The Grays Harbor Gulls Football Club is quickly nearing the opening of the 2022 season, the club’s fourth season and fifth year in operation.

This season will see the club compete in the newly branded Cascadia Premier League. The league, formerly known as the Western Washington Premier League, has since grown outside those borders. The Gulls will compete in the second division after competing in the first division in 2021. The team that finishes first in Division 2 will earn promotion to Division 1 for the 2023 season.

The Gulls have a lot to be excited about this campaign. Key starters, such as defender Victor Corona, goalkeeper Alexis Garcia, defender Alan Carloza, midfielder Aaron Arias and club captain Alex Barene all return. Their presence will be supported by the return of players such as brothers Jonathan and Cristian Molina.

A key for the Gulls in 2022 will be to secure the backline ahead of star keeper Alexis Garcia. Carloza and Corona will be joined by William Galeana and Francisco Orellana to form a strong line. Daniel Langer will also slot in when not in the midfield.

The midfield will be a strong point for Grays Harbor, as key players Arias, Barene and Molina are joined by creative players Irvin Vicente and Cesar Corona. This will be a strong area of the park for the Gulls, which have depth, creativity and experience throughout the midfield.

Forward Jonathan Molina will lead the line for the Gulls. Molina has scored many times for the club in the past and provides Grays Harbor with much needed firepower. He will be joined by Jesse Mora, Gabe Arias or Hulizes Chavez.

Gulls head coach Drew Grannemann has a lot of optimism heading into the new season.

“At the start of every season there is a sense of optimism and excitement. This year is no different” Grannemann said. “I believe we have assembled a squad that will compete week in and week out, a squad that can make a deep run toward the cup and can fight for promotion.”

The Gulls are a very local team, with 10 former Hoquiam Grizzlies and 13 former Aberdeen Bobcats.

Jose Melendez, from Montesano, is the only East County representative.

Irvin Vicente, from Los Angeles, is the furthest from home.

The Gulls season kicks off at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Stewart Field.

The Gulls will face teams from Port Townsend, Seattle, Issaquah, Arlington and Albany, Oregon this season.

For more information and a full team schedule, visit ghgullsfc.com.