Sports
PREVIEW: Waterford Looks To Turn Things Around in 2014
By: Tyler Prich
Posted on:
Editor's Note: Over the next two weeks our reporters will be bringing you team previews for each team in the SEOAL, TVC-Ohio, TVC-Hocking, and our West Virginia teams. We continue in the TVC-Hocking, where Trimble and Wahama are still the top teams.
Coming off of back-to-back lackluster seasons, the Waterford Wildcats are looking to do more this season with a handful of returning players. Head coach Tom Tucker has posted consecutive 2-8 records in his first two years at Waterford, and entering his third year with the Wildcats, 2014 hopes to be more promising.
The Wildcats graduated only three seniors this past year, and have seven on their roster for the upcoming season. With 12 returning sophomores on the roster alone, there is a lot of young talent to look out for as well.
Tucker praised the maturation of his underclassmen, who stepped into leadership roles that the Tornadoes were missing with the lack of seniors on the roster last year.
“At certain points last year, we were starting six freshmen, so we were very scattered,” Tucker said. “But these guys are all coming back bigger and stronger and we’re ready to do the best we can by taking it one game at a time.”
But that’s not to take away from this year’s senior class, which Tucker praised heavily for being great leaders.
“We have great team chemistry,” Tucker said. “This year’s group of seniors have been great mentors for the younger guys.”
The offensive line may be the strongest part of the Wildcat team, with senior Jordan Hendershot and senior tight-end Brendan Dailey leading the charge, it won’t be easy to get to the quarterback this year.
While Tucker and the Wildcats are optimistic about the 2014 season, he does know that it is a step-by-step process.
“We’re taking on this season one game at a time,” Tucker said. “I can’t emphasize that enough. The most important game this year is against Miller, because it’s the first one.”
The Wildcats will open their season on the road against the Miller Falcons on Aug. 29.
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