Whitko Trying To Repeat Success
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Under the direction of first-year head coach Wayne Swender, the Wildcats posted a 7-4 record, eclipsing their win total from the previous two seasons combined.[[In-content Ad]]While his head coaching career got off to a good start, Swender knows there's still plenty of work to be done to get the Whitko program back to the top of the Three Rivers Conference.
"We got off to a good start last year," said Swender. "That was last year, though, this is a new season. Winning last year was big for the program, but this is a new season and there's a lot of work to do."
Swender, whose Wildcats open the season tonight at Wawasee, must replace eight players from last year's team that earned all-conference honors.
Among the key losses are Ryan Bumbaugh, Adam Jarrell, James Stoddard, Paul Bouse, Ryan Busz, Ryan Fultz, Cort Walter and Cory Snep.
"We graduated 15 seniors from last year's team," said Swender. "We're younger this year, and that opens a lot of opportunity for some of our younger players. We had a good season last year, but this is a new season."
Along with graduating the all-conference players, the Wildcats also lost two-year starting center Kenny Martin, whose family moved to Florida. Martin would have been a senior for the Wildcats.
There is still experience returning for the Wildcats, with seven offensive starters coming back, including senior quarterback Gabe Starkey.
Starkey, now in his third season of directing Whitko's offense, threw for 886 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
"We've got Gabe coming back, and we've got some receivers with experience in Chase Stouder and Max Elder," said Swender. "Gabe is really handling things well. This is his senior year, and I think he's very excited. He's a great leader, and he's anxious to get things going. There's a lot of pressure on him, he just needs to enjoy the moment."
Taking some of the pressure off Starkey - at least some of the pressure from the opposing defense - will be 6-foot, 265-pound junior Coty West and 6-0, 250-pound senior Drake Brainard.
West and Brainard will anchor the offensive line for the Wildcats, who are trying to improve on the 15 points they averaged per game last season.
Though they did win seven games, the Wildcats scored more than 20 points just two times in 2008.
While some of Swender's younger players get experience in the backfield - due to the loss of standout running backs Jarrell and Bumbaugh - a stingy defense will be critical for the Wildcats.
Whitko gave up just 15 points per game last season, but the Wildcats only return four starters on that side of the ball.
"Defensively, we hope to get to the ball," said Swender. "We're inexperienced on defense. We graduated some key players. We have to match the speed of the game. That's hard to simulate in practice. If we can get to the football, good things will happen."
Following tonight's season opener at Wawasee, the Wildcats travel to Leo in Week 2 and then open their TRC schedule Sept. 4 at Southwood.
Whitko will play its home opener on Sept. 11 against conference foe Manchester.
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Under the direction of first-year head coach Wayne Swender, the Wildcats posted a 7-4 record, eclipsing their win total from the previous two seasons combined.[[In-content Ad]]While his head coaching career got off to a good start, Swender knows there's still plenty of work to be done to get the Whitko program back to the top of the Three Rivers Conference.
"We got off to a good start last year," said Swender. "That was last year, though, this is a new season. Winning last year was big for the program, but this is a new season and there's a lot of work to do."
Swender, whose Wildcats open the season tonight at Wawasee, must replace eight players from last year's team that earned all-conference honors.
Among the key losses are Ryan Bumbaugh, Adam Jarrell, James Stoddard, Paul Bouse, Ryan Busz, Ryan Fultz, Cort Walter and Cory Snep.
"We graduated 15 seniors from last year's team," said Swender. "We're younger this year, and that opens a lot of opportunity for some of our younger players. We had a good season last year, but this is a new season."
Along with graduating the all-conference players, the Wildcats also lost two-year starting center Kenny Martin, whose family moved to Florida. Martin would have been a senior for the Wildcats.
There is still experience returning for the Wildcats, with seven offensive starters coming back, including senior quarterback Gabe Starkey.
Starkey, now in his third season of directing Whitko's offense, threw for 886 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
"We've got Gabe coming back, and we've got some receivers with experience in Chase Stouder and Max Elder," said Swender. "Gabe is really handling things well. This is his senior year, and I think he's very excited. He's a great leader, and he's anxious to get things going. There's a lot of pressure on him, he just needs to enjoy the moment."
Taking some of the pressure off Starkey - at least some of the pressure from the opposing defense - will be 6-foot, 265-pound junior Coty West and 6-0, 250-pound senior Drake Brainard.
West and Brainard will anchor the offensive line for the Wildcats, who are trying to improve on the 15 points they averaged per game last season.
Though they did win seven games, the Wildcats scored more than 20 points just two times in 2008.
While some of Swender's younger players get experience in the backfield - due to the loss of standout running backs Jarrell and Bumbaugh - a stingy defense will be critical for the Wildcats.
Whitko gave up just 15 points per game last season, but the Wildcats only return four starters on that side of the ball.
"Defensively, we hope to get to the ball," said Swender. "We're inexperienced on defense. We graduated some key players. We have to match the speed of the game. That's hard to simulate in practice. If we can get to the football, good things will happen."
Following tonight's season opener at Wawasee, the Wildcats travel to Leo in Week 2 and then open their TRC schedule Sept. 4 at Southwood.
Whitko will play its home opener on Sept. 11 against conference foe Manchester.
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