The WRMS 8th-grade football team kicked off the season undefeated. Their first win was on the road at Shawnee Heights on September 1st, and they won 16-0. They had their first home game against Junction City on September 8th and won 51-0. The team is organized into two smaller teams: the A team and the B team. The A team coaches are Coach Mcdaniel, Coach Vander Linden, and Coach Holmes. Coaches McDaniel and Holmes teach in the middle school, and Coach Vander Linden works at the district office. The B team coaches are Coach Barnell who teaches in the middle school and Coach Horton who teaches at the high school.

Team Captain Gavin Vantuyl has already figured out the secret of a successful game. “The most important part,” Vantuyl said, “is staying calm in the pocket and not rushing things.” (A pocket is the area the quarterback stands in while he finds out where to throw). It takes both offense and defense to win games. Team captains Zach Wright and Caleb Menke understand this. Wright says he prefers defense. “You get to hit people,” Wright said. As for Menke, he likes both. “Whatever side I’m on right now is my favorite because I like to play.” Some players maintain their focus with some superstitions. Vantuyl said “Miles Cavitte [has] his extra, extra large white t-shirt he wears every day for practice.” Menke agrees. “I do wear the same socks every game day.” Wright doesn’t have one himself, but says “Carter Stillwell wears the same boxers every day.” Stilwell clarified: “I have a lot of pairs of the same one.”

Whatever they’re doing, they need to keep it up. The team is undefeated in league play.