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Wolves prepare to prowl after busy offseason
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com
Though the evolution of varsity football has made it essentially a year-round game, the summer used to represent the slowest part of the year.
That hasn't been the case for Plano West this summer.
Instead of taking it easy, the Wolves competed in five 7-on-7 state qualifying tournaments, the Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship, promoted a coach to coordinator and hired a new positional coach.
The coaches have been working hard to get to know one another better after a variety of moves restructured the staff. It began with the retirement of defensive coordinator David Knaus, who was replaced by John Bandy. Bandy's ascension left an opening on the staff that was filled by Eric Farrar, who is the new middle linebackers coach.
"I think anytime there is a change with a new coordinator and new coaches, your staff is going to be anxious to get going," Hughes said. "But after the way last year went, I think everybody, especially the players, is anxious to get back out there."
That may explain West's aggressive 7-on-7 strategy.
The Wolves engaged in five SQTs, starting out with a 5-0 record after winning the Frisco Liberty event and finishing 12-5 overall before heading to state, where the Wovles lost in the first round of the Consolation bracket.
The trip to College Station yielded disappointing on-field results, but may have paid off in other areas.
"We stayed at the same hotel as several other teams and I consistently saw parents taking four or five kids to eat, but the teams weren't together," said Kelly Mercer, West offensive coordinator. "We did everything together. I really think that helped the kids bond and hopefully that will leak over to the locker room."
West also got a better idea of what certain players could do.
On the defensive side, seniors Amin Fooman, Connor Vernon, Colby Conner, Grant Cooper, Daniel Kim, juniors Logan Caillouet and Davis Roeschke all made an impact on 7-on-7 as did senior quarterback Carson Smith and the senior receiver trio of Carlos Wiggins, Nathan Orbach and Austin Blair.
And despite logging heavy 7-on-7 time, the Wolves remained largely injury free.
"Orbach got a bit dinged up at state, but he'll be fine," Hughes said. "We didn't suffer any major injuries this summer."
The healthy Wolfpack was back at work Monday lifting and running.
"We've really had kids step up as leaders and these workouts have been as good as or better than anything I've seen here at West," Mercer said. "My philosophy this summer has been getting bigger, stronger and faster Monday through Friday and then going out to compete on the weekends."
That strategy will be replicated once the varsity season begins.
"We have to keep working," Mercer said. "Because no matter who we play and what the result is on Friday night, there will be another team that could beat us the next Friday."
What those results are remains to be seen, but the Wolves are counting the days.
"The guys in the weight room have put up a countdown to when two-a-days start and to that first game against Arlington Martin," Mercer said.
West begins fall practices Aug. 8 and opens the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 from Clark Stadium against Arlington Martin.
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