Trojan Alumni

Class of 1992/Team of 1991

Beaver Elenbaas
Beaver graduated from Meridian in the spring of 1992 and joined the coaching staff for the 1992 season, staying on through 2004. Beaver was offensive coordinator for the 1999 and 2003 championship teams.

Class of 1993/Team of 1992

Bob Bennum
Bob played football for a season at a California JC, and baseball at Olympic CC in Washington.
Josh Lehman
Josh played junior college football at Monterrey Pennisula JC and Galvin JC in California. As a freshman, Josh was a all-conference defensive lineman, and a sophomore an all-state offensive lineman. Josh now owns a gym in Ferndale, WA -- Every Day Fitness.
Kevin VanDeWege
In the November 2006 elections, Kevin won election to the Washington state House of Representatives for the 24th District. Kevin beat seven-term incumbent Jim Buck by 54.5% to 45.5%. Kevin and his family live in Sequim, WA. Kevin was a senior starter at center on the 1992 Trojan team that went to the semi-finals. Kevin has a political website at kevinvandewege.com

Class of 1994/Team of 1993

Patrick Ames
Patrick played five years for the UPS Loggers, first as a linebacker and finishing as a tailback. He was a four-year letterman, team captain, and offensive MVP as a senior. Also as a senior, Patrick was Honorable Mention All-Conference and Academic All-American. Patrick is now offensive coordinator for the Trojans.

Class of 1996/Team of 1995

Michael Ames
After graduating, Michael was recruited to the WWU Vikings. Michael was five-year member of team and a two-year starter on the offensive line. Following his college career, Michael coached at Meridian and at a small college in Kansas. Currently, he is finishing a masters in counseling at the University of Hawaii and working in the UH athletic department counseling athletes.
Shane Stacy
Shane is now an assistant football coach for Meridian and, since 2005, the head boys basketball coach.

Class of 1997/Team of 1996

Steven Bernardy
Steve left Meridian as an all-state lineman to join the WWU team. Steve played five years, and started two years on the defensive line.
Jeb Kratzig
Before injury ended his college career, Jeb played QB and DB at WWU. Jeb now teaches and coaches football and basketball at Lynden High School.

Class of 2000/Team of 1999

Jeff Bennum
Jeff is now QB coach at Kearns High School, a 5A school in Salt Lake City, UT.
Chase Schmidtz
A member of the 1999 Championship team, Chase went on to play a few years at a California JC. In 2004, Chase returned to Bellingham and joined the WWU Viking team. In 2005, Chase earned a starting job at defensive end for his senior season with Western.

Class of 2001/Team of 2000

Eli Slesk
Eli Slesk, another all-everything QB from the Slesk/Bennum clan, is now playing baseball at Utah Valley State College. In 2005, as a sophomore, Eli started 36 of 37 games and led the team with a .367 average. His 2006 player profile is here.

Class of 2004/Team of 2003

Brady Emmons
In spring 2005, Brady walked-on to the WSU Cougars and made the fall roster for 2005.
For the 2006 season, Brady is getting playing time on special teams and as a backup linebacker.
In 2007, Brady is working with the 2nd and 3rd linebackers, and is on three special teams units.

Class of 2005/Team of 2004

Jordan Slesk
After finishing an "all everything" career at Meridian, Jordan signed with the CWU Wildcats as a quarterback. Click here for Jordan's CWU team bio.