High school football: A gridiron sibling rivalry
As “the guru” of high school football in Tennessee, it’s my job to attend as many varsity football games throughout the season as possible. Obviously, I don’t get to see as many teams as I’d like and I rarely witness JV or freshman games.
An exception was made, however, when freshman teams from Oakland and Blackman squared off against each other last week. Identical twin brothers Matt and Will Kriesky, two young men I have enjoyed knowing the last couple of years, are student teaching at the two schools and will graduate in December from M.T.S.U. with degrees in education.
Both played football for Henry County High School in Paris and have certainly made their father, Henry County School Superintendent Rick Kriesky, a most proud dad. A former football coach himself, he was in attendance at last week’s game, having made the two-hour journey from his home in West Tennessee.
Matt, who hopes to teach in the area of special education, coaches freshmen defensive backs and wide receivers at Oakland. Will plans on teaching marketing. He coaches the same positions for Blackman’s junior varsity and varsity squads.
Knowing that fewer and fewer young men are making teaching and coaching their career choice, it’s refreshing to see Matt and Will be so enthusiastic about their future vocation.
“They’ve always been very passionate about football and both have a strong competitive nature. They also enjoy working with the players and the students. Even when they were in high school they mentored younger kids in the grade school and I think they’ve found where they need to be in their vocation,” said their dad during the game.
“I’m extremely proud. Any time a child moves in the same direction as a parent, it makes you feel awfully good about what you do and also good about your kids. They have a great work ethic, a great passion for the game and they love kids. You put all those together and they’re going to be successful. I’m excited for them and think they have a great future ahead of them,” he added.
Oakland freshman Coach Gary Hannah and Blackman varsity Coach Bobby Wells both gave the young Kriesky coaches high marks, too.
“Matt has a lot of love for what he’s doing and knows what he’s getting into (as a coach). He knows what the long hours are and what it takes to get it out of the kids. Matt’s pretty vocal on the practice field and the kids respond to him well. He makes them work hard,” said Coach Hannah.
“Will’s a great guy. He works hard and wants to be a part of our program. He’s grown up with it. He’s ripping and raring to go and wants to do anything and everything he can to help us. He’s young and enthusiastic and they (the players) like that. He catches fire with them and probably can relate to them a little better than I can because of his age,” said Wells.
Oakland ended up winning both the freshman and varsity contests last week. The double victory certainly sat well with Matt while Will had to suffer through a certain amount of good natured trash talk from his twin brother. With the grudge matches now behind them, both can now focus on the matter at hand — long and successful careers as teachers and prep football coaches.
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Murphy Fair publishes the annual Tennessee High School Football magazine. His website (www.murphyfair.com) gives prep fans further insight into the prep football scene.