It's Kickoff Time for the 2014 Tosa West Football Season

It’s Christmas Eve for high school football lovers: anticipation, forecasting, and if you’re a parent, the hope that no one (especially my little son) is too disappointed.

Tosa West had a share of disappointment in 2013. After a top-ten state ranking to start the season, the Trojans had to fight their way to a winning regular season and the state Division 2 playoffs – where they drew Kimberly in the first round. It was Kimberly that danced to an undefeated state champ season.

Last year was Tosa West’s second season in a row to earn a state playoff berth, a great achievement for a growing program. And while 2012 senior stars like Mickey Morgan, Sam Clough, Adam Polivka, Dakota Kolatski, Ron Brown and Jon Doolen led the way, in 2013 it was the likes of Jameson Brock, Robert Henry Davis, Jared Morzinski, Greg Lewis, Develyn Harris and Elliot Rogahn who carried the senior torch.

It’s time for last year’s juniors to drop in and make the 2014 season their own. They’ve got a great nucleus, starting with Zach Veit, Demaris Purifoy and Christian Morzinski – all earned first team all conference honors last year. These are outstanding, multi-sport athletes who know how to compete at a high level. Other team leaders and award winners are also heading into their senior year, including Christian Cagle, Joe Harrington, Ben Makhlouf, Isaiah Randolph and Kyle Hemming.

There will be plenty of unknowns in 2014. We’ll see new faces all over the field. None will be more important than sophomore quarterback Rayvon Bartelt Jr, who had a handful of impressive highlights in limited action last year. We’ll also be watching the development of several less experienced players, as last year several players went both ways, as position backups were just not ready for action.

But this year will be about much more than (remember last year?) bad calls, lost momentum at half-time, or the impact of one special player. This season will be about a very special senior class. One senior said “we’re teammates and friends – we’re not out there for individual honors.” This class has stuck together and had success since youth football days (Quiz: what was their team name? Hint: it wasn’t “Junior Trojans”).

And while last year’s seniors had their ups and downs, this year’s seniors seem more seasoned by lessons learned along their journeys: depend on each other; work hard during the off season; enjoy this opportunity; succeed for your teammates. And when you make it to the playoffs – try and avoid Kimberly!

The Wauwatosa West Trojans kick off the season against their cross-town rivals Tosa East Red Raiders this Friday night at Hart Park, 7 PM. What’s your forecast for this game…?