Varsity:
As the OHS varsity football team charges into the 2024 season with confidence and passion, they are working hard to prepare for a successful year. The team is striving to live up to the OHS football legacy previously established.
Confidence and chemistry are key to having a successful team that works well together; there is no doubt that the OHS football team lacks any of those essential core values.
“The team dynamic is looking pretty good; we are all competitive in practice but at the end of the day we are still a team,” said Ryan Wang, senior.
As the 2024 season starts up, it is clear that the group has a younger team dynamic, with less seniors and more starting underclassmen on the varsity lineup. However this doesn’t stop the team from working hard and competing together.
“The younger team is definitely stepping up to the role that they need to; we had about 30 plus seniors last year and now we have about 20, and those younger guys are definitely stepping up and doing what they need to contribute,” said Logan Bayus, power training coach.
Having younger teammates doesn’t stop the team from recognizing each other’s talents and hyping one another up.
“We got some great athletes, and some great stars stepping in, we got some great receivers, a great line, overall we are looking good,” said Jaden Maxey, junior.
The discipline and coaching within the football program leads to victory and having well rounded athletes. This is what carries the OHS team to having admirable team chemistry through both wins and loses.
“They have put in more work than 90% of the teams in Arizona this year, and they have been working their butts off. I’m super excited to see what they can put onto the field,” Bayus said.
Having a team composed of players varying in age could present challenges as the games begin, but the OHS football team doesn’t let that stop them from putting in the effort on and off the field.
“We have been working hard throughout the summer for the season and we have all become a big family on and off the field,” said Quvohn Lewis, sophomore.
JV:
With the upcoming season, the junior varsity eagles are facing a completely different team setting than usual. During past seasons, the team has had a lot more players than this year.
“There is a lot of diversity on the team, everyone is going different ways. We are a smaller team compared to the other two [teams]. But I don’t think that’s slowed us down in any way,” said Devin Mota, junior.
Even through challenges, the team’s skills and dynamic is strong enough to continue to prepare them for a successful season.
“I think we just have to use what we have to our advantage, and if we do that we can win football games,” said Tyler Johnson, junior.
Having a smaller group means the team faces the challenge of not having enough players to fill positions if an athlete gets hurt or can’t play due to grades.
“If people were to get injured or sick, it opens a lot of space and obviously there isn’t a lot of backup so if we were to lose someone it would take a lot of learning and practice to fill,” Mota said.
The team chemistry on junior varsity is a positive trait that will help lead them to triumph in the upcoming season.
“We have some good players, and we are bonding pretty well… we have a good team bond, like coach says it’s little things like this that matter,” said Nikos Stavro, sophomore.
Freshman:
New freshmen joining the OHS football program have big shoes to fill and a legacy to live up to. With the new season approaching fast, the athletes need to work on their team chemistry.
“The team dynamic is getting really good, it can be hard because there are a lot of new kids. That’s what practice is for, to be better when games come,” said Braylen Lopez, freshman.
Coming to a new school and having new teammates that you have never played with before can present challenges, but the OHS freshman team doesn’t let that stop them.
“It’s a lot different but it’s definitely good to build a new bond and create a new team,” said Dash Singleton, freshman.
The freshman team is going into the 2024 season with high enthusiasm and a drive to win and carry on the OHS football legacy.
“We just need to keep working hard and be better as a team,” Singleton said.
