All Roads Lead Here: O'Dea vs. Mt. Tahoma State Final

By Owen Kimball

SEATTLE WA, O’Dea High School will face Mt. Tahoma in the 2025 state championship, stepping into the home team locker room for the first time. For the Fighting Irish, the change in setting is more than symbolic. It represents a chance to defend their crown and establish themselves as the premier program in Washington football. 

 Last year, O’Dea stunned Bellevue in the state championship, despite being assigned the away team facilities. Bellevue, given the home locker room, appeared distracted before kickoff. Players were seen posting on Instagram, focusing on social media rather than preparation. O’Dea capitalized on that lack of focus, playing with discipline and intensity to secure the title. The victory was not just about talent, it was about mindset and resilience. 

 Head coach Monte Kohler has long emphasized that success comes from blocking out distractions and staying grounded. Senior wide receiver Giulio Banchero echoed that message, pointing to how the team’s focus carried them through last year’s championship.

“We had to prove ourselves against Bellevue, even though they had the home locker room,” Banchero said. “We stayed locked in, and that focus carried us to get the dub” 

 This season, O’Dea enters the title game with the home team designation. The Irish believe the locker room advantage is less about comfort and more about what it represents. They are no longer the challengers, they are the standard. Mt. Tahoma arrives determined to win its first state crown, but O’Dea’s experience under championship pressure may prove decisive. 

 Banchero, who has been a steady voice all season, sees this moment as a chance to build a lasting legacy.

“We are not taking anything for granted,” he said. “Being in the home locker room does not change our approach, I got to remind the guys to stay locked in. Our goal is to finish strong and show what O’Dea football is all about.” 

With discipline as their hallmark and history on the line, the Fighting Irish are poised to defend their crown. For O’Dea, the locker room is not just a space, it is a symbol of focus, resilience, and the pursuit of greatness.