Sink’s captain rotation motivates players

As the regular football season comes to an end, the fight for a state title begins. With a regular season record of 8-3, Wakefield’s football team aspires to achieve the goals they have for the playoffs.  The playoff season ended for the Wolverines on Friday, October 13 with a loss to Millbrook by 42-30.

“The playoffs are a different ballgame,” said Coach Rodney Sink. “It’s a completely new season. Traditionally, we haven’t done all that well in the playoffs; we usually win one game and play the second game, sometimes well, sometimes not, most of the time not, and then we go home early.”

Historic rivals, Wake Forest and Millbrook, still prove to be some of the team’s biggest contenders. This tension has greatly motivated the team to work harder and has brought out better sportsmanship amongst the players.

“Overall, we’re more productive and we see things clearer,” said senior Wide Receiver, Marius Cooper. “Our offense has gotten better and our defense has improved too. We’re all responsible and reliable for each other.”

This year a new system has been implemented, which, according to Sink, has contributed to the team’s improvement.

“We haven’t had a typical captain structure this year,” said Sink. “For the past couple years, we’ve picked two people, who are like all-time captains, then we came to reward people for practice and good game play. This season, though, we’ve basically created a rewards system.”

The system works like this: six awards are given every week to those who played well the week before during practice.

Members receive one of the following awards: Offensive, Defensive, Special Team, Big Hit, Scout Team and Sportsmanship.

Of the six rewarded, four are chosen as captains for the next week.

“We’ve had people who would never be a captain who’ve won an award for something and were selected as captains for the next week,” said Sink. “It gives everybody something to strive for each week. To be a leader of a team, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do because you can always find a way. For instance, Hunter Stephenson, a punter, was previously selected as a captain. Now, typically, a punter wouldn’t be a captain, but because he was special team award winner for three weeks, he was chosen as a captain for one of those weeks.”

Sink went on to explain how the system contributes to the team’s success.

“The individuals who win the awards every week are the guys who contribute to our success the most,” said Sink. “They’re out there pushing people and they’re fighting to try to get that award every week, and it definitely helps out.”

The players also agree that this rewards system has helped the team as a whole.

“It makes us all equal,” said Cooper. “By giving everyone the opportunity to be a captain, instead of just letting a couple people lead, we all have the chance to be leaders.”

Although the team has fulfilled offensive and defensive improvement, which, in turn, has allowed them to progress, they have not lost sight of the importance of what’s to come.

Junior Quarterback, Matt McKay, expressed the importance of possibly winning the playoffs this year.

“During the regular season, you play, and you know you have a next game,” said McKay. “In the playoffs, it’s one and done, which makes us play harder. I am more ambitious to win and fight for my brothers. I’ve been playing with these seniors since middle school. This is probably the best team I’ll play with in high school, so I’m just trying to get this ring for them.”

Essentially, the bond the players have created is unbeatable. Kyle Grewe, senior and Wide Receiver, explained the impact the team’s bond has had on him.

“We’ve gotten a lot closer since the beginning,” said Grewe. “I didn’t really know anyone at first, but now we’re all playing for each other as a team. It’s been a lot of fun and we don’t want it to end.”

The chance of winning the playoffs, especially during one’s senior year, drives the team to work harder and brings them together to achieve one common goal.

“You don’t mind fighting for your brother or competing until you can’t compete anymore,” said Cooper. “We pursue to be the best we can by working hard and staying mentally, physically and emotionally focused. I want us to finish this year with a bang.”