Westfield High School football players participate in the first official day of practice Monday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – While the baseball diamonds around the Whip City become barren as the dog days of summer begin to slip away, the gridiron prepares for young warriors to wage their battle against neighboring cities and towns.
For high school football teams all across Western Massachusetts, as Day One of “training camp” came and went yesterday, the dawning of a new season meant renewed hopes and dreams for many.
Enter the Westfield Bombers…
Westfield coach Bill Moore guided his team through its first official workout yesterday, overseeing a small, but talented group of players proud to wear the red and black uniforms.
“I wish our numbers were higher,” coach Moore said, “but we have some real fighters, a scrappy bunch. We’re not the most athletically talented group, but we’ve got some really dynamic players. Somebody may emerge – we will see who steps up this season and exerts himself.”
Moore said while many of the upperclassmen have the inside track on landing roles on the varsity squad, “There will be a lot of competition for (starting) spots.”
“Nobody is locked on,” he said.
This year’s team, which is still a week or two from taking any real shape, will rely heavily on its senior leadership and strong junior class.
Players are expected to train in the weight room every morning and practice for two hours on the field in the afternoon the days leading up to their opener. A double session is scheduled for Friday.
Westfield will also participate in two scrimmages over the next week and a half to prepare for the upcoming season. The Bombers open their season Saturday, September 8 at Mansfield High School. The Hornets currently own a top four ranking in Eastern Mass Division II.
Westfield travels to Amherst in Week Two to take on the Hurricanes. Kick off for the Friday, September 14 game is 7 p.m. The Bombers’ home opener welcomes the Holyoke Purple Knights to Bullens Field on September 21.
