|
It’s first down; the screech of the whistle permeates the filled stadium. The center hikes the ball to the quarterback, the pass is made. The wide-receiver sprints past safety and catches the pass. Then 30, 20, 10, and “Touchdown!” It’s football season.
Last season, despite having many new players at the beginning of the season - only six of the 28 were returning players — the JV football fared well against Galileo and Burton, but ultimately ended its season with a loss against Lincoln in a 12-46 game.
This year the Cardinals hold a positive attitude built on their previous accomplishments, but are prepping for a potentially difficult season in addition to a smaller team. The team lost six players, now totaling 22 from last season’s 28. The team lost its first game with a devastating 0-65 against Paradise High School.
Coach Ken Jew doesn’t expect the team to win all their games, but he does expect that they will develop more experience in the sport, regardless of the outcome of their next games. “Football is more than how much you win and how athletic you are, you also have to be mentally and physically prepared,” Jew said. “My goal is to lay down a foundation for the team and prepare them for varsity.”
Fortunately, half of the team is comprised of returning players, giving the Cardinals a better chance for the upcoming season. Promising players this year are sophomores Aiden Judge, Taylor Takao, Roberto Ramineze, and Daniel Maionche, according to Jew.
The freshmen, though inexperienced, are a valuable asset to the team. JV football Coach Jew expects them to pick up the pace after a few pre-season games along with rigorous daily after-school practices. Freshmen Lorenzo Pesino and Hiromi Fujita are some of the new players that are honing their skills this season, including the skill of teamwork. “At first, they called me a little kid, but when they found out my strengths, the team started to respect me more,” Lorenzo said.
Despite the shortage of players, the experience of the team is balanced with the larger number of returning players, allowing for a more promising season this year. “The team definitely looks stronger than last year’s team,” sophomore Daniel Maionche said.
The returning players have positive aspirations and are not too worried about the team’s development. “All of the players have worked hard, we may have a small roster but we’re going to go out there and play hard,” sophomore Reggie Webb said.
The hard work is slowly bonding the team together, returning and incoming players alike. “It’s like we’re family,” Lorenzo said.
Though this won’t be a walk in the park for the team, Jew is determined to work with the team and condition them to the best of his abilities. The team is very diligent, according to Jew, which means the potential in these players can be reached through blood and sweat. “I think our team is good enough, maybe even for the championships,” Maionche said.
|
