MHS football in rebound mode
Despite the loss of 17 seniors from last year’s squad, the show must go on. MHS Football will take the field against Frasier Mountain next weekend with a roster of 20.
On a positive note, says Thompson, the league as a whole is generally down (due to graduation losses – big 2014 classes), so … you never know.
The team leader looks to be Senior Steven Orrick, whom Coach Marty Thompson describes as a “beast.” Orrick is the featured running back.
Other seniors include Quarterback Brett Morris, center and offensive line anchor Brayllan Martinez, middle linebacker Logan DeAngelis, fullback/linebacker Steven Haakana, linemen Jesse Worden, Chase Willingham and Carlos Morales, lineman and defensive stalwart Justin Wallasch, Jose Villalobos and Tyler Searles, playing his first year of football.
You’ll note the paucity of defensive backs among the above names. Coach Thompson says the defensive backfield will be manned primarily by underclassmen.
While the team may be relatively inexperienced, it has strong little brother support. Photo courtesy: Sheet staff.
MHS does have one new secret weapon this year – interestingly, it is the medical staff. Trainers Mike McMahon and Rachel Jensen are being loaned to the team by Mammoth Hospital for a combined 25 hours a week.
The trainers are being loaned for fall and winter sports teams, and in fact, proceeds from the Hospital’s Dancing with the Docs fall fundraiser will go towards this initiative.
“Every time I see {Mammoth Hospital CEO] Gary Myers, I want to give him a hug,” jokes Thompson.
With such a thin roster, the team’s health will be critical.
A little bit more on Jensen. She is not inexperienced. Last year, she was a trainer for the football team at David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon, the largest high school in the state.
She moved to the Eastern Sierra with her husband, who teaches math, chemistry, anatomy and physical education at Lee Vining High School.
The team’s not-so-secret weapon is former Head Coach Tom Gault, who now assists Thompson on the sidelines. Gault seems destined for permanent semi-retirement.
