Rangers counting on unity to be a key ingredient
Coach Perry Jones, shown during a game last year, has high hopes for the Rangers. (Photo by Rick Rowell) By Paige Mendez, Correspondent Sa...
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent
Santa Rosa Academy is preparing for its upcoming football season with a newfound team chemistry.
After a rough season that started with an injury to their starting quarterback last year, the squad faced the challenge of rebuilding mid-season and struggling to fill spots they didn’t expect to find empty.
But head coach Perry Jones said this year is a different story.
“Right now we are in pretty good shape. If I had a problem, I have three quarterbacks that we could use,” said Jones. “Last year it was tough, so I think that, with where we are now, we can handle it.”
Senior Wyatt Spykstra agreed with his coach and added that starting quarterback Daniel Marlow has improved the team’s performance since the start of practices.
“He’s already progressing like we thought he would and throwing well,” Spykstra said. “And we have a lot more receivers, so it’s going to be fun.”
According to Jones, it’s not just the quarterback aspect that has brought this team closer together and to their goals, but also an increase in their desire to learn the game.
“It seems like they’re far enough along that they realize the importance of detail,” Jones said. “Practice takes on a different feel when they’re really locked in and trying to fix that smaller stuff, and it’s to the point where I don’t even have to point it out every time now; they know on their own.”
For the athletes, the chemistry they feel has turned them into a family, led by eight seniors stepping into leadership roles. Connor Peterson, one of those seniors, said he is excited to be a leader on the team.
“Being a senior this year is going to be different and fun,” said Peterson. “It’s going to be challenging to keep everyone in line and going in a good direction but I’m looking forward to it.”
From Jones’ point of view, the leaders on the team seem to be stepping up to the challenge.
“They are developing, they’re finding their voice and the right tone,” Jones said. “For them to be in this role -- at first it took them a little while -- but as the season approaches there’s a level of seriousness that’s sort of arisen from them and I think it’s going to stick.”
Spykstra sees his role as a leader on the team made simpler by the size of his school.
"I think since we’re such a small school, we get to know each other really well,” Spykstra said. "And the older guys like teaching the younger guys, which builds that connection.”
For senior Eli Aguiler, the family aspect of football hits a little closer to home.
“The family that we have is because there are a lot of brothers on the team, like me and my little brother,” said Aguiler. “It helps us connect with our freshmen and sophomores and makes it more of a human experience.”
He and his brother are one of four sets of siblings on the Rangers’ squad. But it doesn’t take having a brother-by-blood on the roster to feel that way.
“Our team isn’t just like a team that comes out and plays football together; we’re genuinely like a family here,” said senior Jack Warren.
But when that family/team does go out to play football, they hope to build on the good from last year and move past the not-so-good.
“I’m excited to see if we’re at the point that I feel we are at,” said Jones. “I feel like we’re ready to take that next step, but I want to see it come to fruition. I’m excited to continue building on what we started last year.”
Their first chance to see that will be at their season opener on Aug. 19 against San Jacinto Valley Academy.
