375 yards) behind JoJo Henderson and will continue to be an integral part of his team's game plan this season. He is set to receive the majority of the workload out of the backfield while Paulsen and Bywater bring some much-needed depth and will also get some touches.
If Olympus' young and inexperienced offensive line can step up, find their groove and really come on strong throughout the season, the offense shouldn't have much trouble pounding the ball.
“Tommy started last year as our corner and Quinn started last year as our tailback, so they have some experience. All three are just very good players and I’m just very excited with what we have offensively,” said Whitehead. “The offensive line is a question mark and we still have a ways to go. We will be as good as our offensive line, so we hope they come together. They have the potential to be good, but there is a lot of work for them to do to get to that point.”
Meanwhile, on defense, the Titans return just four starters from last year and will once again count on their few veterans and look to their younger players to help fill the holes.
Linebacker Dallin Bettilyon, cornerback Paulsen and defensive end Porter Baker are all set to return to the starting lineup and will continue to help anchor the defense again this season.
“I really like our team’s speed. We have some returning starters with some experience and it’s really fun. When we practice, there is a lot of enthusiasm and energy. It’s great. The neat thing about this group is that it is a unit; a team. I really think our defense might be our strength this year,” Whitehead said.
With the new UHSAA region alignments kicking in this year, Olympus has officially joined Region 6 and will face some pretty tough competition.
Along with facing an extremely difficult preseason schedule, the Titans are now set to take on high-quality and competitive teams such as Skyline and Murray week in and week out.
With 5A's Cottonwood, Davis and Northridge all on the schedule, along with 4A contender Highland, in the first four weeks of the season alone, Whitehead knows his team will have their hands full week after week this year.
“The number one thing is we have Cottonwood in week one. They’ve got a lot of enthusiasm and they have a great coach, so our hands are going to be really full with them. We are just trying to take this one week at a time. So to look at the region, yeah it’s going to be tough, but our main concern right now is Cottonwood,” Whitehead added.
Olympus Titans at a glance
Head Coach: Aaron Whitehead is entering his fifth season as Olympus’ head coach. He’s amassed a 27-18 record in his five years and led Olympus to the 4A semifinals in 2013. He is a graduate of Skyline High School and the University of Utah.
Offense (4 returning starters; Spread/Wing offense)
Offensive coordinator: Aaron Whitehead (5 years as assistant)
Returning offensive starters
Quinn Meier (RB)
Britton Hogan (TE)
Tommy Paulsen (RB)
Ben Bywater (RB)
Offensive newcomers to watch
A.J. Wiseman (QB)
Jack Anderson (WR)
Sawyer Pierce (QB)
Defense (4 returning starters, 4-3 defense)
Defensive coordinator: Brandon Burt (5 years as assistant)
Returning defensive starters
Dallin Bettilyon (LB)
Tommy Paulsen (DB)
Porter Baker (DE)
Britton Hogan (LS/DE)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Nate Hoole (LB)
William Pippas (DL)
Cole Thornton (FS)
Steven Burt (DB)
Coaches’ preseason 3A South straw poll: Third
Deseret News 3A South prediction: Second
Bottom line: After failing to qualify for the postseason last year, Olympus reloads with a solid group of skill players and is aiming high. Last year, the Titans had their fair share of struggles at quarterback and will need a game manager to step up and take the reins this season this season to be successful. Olympus returns a great group out of the backfield with two returning starters and will be as successful running the ball as its inexperienced offensive line will let it. With three of their four preseason games against 5A teams and the other against 4A contender Highland, the Titans’ difficult schedule should help prepare them for ta tough regular season and, if everything goes to plan, the playoffs.
Last 5
2014 — 5-6 (2-4 in Region 7 -- Missed playoffs)
2013 — 10-2 (5-1 in Region 7 – 4A Semifinals)
2012 — 6-5 (4-1 in Region 7 – 4A First round)
2011 — 9-2 (5-0 in Region 7 – 4A Quarterfinals)
2010 — 7-3 (4-2 in Region 6 – 4A First round)
Olympus coaching history
2011-current — Aaron Whitehead (29-15)
2009-2010 — Mike Smith (14-7)
2004-2008 — Mark Smith (17-34)
1998-2003 — Mike Miller (48-20)
1991-1997 — Tom Larson (42-20)
1985-1990 — Marc Lyons (33-29)
1974-1984 — Louie Long (76-37)
1971-1973 — Wayne Startin (16-11-1)
1967-1970 — John Christopulos (12-25-1)
1964-1966 — Ron Startin (16-9-2)
1956-1963 — Gil Meier (34-28-5)
1954-1955 — Bill Green (7-10)
1953 — Don Dixon (5-3)
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
2013 — Coleman Meier, RB
2013 — Connor Haller, DB
2011 — Scott Porter, QB
2011 — Nate Watchman, OL
2010 — Sam Williams, DB
2009 — Ryan Reynolds, OL
2005 — Ryan Roundy, LB
To view second team and honorable mention all-staters through the years, check out the Deseret News All-State Archives.
Ryan Love is a full-time student and has been a part-time sportswriter for the Deseret News since Oct. 2012.
Follow him on Twitter @RLove7724
EMAIL: rlove@deseretnews.com