It isn’t common for a sophomore to start on a WCAL football team, and its even more uncommon when he starts both ways for Bellarmine Prep, but last season Josh Bringuel did just that.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Bringuel is the perfect size for a young tight end, in addition to being well fit to play linebacker -- both of which he took over last year for an 8-4 Bellarmine team that fought through many injuries on both sides of the ball.
“He has proved himself in all phases of his game, both on offense and defense, and he is learning constantly,” said Bells’ coach Mike Janda. “He understands more and more what his assignments are and he carries them out.”
Starting every game of the 2013 season, Bringuel was a big target for current University of Washington quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels, a core member of defense and special teams, and big help to a struggling Bellarmine offensive line. Add it all together and it's easy to see why Bringuel was a WCAL first-team all-leaguer. Peeking ahead, Bringuel also said he wants to improve his receiving.
“I’m just really trying to be a complete tight end,” said Bringuel. “Tight end isn’t just offensive line and blocking, and that’s what I want to show this year -- that I’ve been really working on my speed, agility, and my hands.”
Luckily for Bringuel, he has two more years at Bellarmine to perfect his game after an already outstanding year for a sophomore. His highlight tape features impressive clips including one monster hit on Serra’s Hamilton Anoa’i in the WCAL season opener in which he flattened the Prep2Prep WCAL Player of the Year.
Highlight tape link: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3147684/highlights/118805376
But for Bringuel, his biggest asset is his brain, which is a true football mind. Even before he started playing football, Bringuel's dad Mike said he was always thinking up plays and drawing X’s and O’s on whatever piece of paper he could come across, even when left in the car for just a few minutes.
“He was sitting in the car in this church parking lot and I ran in to submit my ballot and I came back out,” said the elder Bringuel. “He had grabbed one of my notebooks from my briefcase and was drawing up new plays for our flag football team, at six years old. It was in that moment that I had an inkling that football might be the sport he would focus on.”
Intuition confirmed.
Although Bringuel also plays basketball and volleyball at Bellarmine, he agrees hat football is the sport he is most passionate about. In addition to being a natural athlete, he also dedicates his time to student government and involves himself in the community by working with special needs children.
“Community service is one of the things I definitely enjoy doing,” said Bringuel. “Just like how making that great hit gives you a special feeling, helping kids and just helping the community in general -- it just gives you that special feeling.”
By the time Bringuel leaves Bellarmine in 2016, he hopes to have started a service club of his own, become student body president, and has some high hopes for football including a CIF-State playoff bowl championship, CCS championship, and a college football scholarship.
“I really have no idea how good he will be in the long run,” said Josh’s dad. “He has a lot of upside potential, and a lot of it will be things outside of his control, but I think the sky is the limit. ... He isn’t going to leave anything within his control unattended to.”
Bringuel and the Bells open their season at 7:15 p.m. September 5 at Franklin-Elk Grove High. Look for No. 81 to be wearing No. 81 and chasing his goals.