After a summer team-bonding trip to Camp Pendleton in late July and after surviving grueling two-a-day practices for two weeks in August and many hours in the weight room, the Woodbridge Warrior Football team began playing its games in September.  

VARSITY

The team has struggled thus far in 2007, losing its first seven games against very tough competition after dominating its preseason scrimmage vs. Sonora. The Warrior team graduated essentially its entire defense and its leading rusher and offensive performer from the 2006 team and faced a major rebuilding year in 2007 considering the high level of its opposition. Many underclassmen have been forced to play prominent roles on both offense and defense in 2007, gaining valuable experience for the future but making the 2007 team light on size and short on experience.

Nevertheless, the Warriors have continued to battle, leaving it all on the field each week and dealing with numerous injuries to key personnel. The never-give-up spirit shown despite adversity has evidenced good character and sportsmanship by both the players and the coaching staff. The unwavering support by the parents and fans has also been amazing.

The Warriors have been led on offense by seniors and co-captains Sammy Shekarchi (leading the offensive line), David Ingram (quarterback), Kyle O’Mara (tight end) and James Parr (wide receiver), and seniors Spencer Banks (offensive line) and Theo Perez (running back), and on defense by seniors Garrett Smith (linebacker), Raymond Song (defensive line), Jeffrey Cramer (defensive back) and Parr (defensive back). Key senior reserves include Bryan Barlow, Eric Ortan, and Nick Misewicz.

Many thanks go out to the hard working parents who have staffed and re-stocked the snack bar at home games, who arrange and prepare the meals during the “hell week” practices, who bring the fruit, PB&J sandwiches, snacks and drinks for the pre-game meals on game days, who organize and prepare the team dinners on the night before game days, and who take the photos and do the page design work that make the game program the envy of the other Irvine schools.

Players and their parents are reminded of the following upcoming dates and events:

• So. Cal. Half Marathon on Dec. 8-- all players (including seniors) work at this event
• Mandatory meeting in March 2008 for parents of all returning players
• Parents’ committee meeting in March 2008 to begin planning for 2008 season

Start to consider potential customers for 2008 program ads (Ad sales start in February and reduce players’ financial commitments).

FRESHMAN FOOTBALL

The Woodbridge Freshman Football Team

by Eric Goytia Nummedal

My name is Eric Nummedal, and I received the privilege to be accepted on to the Woodbridge Freshman Football Team this past summer. Around school and by our fellow classmates, we have become known as the future of the program, and with that there is a certain pride that runs through the hearts of my teammates. And though our record says that we have lost more games than we have won, the part that was missed is our true pride in being on this team, and I can see during practices it is that sole pride that continues us to strive to become a better team, through the risks that we face in the game of football.

Though we have had a slow start to the season I have really noticed a certain connection the players have made with each other. As every one of us teases each other in the locker room calling each other nicknames like: “Sunshine” or “Pretty boy” or other untold nicknames of certain QB’s. We have stopped playing as 11 players and finally began to play as a team. It is misunderstood how much of a moral victory our team has had this past game vs. El Toro; I really took notice at the excitement that was both exhibited on and off the field at the opportunity to literally assault the player across from you.

I really enjoy being a part of the program and the environment of everything that goes on in football, whether it is from Coach Codde’s inspiring pre-game speeches, or Coach Byrne’s mid-game anger flares, or Coach Gibson amazing sideline support, or Coach Gifford’s undeniable class and excessive use of the word “babe”, or Coach Ochsner’s unrelenting comeback spirit, or Coach Halagan’s post-game video review remarrks, our attitude is unchanged and that attitude is that everyday, in every way, we will get better, better, hey!

I have noticed that constant moral in every one of my teammate’s eyes, and this work has paid off, as we have gone to being blown away in our first scrimmage against Sonora, to putting a legitimate fight against El Toro, one of the top teams in the county in a game we should have won. And through all our hard work, bonding, and strife, all that I have to say is that Huntington Beach better bring their “A” game on Wednesday because they’re gonna need it!

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