West Forsyth is excited to pick up where it left off in 2025 following the team’s quarterfinal run and 9-4 overall record. Last year was the third time in the school’s history that the team reached the quarterfinals and the Wolverines were led by a talented Class of 2026 that is returning to get the job done again this season. 6-foot-5 quarterback Max Walraven is back for his senior season and is coming off a breakout junior campaign that saw him throw for 2,131 yards and 19 touchdowns. Three returning starters on the offensive line and several skill guys that are healthy and coming off of great springs and summers give West Forsyth a balanced offense and this balance allowed the Wolverines to go toe-to-toe with the best-of-the-best in Class 6A this past season.
West Forsyth feels like last year was a landmark season and nearly defeating Douglas County in the quarterfinals last season has made the Wolverines hungry and confident heading into 2025.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of 2026 guys play a lot of varsity football for us, starting of course with Max Walraven, Andrew Davis, Jack Sacchetti and Tim Hyrbu,” explained linebacker coach Donovan Barker. “They all played as sophomores and so they were able to step in and play with big leadership roles as juniors and now they are able to set the example on what it takes to get there as seniors. We are definitely developing a lot of players to take on these roles, especially when we are building off a great quarterfinal team, but the thing that we want to do a lot better at West as a staff and as a program is wanting to reload and keep that same standard.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Jack Sacchetti and Mikaeden Sibblis return to anchor the D-line and the Wolverines have the ability to use their depth and two-way starts to be a flexible unit that can make opponents uncomfortable with their different rotations. A healthy blend of experience and newcomers is a combination that head coach Dave Svehla and his staff believe can progress throughout the season and lead another deep playoff run.
“We are really looking forward to seeing the young guys step in and play up to that standard with the seniors that they have been able to see the past years,” said Barker Last year was an amazing year because we were able to get over the hump and to be able to compete with a lot of the great Gwinnett schools like a Brookwood, Parkview, Archer and then being toe-to-toe with Douglas County and losing by just six points. That really set the foundation for what we know we can achieve and to set the belief that we can achieve it.
The Wolverines will kickoff the season at home on Thursday, Aug. 14 against Douglass-Atlanta in a televised primetime matchup that will mark Day 2 of the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic. After taking on the Astros for the first time in program history, the Wolverines will host Marietta and then travel to Parkview. After the Panthers, West Forsyth takes on five-straight Forsyth County opponents with trips to Lambert, Forsyth Central and North Forsyth and home games against Denmark and South Forsyth. The final two games of the regular season will be played at home against North Atlanta on Oct. 24 and then a trip to Alpharetta on Oct. 31.
Offensively, quarterback Max Walraven, offensive lineman Tim Hybu (OL), Jack Sacchetti (OL), Gavin Kirkland (OL) and wide receivers Colt Muschara (WR) and Mason Page (WR) are returning starters to watch for this season. Defensively, West Forsyth’s experience comes with inside linebacker Andrew Davis and then Sean Kenarah, Mikaeden Sibblis and Sacchetti on the defensive line.
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