Canadian Wildcats Open Two-a-Days
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Updated: August 3, 2015
Canadian Begins Preparation for Return to Top
Exclusive to LSG by Jerry Brunson
The Canadian Wildcats were welcomed to a cool, 72° overcast sky this a.m. for the first session of two-a-days to begin their arduous trek of defending last year’s title, their third since 2007.
With the Wildcats returning some key highly rated skill players, including last season’s title game Offensive MVP, QB Tanner Schafer, they have not only raised eyebrows, but have caused the team to be ranked through the roof in most pre-season polls and website predictions, including one placing them as high as the #2 Small School team in the nation. This will obviously give those that follow high school football closely a text-book case of how championship programs deal with the pressure of high expectations.
Head coach and AD Chris Koetting in a quote to the Canadian Record last week laid out the philosophy the CISD program has followed before they ever won a championship: “For the past 10 years we’ve been ranked high almost every year, so our kids know it means absolutely nothing. Just because we had success last year doesn’t mean we’re gonna jump out and have success [this year]. We’re going to have to earn everything we get.” Koetting went on to put the entire phenomena of rankings in perspective. “It doesn’t mean anything really. But I will say I’d rather be ranked one than one hundred.”
Assistant Coach Hayden Merket said that the Class 2ADI School turned out over 80 student athletes to compete for varsity level positions. Merket was instrumental in assembling an offensive line last season that won a championship despite the fact that none of those five starters had ever started for the Wildcats previously. The strong side guard and tackle will return this season. “They will be young and have a ways to go,” Merket said, “But our expectations are high and I expect them to come into form quickly”. And with that, you can see the high expectations start with the coaching staff at CISD, the polls and websites are just piling on.
As for the summer weight room and running program, Koetting stated that “Kids showed up in really good shape due to good participation…” Most Canadian residents can attest to the full parking lot at the Miles P. Henderson Field House through the summer would have made anyone think two-a-days had already started.
Koetting summed up the first session on a very positive note: “Overall great day. Kids showed up with great attitudes and worked really hard. If we keep doing that we will improve. It was really great to get started!”
by Jerry Brunson
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