Though the scoreboard may not reflect it, Wakefield’s varsity football team has seen immense success this year. With an 0-6 record this season, the team continues a tough streak. For the players, however, the real wins are about more than just Friday night games.
At a glance, some may think the numbers speak for themselves. Yet, if one strictly has their eye on the scores, they fail to recognize the victories this team has secured off the field. Head Coach Trent Wilson elaborates on what he considers to be one of the biggest accomplishments from his players this season.
“A lot of people deem success by wins or losses,” Wilson said. “I consider success this year in particular [to be] the group of young men that we have out there. [It was] a success in teaching them how to [overcome] adversity, and they’ve had to deal with a lot of it this year.”
Such adversity on the field has given each of the players discipline and endurance in other areas of their lives, especially when experiencing personal setbacks. Cayden Gardner, senior and co-captain for the team, testifies to how playing football has developed him into the person he is today.
“[Football has] shaped me well, as a person and as an athlete,” Gardner said. “My grades went up, and I thank football for that because it helped me get right back on track. I feel like this [team has] made me a better man.”
Some senior players are looking to pursue a more academic career after high school. The character growth and life skills from being on this team help students prepare for any path they choose. Senior Maximiliano Zambrana describes how his time with the Wolverines has helped prepare him for any obstacle he may encounter.
“Being mentally healthy [and] strong is really valuable. Without football, I don’t think I’d be in the position I am today, as mature and as ready to face the world,” Zambrana said. “Football has helped me face [challenges] head on and with a positive outlook and approach.”
The seniors’ personal development from their time on the team will impact not only their own lives, but the lives of their younger team members as well. Grayson Clopton, a junior on the team, discusses the sense of camaraderie created by his teammates and shares how close he has gotten with them recently.
“[I am most proud of] how my teammates and I have gotten closer over [the] last year and this summer,” Clopton said. “We really became a better team, even though it might not show that in the win column.”
Being a member of this team has an enormous impact beyond just physical endurance and strength. Rather, Wilson’s coaching teaches his players lessons they can carry with them through the rest of their lives: integrity, tenacity, and, most of all, perseverance.
“Our goal is very simple,” Wilson said. “We go 1-0. We don’t look ahead, we don’t look behind us [and] we can’t worry about what’s already been done. We only try to prepare for the next game.”
