MARK DOWSEY, KIARA FRADIN and JOHN CONGER –

The View –  

GAMETIME –  

With a new year approaching, the Castle View team and the Castle View community are prepared for high school football once again. The first game for the Sabercats is going to be a non-conference matchup against Bear Creek High School on Sept. 3 at DC Stadium.

“I’m very excited,” said student-fan Shaina Smidt ‘16. “We’ve been waiting a long time and everyone is going to be so hyped.”

Along with the students, players are ready to finally get out and play again.

“Oh, yeah. I’m excited it’s been a long time since we’ve actually played a game,” said Brayden Lucero ‘17.

Before they take the field, the team reflected on the training filled offseason and expectations heading into the 2015 season.

OFFSEASON –  

Besides getting in repetitions on the field, the 2015 squad participated in activities off the playing grounds.   

“We’ve had a lot of team bonding this summer,” said Sr. linebacker Jared Brack. “We feel closer than last year.”

Along with team events held at Brunswick Zone and Country Buffet, they worked reps on the field. When Brack was asked what he wanted out of this season, he responded, “We need to come together and win.” He said that he feels that this year’s team is the most exciting in his years playing for Castle View.  

Although the team made the playoffs in the 2014 season, they fell short of the ultimate goal, losing to Eaglecrest in the first round. This year they look to build off the playoff appearance last year and make an attempt to make a deep run into the postseason.

FLASHBACK –  

“I think we have the best team that Castle View has had in a while and we have a good chance this year,” said quarterback Trenton Rohman ‘16.

Rohman has been recovering from a broken hand during most of the offseason. His recovery is ahead of schedule and he will be active for the home opener.

The new year of football also brings in a new head coach for the Sabercats. PE teacher Dustin Pfeiffer will be taking over the job for the 2015 season.

“Teaching the players to always be competing, whether it be in practice, games, or in life has been a point of emphasis.” said Pfeiffer.

He will be filling the place of assistant principal Ryan Hollingshead, former head coach who led the Sabercats for nine seasons. His best finish with the team was leading a #3 ranked team to the semifinals in 2011.

The 2015 CHSSA Varsity football season will consist of nine regular season games, and the playoffs will begin in early November. Castle View comes into the season ranked 76th in the state, according to MaxPreps, but this is subject to change.