With the start of the new school year, fall sports are back in action with the varsity and junior varsity football teams getting their respective seasons underway and are looking forward to competing against some of the best teams in the state of Texas.
The junior varsity team knocked out John Tyler Aug. 25 with a score of 22-21. The varsity team won 38-21 over McKinney. The Wolves believe that their goals and and hopes are achievable and the team will not stop in their quest to meet the goals that they first set.
Head Coach Scott Smith is excited about the current season and looking forward to the challenges that it will bring.
“Every year our goal is the same,” Smith said. “We try to learn how to be the be the best we can be, no matter what the circumstances. We want to win a district/state championship and get West back on the football map.”
He referred to the competition between junior varsity and varsity as one of the sources of competition that improves everyone involved.
“Every time you have to compete, it makes you better,” Smith said. “Each individual player has the job of making sure their mind and body is ready for every step, every play, every series, every game.”
The players and the coaching staff are looking forward to improving their performances on the field.
This is not just any season however, due to the events that happened last spring off of the field and away from the game.
With the death of Josiah Utu, the team has dedicated the season, their effort and determination to Josiah to recognize his impact to the team and the teammate that they all lost.
“Josiah had a big impact on our team because of the young man he was,” Smith said. “Our guys miss Josiah and think about him daily.”
The impact that he has had is evident throughout both teams.
Ryan Speckman a junior on the football team spoke positively of Josiah and the teammate they lost.
“We all miss him,” Speckman said. “It’s brought the team together and made us all closer.”
Despite the loss of Josiah, the team is still remembering him with their effort on and off the field and they are dedicating everything they achieve both personally and as a team to him and his memory.
“Our guys miss Josiah and think about him daily,” Smith said.
Overall the success of the football team is more than a simple combination of the players and the coaching staff that the school has.
Many fans of the football program such as junior Ethan Krupp look forward to the season.
“I’m really looking forward too the upcoming season,” Krupp said. “I hope that we can beat some of the bigger teams and hopefully defeat Plano Senior.”
Smith appreciates the West supporters.
“We have great faculty, staff, fans and student body,” Smith said.