The Wildcats have been battling week by week this season on their way to play this November for another title. Wilsonville has been making a name for themselves in the football community, fighting for another state title. We got the input of players, staff, and our very own head coach.
Wilsonville recently gained school safety and enforcement specialist, Marcus Washington, who ran as a D1 linebacker at ASU, and coached at Oregon City prior to joining the Wilsonville football crew. Coach Washington is currently a JV assistant coach, but can be found anywhere the team needs.
Washington, who first handedly interacts with the team often, shares his observations of the correlation between behavior and performance. He talks about making sure discipline starts in the classroom. The motto is: If you can’t get to class on time, then how can you be trusted to make your block?
He also speaks of the comparison between last year’s schedule and this season’s. Last year, the Cats had a far lighter schedule, with a tough match up every week. Opening at home against Nelson, and playing teams like Lakeridge and Silverton proving we’re a powerhouse school.
Along with Marcus Washington we spoke to Sophomore center Brixton Carpenter who swings for varsity and JV. Brixton gives insight on the differences between varsity and JV and why each is necessary.
Carpenter says the biggest difference is the team’s goals. JV discipline is what the focus is on JV. For a team of players who are underclassmen they need to learn the balance of being a school athlete. Although JV’s lessons may not be as fun, they’re essential in becoming a state title athlete.
Meanwhile on his time with varsity he says most improvements have been in the technique and skills of the game. Learning strategies how to improve the basics and excede to be a great football player.
When asked about team bonds, Carpenter claimed both JV and varsity teams had a strong family like connection. Getting further into the season you expedites the importance and sweet reality of relationships formed between teammates.
There’s no better insight on the inner workings of the Wilsonville team than from the head coach himself, Adam Guenther. Coach Guenther is a math teacher at Wilsonville, who also dedicates much time as sports coaches. He played at Lewis & Clark, eventually coaching for Glencoe, prior to joining Wilsonville in 2010.
Coach joined the Cats in 2010 after a rough 3-7 season, and Wilsonville hasn’t had a losing season since. After ten years as a co-offensive coordinator, Guenther set an impressive impression in his first could of years in the ‘Ville.
After a 12-1 championship winning season, the Wildcats had a lot to prove. When asked if Wilsonville was a defending championship caliber-team, Guenther says, “We’ll prove we’re a league winning team these few weeks, championship Thanksgiving week.”
Guenther claims, “Our most important game is the next.” This being said, the Cats must continue improving week by week and treat each practice and game as though it will be the toughest of the season. When asked on what needs to be improved on, he replies with the simple answer of, “The little things.”
He continues, “Little things lead to big things.” Players need to hit their gaps, don’t belly bump, know their coverage, hustle everywhere. Guenther coaches his players to be in the perfect spot so that they’ve before they even snapped the ball.
Along with the little things, he admits that “you can never stop getting better, especially on defense.” You can always hit harder, run faster, be smarter and dominate the other team. Guenther loves the phrase, “Relentless pursuit,” while speaking of defense.
The idea that, “you can’t get tired, only fatigued,” is a common phrase heard by his players. Fatigue is your body getting worn, that’s natural but tired means your mind has given up and along with the technique he’s taught his team the mentality of never getting tired.
With playoffs right around the corner, every week creeps slightly closer to the road towards the Championship, and possibly a third state title. Although it’s one and done once you hit playoffs, Guenther has practice all through November, since he’s confident in the odds of playing Thanksgiving week.