Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Sports
Pioneering a new team By Neil Goldenthal Co-Sports Editor Design by Marko Djurdjevic and Adam Lockett It has been a rough year for Conestoga’s football team, but now the dust has settled, and the team is back in action. With head coach Marquis Weeks at the helm, the team has been fighting through the challenges of having new coaches, a young team and a developing group dynamic. Coach Tre Hadrick, who works with the running backs and linebackers, shared his thoughts about the season so far. “I wouldn’t say it’s been a rocky start; we’ve been trying to overcome some challenges. New system, new staff, we have to gel and build. We’ve been together off and on throughout the summer, when we met the kids, so it takes a little time to build all of that cohesiveness. (We’ve been) learning how to get through adversity together
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as a staff and as a team,” Hadrick said. The Pioneers have an entirely new coaching staff this season: head coach Weeks and assistant coaches Hadrick, Tom Brown, Matt Diamond, Justin Giles, Brian Kennedy and Matt Kaminskas. The change in staff has come with its fair share of
“We’ve been learning how to get through adversity together as a staff and as a team.” -Coach Tre Hadrick
challenges. Quarterback and defensive coach Matt Diamond expressed his appreciation for the team’s improvement throughout the season. “I’m very proud of their resiliency and their attitude of never giving up. I think with a new coaching staff, you implement a lot of new terminology, a lot of difference styles of what to do, and I think that the kids have adjusted and they’re getting better every single day. So we are seeing improvement. And I think that slowly, but surely we’ll get the kids to where we want them to be,” Diamond said. The team has been working hard on developing a cohesive dynamic since the summer. Coach Giles feels that the experience has been very positive for everyone. “The players have been very welcoming and understanding of a new coaching staff. I couldn’t have asked for anything better from the players. The staff as a whole has been one of the best staffs I’ve ever worked with in
my coaching career,” Giles said. “They’ve been not just welcoming, but they teach me things and I teach them things and we all listen to each other.” The school community continues to support the team through their adversity. John McClintock, a father of one of the players, is optimistic about the team’s future. “All things being new presents interesting challenges in and of itself. In spite of a slow start against some pretty good teams, Conestoga is showing signs of emerging growth. If the squad will stick together, keep working, and believe in themselves and each other, they will slay giants,” McClintock said. Even though the team works hard to win games, their goals expand off the field. Coach Hadrick hopes that the players have a lot to take away from their time as Pioneers. “My biggest hope (for the team) as individuals is to be successful men in life. Football is one aspect of your life, it teaches
2016 CONESTOGA VARSITY FOOTBALL
“I’m very proud of (the team’s) resiliency and attitude of never giving up.” -Coach Matt Diamond great tools for life. We have four games left, so hopefully we can send (the seniors) out with a good “bang” and thank them for the time they put in as Pioneers,” Hadrick said. The Pioneers are 4-2 for the season and eighth in the Central League. While it might not be the best record, this seaon has been about more than just the scoreboard.
Courtesy Julia Braendel