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VETERAN COACHES SNYDER AND PETERSON RE- TURN
Veteran Coaches Snyder and Peterson Return
Joey Fentress Staff Writer
years, but I am working to create the most cohesive group of young men that has ever played the offensive line here”
The Westminster football program has no doubt had its ups and downs throughout the years. After a rough couple of seasons, change is in the air.
This past season, the Wildcats had a record of 1-10 with their only win against Clayton High School with a score of 28-20. The season before that, the 2021-2022 season, the cats had a record of 3-7. In 2020, Westminster hired new head coach Butler By’note. For this next season, By’note will become the offensive coordinator.
In the upcoming 2023 season, Cory Snyder will return as head coach after serving only as Westminster’s Athletic director.
Snyder said his main reason for coming back was for the experience.
“Coaching football at Westminster is a great opportunity to work with student athletes and hopefully provide a great experience for them, their families, and the community. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work with athletes on the fi eld on a day to day basis,” said Snyder.
Alongside Snyder, Chris Pederson is also coming out of retirement as a coach. Pederson will be retaking his position as the offensive and defensive linemen coach. Pederson said his main reason for coming back was the line.
“There is nothing like coaching a group of linemen. There are similar experiences found in many facets of life, but an offensive lineman is one of the most unique roles in all of sport. There is really nothing like it,” said Pederson. In another sense, coach Snyder has already been putting in some changes to the team. One of his fi rst changes is
“Coaching the line has always been a
love of mine and I have been without and watching from a side line for too long. I can’t separate this from the connection with the team and the layers themselves.
- Chris Pederson, Lineman coach
he has started an off season lifting program that the team has been attending. Although off season lifting has been incorporated in the past, the intensity and authority that coach Snyder brings is the exact change that the team needs. “The fi rst priority for the team this offseason has to be gaining strength and making the weight room a priority. We need the guys to commit themselves to that process for the next 7 months,” said Snyder.
Coach Snyder and Coach Pederson in the 2014 season Photo courtsey of yearbook archieves
Pederson also said that one of the main lessons he will be applying to his linemen is refl ecting the Westminster 10 pillars, specifi cally pillar 4. Pillar 4 says “we before me”. Chris adds, “I am sure this has been a focus in recent Another big change that has started this off season is the football fi eld. The athletic department decided that it was time for the turf to be replaced. Starting in early december, the original turf started being torn up and removed. The wildcat’s offseason has been eventful. The turf that was torn up was the original turf that was placed when the building was made. Players have long complained about the turf saying it is injury prone because of the lack of grip. Sophomore tight end Sean Gross says “Westminster’s turf is hit or miss, making quick and fast turns is hard on our turf. I am excited to see how the new turf will be for next season” With a multitude of changes the cats hope to improve their record into the win column for the upcoming season. With both of the new coaches excited to return to coaching and make a positive change, things are looking up for the Cats.
Veteran Coaches Snyder and Peterson Return
Joey Fentress Staff Writer
Westminster High School in Missouri is thrilled to announce the return of two beloved football coaches, Coach Snyder and Coach Pederson. The two coaches have a combined total of over 50 years of experience coaching football at Westminster and have had a major impact on the lives of countless student-athletes.
Coach Snyder, who previously served as the school’s head football coach for 25 years, is returning to the school to take over the football program once again. Coach Snyder is well known for his success in turning the Westminster football program into a powerhouse. Under his leadership, the team has won multiple state championships and consistently been a top-ranked team in the state. Coach Snyder has also been a mentor to many of his players, helping guide them to successful careers both on and off the fi eld.
Coach Pederson, who previously served as the school’s assistant football coach for 30 years, is also returning to the program. Coach Pederson’s role will be the offensive coordinator, he is well known for his ability to develop strong and successful offenses. He had an integral role in the teams that Coach Snyder lead to multiple state championships. He has a reputation for his ability to develop talented players, and for his ability to create game-winning plays.
The Westminster community is thrilled to have these two coaches back and they have high expectations for the upcoming season. Both Coach Snyder and Coach Peterson have been recognized for their contributions to Westminster football with numerous awards and accolades. Coach Snyder has been named Coach of the Year multiple times, while Coach Peterson has been an integral part of the winning team.
The school is confi dent that Coach Snyder and Coach Pederson will be able to pick up right where they left off, and bring the football program back to the level of success they had during their previous tenures. They have set the bar high for future coaches and players, and it will be up to their successors to continue the tradition of excellence established by these two remarkable coaches. With the return of these two experienced coaches, the school and community are expecting a successful season, and the players are eager to learn from these two respected coaches. The Westminster Football team is expecting to be back to its winning ways under the guidance of these two experienced coaches.
Westminster has recently installed a new football turf at their stadium. The new turf replaces the old, worn out surface that had been in place for over a decade. The school district decided to replace the old turf to improve the overall safety and playability of the fi eld for the student-athletes. The new turf is made with the latest technology and materials, which will provide better shock absorption and reduce the risk of injuries. In addition, the new turf will also be able to withstand heavy usage and weather conditions better than the old turf, allowing for a higher quality playing surface for the players. The new turf is expected to be a big upgrade for the football team and the entire community is excited to see the new fi eld in action.
Westminster’s new turf football fi eld. Photo by Joey Fentress
- Chris Pederson, Lineman coach
