WCHS hits practice field in full gear

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

The WCHS offensive line takes their aggressions out on the blocking sled while learning different blocking schemes Ryan Ramsey (54) and Isaac Slatton go head-to-head. (Rob Nunley photo)

The Pioneer football team strapped on its full gear and hit the field Monday for a full day of practice.

Two-a-day practice sessions began bright and early Monday, with the team reporting at 7 a.m. for the first of four days of intense drills. The week is scheduled to culminate with a scrimmage against Grundy County on Friday, and the squad’s regular after-school practice schedule will begin the following week.

“We’ve got a short week of two-a-days, and that means we’ve got to put forth our best effort all the time,” coach Chris Madewell said. “We can’t afford to waste any time out here. If we do, we’ll fall behind.”

The team did miss out on some of Monday’s planned drills, as an afternoon thunderstorm forced them inside for a time. But Tuesday’s clear skies gave them a full day of work through both the morning and afternoon practice sessions.

Receiver Heath Crisp, one of the Pioneers’ seniors this season, said this year’s squad seems to be ready and willing to get the job done, and was eager to participate in full pads.

“I was ready to do some hitting,” Crisp said. “I love that. I think everybody was ready for some full-contact.”

The Pioneer senior, one of the team’s offensive leaders during the 2003 campaign, said while some members of the team have some conditioning work to do, this year’s squad — especially its younger players — have been very enthusiastic through summer workouts.

“They’ve been working hard,” he said. “I know these younger players are working a lot harder than my class did when we first came in.

“If they can keep that going, and play like juniors and seniors instead of like sophomores, they’ll be fine.”

But will they be “fine” enough to break a 29-game losing skid? Crisp admitted only time will tell, but added he and his teammates have to keep a positive attitude to see any success this season.

“I just hope we can win,” he said. “I think we can, I believe we can, and I hope everybody else believes so, too.”

The Pioneers will scrimmage Grundy Co. on Friday morning, and also have scrimmages against Siegel Aug. 13 and Sequatchie Co. Aug. 15 before opening the regular season Aug. 20 at Livingston Academy.