Junior kicker/punter Ryan Hassankhani
(left) covers cornerback coach Damarious
Whitten in pickup basketball as other
football players take a break
on their mattresses in the Big Gym
Fri., July 31.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
Startling things to a 70's-something sportswriter who also taught three decades in public schools:
--Eighty-nine LJHS football camp registrants checked in their phones, texting head coach Tyler Roach, then turning off the phone. Remarkable in this age of device obsession.
--One boy's bathroom--again, for 89 registrants. No way. (Then I realize there's the locker room above, with ample facilities...)
Annual Viking fall camp has been an experience and a team-bonding. Multiple people, coaches as well as athletes, talking about "confidence", commitment", all the "C" buzzwords, as the objective for this edition of the football team.
Nico Bardaro, senior defensive end/tight end who was out all summer with a badly-sprained ankle, welcomed the activity after so much inactivity (despite a pleasant trip to his mom's home region in southern Italy). Named one of the Vikings' new team captains, the humble, respectful 6'4" multi-sport athlete said in a conversation, "It's about community."
He had said the afternoon before at the Mount Soledad cross to his teammates, "I know fellow seniors. Freshmen and sophomores, we'll build relationships, too."
Roach, prepping for his tenth season as head coach, knows the task ahead will be challenging. "We're not there, yet," he said. With a complete overhaul of the roster, several seniors from last year's squad graduated, and a few transfers coming in (including from Garden Grove), junior Brody Bukich (from Mt. Carmel High) and returning sophomore Ty Tortorice showed varied levels of skill and experience at quarterback in June 7-v-7 passing tournaments.
Gumption, not a "C" buzzword, will have to come from leaders like tackle Zach "Snacks" Gergurich, who also addressed his teammates at the cross, Bardaro, and Sean Bannon, injured last year and not able to compete.
After camp closes at noon today, Saturday, Aug. 1 (following 48 hours of workouts, bonding, and fun since Thursday at 3 p.m.), Viking Nation is looking ahead to its annual Kickoff Classic/Friday Night Lights scrimmage versus Mission Bay Saturday, Aug. 15, at University City at 5 p.m.
Then the following week, Friday, Aug. 21, La Jolla travels to Patrick Henry for the season opener.
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