EVERETT — When joining a new team, every player has to make adjustments — even an all-star team.

This is definitely the case for former M-P offensive guard Kyle Bossom, who started for the West team in the Class 3A/4A East-West All-Star Football Game at Everett Memorial Stadium June 26.

Like all of the other athletes, Bossom had to first adjust to the other players — many of whom he had never previously met.

“There is a bit of shyness to start out because football guys immediately size the other guys up,” Bossom said. “But after that, you start to get to know guys and you make friends.”

Players from both teams were organized into three per room in a hotel in Everett for the week before the game and Bossom said he had an easy time making friends with his roommates, Blake Johnson (Olympic) and Trent Pinson (Federal Way).

While getting to know new players, Bossom said he had a hard time rewiring his memory to become teammates with players who used to be his adversaries, namely the nine other Northwest Conference players on the team.

“It was a bit weird to start playing with guys that I used to not like because they were on the other team,” he said. “But then once you get to know them, you find out that they aren’t that bad.”

Finally, there was a change that was unique to Bossom, who was instrumental in helping Marysville-Pilchuck reach the second round of the Class 4A state tournament last November.

“They play a different kind of offense than I’m used to, so that has been kind of hard. It’s more passing and that’s a different kind of blocking,” he said. “You have to move side to side more and take a step back.”

The Tommies were known for their power running offense in 2009, which they used to level the competition to the tune of a 10-1 record over the season. Marysville would often rack up more than 400 yards per game on the ground, and Bossom would be one of the front five leading the way.

Even with all the adjustments, West coach Mark Stewart, who also coaches Meadowdale, said Bossom was a special player because he possessed one characteristic that can be said about most Tomahawk football players.

“He’s a hard-worker and a tough kid,” Stewart said of Bossom. “He’s had a lot of success as a player — which probably helped him get selected to be here — and that counts for a lot. He doesn’t have the size of most guys in his position, but he knows how to play with big guys.”

That was one adjustment Bossom didn’t have to make June 26, but the West did take the loss, 28-9 behind the East’s devastating aerial attack.