Sports
Belpre Golden Eagles Preview
By: Mike Bundt
Posted on:
When Greg Adams accepted the head coaching position at Belpre High School before last season, he knew what he was getting himself into. He was taking over a team that had gone winless in 2009 and was switching divisions from the TVC-Ohio to the TVC-Hocking. Adams knew that turning around Belpre was going to be a project and that it was going to take some time.
After a 1-9 season last year, Adams still shares this view and believes that to completely turn around the Golden Eagles will take 2-3 years. Some would look pessimistically at a challenge like this but Adams looks forward to the challenge of turning around the high school he once played for. If the Golden Eagles want to turn it around this year, they will have to rely on their youth. Belpre has only three seniors on this year’s roster and only two have football experience.
On top of that, Belpre loses some key players from last year as Rashawn Miller, Erik Waderker, and Clay Ullman has graduated. Players to look forward to this year include quarterback Todd Packard and linebacker Wes Hatsield. Packard will be the starting quarterback for Belpre this season and got some playing time as a junior last year while Wes Hatsield will be depended on as well.
Greg Adams is looking forward to the season ahead. While he admits that they aren’t heavy on varsity experience, he is happy that most of his players have junior varsity experience. Adams stated that now is the time for his underclassmen to step up. “There not playing in JV anymore, this is varsity football." Belpre has a chance to prove that they can compete in the TVC-Hocking this season. It’s going to be tough given their youth but they return some valuable people and have the coaching to lead them in the right direction.