By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
If you follow local football, you know that the Benson Bruins’ 11U team has been good for some time now. However, in the minds of many, the team is just now getting the recognition both locally and nationally that they deserve.
Despite their success, Head Coach Chris Vala, who has been coaching this group of kids for five years, credits a lot of their success to not allowing his team to become complacent.
With their long list of accomplishments, including being three-time Washington State Champions, 2021 AYF 10U National Contenders, four-time Northwest Premier League Champions (2019-2022), and 2022 10U FBU National Champions, the team could easily rest on their laurels.
But this season, the team continues to stack their resume, as they posted back-to-back wins against the top two teams on the West Coast – the OG Ducks and Trillion Boys, both out of California. The wins have helped Vala and his team regain the number one ranking in the 2023 Fall Season National Youth Rankings.
“It doesn’t feel any different to me whether we are ranked or not,” says Vala. “We’ve been playing this way for years, so I just tell them to put in the work.
“The way we work, I’m not surprised, I always knew we were good but didn’t know how good,” he added. “I just see them as my normal team because I’ve been with them for so long, but if I was to feel anything, I would feel honored to represent our state.”
Winning against the OG Ducks and Trillion Boys to start this season did more than just add to their record; it helped Vala and his team set a precedent that Washington football is here to stay and show that the players here can compete and win against teams across the country.
“I’m very competitive,” says Vala. “It feels good because I don’t play for ranked games or rankings; it’s about us representing Washington. I knew how big it was for us as a team, and it showed them [our team] how hard work pays off.”
Although Vala doesn’t necessarily feed his focus into the rankings or social media like others, it’s translated to the Benson Bruins’ success. The mantra of ‘it takes what it takes’ is the main message Vala preaches, and the meaning is self-explanatory.
“We work late, add extra practices and scrimmages. I’m all about reps and putting the work in; the kids and parents have bought into this,” said Vala. “My off-season is with them, my family time, I’m with them. They are there for me, so I’m there for them. They aren’t the only ones sacrificing.”
In addition to the mantra, encouraging his players to challenge themselves and embrace adversity on and off the field is something Vala takes to heart. He doesn’t take it easy on his team because he wants them to be prepared for when those life storms come around; they’ll be able to weather them and keep going.
“One thing I always encourage them is to challenge themselves and face adversity, not even in the football realm of it. I [purposely with love] make things hard for them,” said Vala. “Because when you hit that wall, what are you going to do? Are you going to weather the storm and fight through it? Or quit?”
From receiving their first ranking just two years ago, working their way up to a number one ranking and becoming the first time in state history to win the FBU Nationals, it’s safe to say the blueprint Vala has mapped out for his team has been extremely successful.
Now with a new season underway in year six, Vala looks to lead his group to their fifth Northwest Premier championship and hold firm their number one ranking for the fall season.
“We’re one of the most grounded teams you’ll come across in Washington because I teach them humility. We have been winning for years, but I don’t show it,” said Vala. “I tell the kids all we have to do is what we’re doing, and it’ll play out how it’s supposed to.”
