CASPER, Wyoming (Wyoming News Now) – Continuing our coverage of high school football in the Cowboy State, we take a look at Kelly Walsh.
The Trojans are not only welcoming a new season, but also a new head coach and a new attitude ahead of Week 0. Head coach Randy Roden spoke about this year’s fall practice, saying, “I like my team, I’m extremely proud of them, I’m honored to be their coach, they’ve all been very receptive and it’s been a lot of fun.” Roden alluded to this being his first tenure as head coach of the Trojans’ football team, but he’s familiar with the green and white colors as he’s the head coach of the basketball team. “Everyone was worried about me and how I was going to handle everything, but I’ve enjoyed it all summer long, it’s been fun and this week has not disappointed.”
Roden says he’s never seen so many players in the weight room before the season starts, getting ready for fall practice. Trojan senior Landon Walker is no stranger to these practices and says he noticed a change in the energy on the team before the first game. “Practice has been great, especially the younger students, they’re really into it and helping the other students.” Walker continues, “Everyone comes together and just brings a great energy that we haven’t had as much in the past and things like that that are different and we can add to what we already have, we’re great.”
With that new feeling of energy, Trojans junior Ethan Hague also noticed a difference between this year’s team and teams of its past. “I think right now the mindset of the team has changed. I think the last few years we’ve been really slow going into games, a little shaky, maybe not having as much trust in each other.” Hague adds, “I think this year we’re really coming together and becoming a team and I think we’re starting to trust each other a little more and it makes it easier for us because we can do our job and trust that the guy next to us is going to do the same.”
After a 2-8 season and several seasons with a sub-.500 record, Coach Roden says winning is the top priority heading into the new season. However, it won’t be about wins or losses to consider this season a “success.” Roden wants his team to focus on their attitude, staying competitive until the end of games and how the team responds to adversity. “How are we going to respond when the scoreboard gets a little negative because everyone is excited for the first three or four weeks and then all of a sudden you think, ‘This is the same as the last few years, what’s going to happen then?'” Roden continued, “Success is going to depend on how we handle adversity. In the past, we’ve just taken it, we can’t do that, so those things are going to be successes.”
The Kelly Walsh Trojans will travel north to begin their season to take on the Campbell County Camels on August 30th.
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