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Show coeepREme IE ORRIN, tam Ae ty A12 WASATCH COUNTY COURIER NOVEMBER 1, 2000 - Wasatch Football Already Looking Ahead RUSS RIGGS SPORTS EDITOR ow that the Wasatch High football - Ed iL. TE A HAE MR I rea a all ee Newer is over, it’s time for a little | reflection. The Wasps went 2-8, finished last in region 10, and lost its last game of the season to Lehi a score of 42-22. . ~ But were things really that bad? For starters, Wasatch was in every game they played except for the Lehi game in which the team was obviously emotionally drained. If not for a questionable call Hee ora key turnover there, the Wasps noe have easily been 8-2. In addition, Wasatch battled injuries all year, including important skill positions like running back. and the secondary. At one point in the season, all four of Wasatch’s starting defensive hacks went. down withi injuries. The truth is, Wasatch couldn’t buy a break all years Good old Murphy was definitely smiling down upon the Wasps— anything that could go wrong did. “l think after the Carbon game we would get the ball to the 30-yard line and pcfiabs it’s better to look ahead to next year. This year’s junior varsity team went 8- 2, and beat many of the teams that the varsity lost to. In fact, the younger Wasps were able to pull out some of the closer games and receive some of the breaks that the varsity never were able to get. _ “We had some close games, but. we would get in a critical situation and win it — unlike the varsity. foe he it’s just a mindset,” Farr said. Some people in the aeinastieatie feel like . the junior varsity team was much better than the varsity team. Sometimes, they say, the junior varsity would beat up on the varsity in practice. According to Farr, how- ever, this was not the case. Tee is a big transition bitten junior varsity and varsity ball,” he said. “It isn’t a real test in practice because the jun- ior varsity isn’t running our offense. And besides, the kids have been intermixed so it wouldn’t be fair to say that. I don’t think people realize the pressure is completely different from a junior varsity game and a varsity game.” According to Farr, the junior varsity plays the role of the scout team, that is, we would do a variety of things to stop ourrunning the opponents offense in piece selves,” Wasatch assistant coach and junior to prepare the varsity defense. _ “varsity head coach “The junior varsity will run the scout Bill Farr said. “It came to a point in | team and play the other teams defense. midseason where teams figured out they Most of the time, the varsity executes. could throw on us. It’s a mindset kids getOnce in a while the junior varsity will stop it’sa psychological battle. | don’t think we the varsity, but | don’t know that the jun-— ever fell off the cliff, but we slowly _ior varsity has ever moved the ball on our approached it. Then, when we got down to _ varsity team,” he said. where we had to win, we finally fell off.” And how about that 8-2 record that the Fortunately for the players and fans of . | junior varsity had this year? Because the Wasatch High School, there might just be junior varsity plays the same teams as the a safety net at the bottom of this cliff. varsity, this means that Wasatch will be One could speculate all day on the very successful next season, right? shoulda, coulda, woulda’s of this year, but Well, maybe. ie ie To Bring You Friends” | bc, . Cd FS aie eee he eo > ° OO ee ey SCR . ° ter h aes) ee ee een sore eee 5 eS. ce eee. . . 7 ee *. ° WASATCH COUNTY | “The thing people need to- ee eicantl is that you can’t assume that because you don’t know if the other team is using sophomore’s or junior’s. Just because the junior varsity won eight and the varsity won two doesn’t mean much. Together, we are a varsity team,” Farr said. _ However, there is much room to be Ghyics Williams and a Bonser. “We had a bunch of good lineman this _year-some real big sophomores. They were a big reason for our success at the junior varsity level,” Farr said. Gone is senior quarterback David Gertsch, and who will replace him is still a mystery. One solution is sophomore Kurt McEuen, who sat this season out because of a back injury. If he can get healthy, ; Wasatch could have a_ very eae offense next season. “McEuen throws the ball 40-yards on a line. He could be very effective next year if all goes well,” Farr said. Other talented underclassmen like receiver Darin Restad and linebacker Russ — optimistic about next season. In a two and a half hour team meeting last Monday, next year’s varsity players discussed team goals for next season and impressed the coaching staff with team unity. According to coaches, next year’s varsity squad is willing to work hard and do the things it takes to have a successful football team.: “My biggest optimism is they're so positive and so united,” Wasatch head coach. Kohler will also help, but the coaching staff realizes that the key to success is hard work, and nothing is a given. “We told the team that they need to get in the weight room. You can talk all you want, but this can be cheap unless you do what you say you’re going to do,” Farr said. The Wasatch players and fans will have to wait a whole year to get this awful taste out of their mouths, but the savory. feeling Ron ‘Tree said. “One thing we perhaps lacked this year was unity. We didn’t have the unity we needed to carry us through the hard times.” Au hard sare edhiei ind -enubuisiognn is one thing, and talent is another. Fortunately for Wasatch, they may have both going into next season. Many players that helped significantly with the varsity as : sophomores and juniors return, including running back Luke Weishar. | Although hurt for the majority of last season’s games, Weishar should provide plenty of senior leadership next year. “T think we'll do really well because all of us are friends and we havea lot of talent... Weishar said, “We have to live in the weight room and work real hard on our techniques.” Perhaps Wasatch’s strongest point next year will be the offensive line. Starting center _ Roger Carlisle returns, as as sevetal ae ented ‘junior varsity players including of success next: season could make it worth the wait. This is what the coaching stant is banking on, at least. “A dversity in life or football magnifies weaknesses. In team situations, it’s the same. ~ Had. bale gone differently, maybe things would have gone differently,” Tree said. “We had potential to be good, but there was some strange things that went on. However, I’m impressed how much this group is looking forward to next sea9 son. ¥ And, for the coaching players, late enough. August won’t , Matt Rawlings Sport/Activity: Football Other Sports/Activities: Wrestling Great Gifts¢ Home Accents & Decor ° Framed Prints Trampolines S Playground Sets. ° Kaya ; FE One smart _ reader is — worthia All That Stuffln The Barn thousand— boneheads. 128 West 100 North . _. (Actoss From Tennis Court) - Midway, Utah 84049 Favorite Music Group: Mormon Favorite Movie Star: Pamela Anderson a Favorite Athlete: Faverite Sports Team: K.C. Cheifs _ Favorite Food: Chicken 435065405889. Person. Influenced You the Most: Coach NEW HOLIDAY DECOR ITEMS ARRIVING DAILY!!! Goals for the Future: College, Mission Laing House of Representatives Lt District 54 at sy Joe. Montana Favorite Sport: Football Car You Wish © eet Tabernacle Choir Favorite Movie: Next Friday j ; Favorite School Subject: Science _ ReElect Gordon Snow, es ~ Experienced ‘i Respected Vases - Seeks and Encourages Public input and _ Participation 3 7 : Believes in Garvsiiieasit dooonatabiity ru and Safe Education for Utah Gordon E. Snow * Supports : cat Students ” oe Republican _ come Coan Warden a ates Wasatch County’s Source for News ~ Readers staff, fans, and You Had: Prowler Rod Greig © soon |
