v:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}o:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}w:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Asthe school year begins, so does another season of high school football for theFreedom Bulldogs. The football team is going through plenty of changes thisseason. With seven new coaches joining the Bulldog team, new rules, new practicetimes, and no junior high team, this group of boys has a great deal to take in.This year will test their dedication, their strengths and will take this teamto new heights. On August 17th, beginning at6:45 in the morning, the varsity and junior varsity football teams startedtheir two-week camp to get the boys used to the new coaching techniques of thenew staff. They were served breakfast and lunch by the generous mother’ssupporting their sons. Their long day began with breakfast until 7:15 andmorning warm-ups. Shortly after, the new head coach, Mark Lyons, gathered upthe 44 players for a two-hour practice. Finally, around noon, the boys, coachesand trainers grabbed lunch and had a small break before practice number two. Followingthe break, the boys were back to working hard at another two-hour longpractice, ending around five in the evening. This is the way Monday throughFriday went for both teams two weeks prior to school. After their first week ofcamp, the two teams had an early morning scrimmage on their home field. Thehard work and effort the athletes put into their practices showed on theplaying field, and gave the coaches more to work with in order to help theBulldogs improve their skills. The secondweek of football camp ended on a Thursday, with a "Red and WhiteDinner," where Coach Lyons introduced himself to the parents of theplayers. He also introduced Tony Beatrice, Larry Devincentis, ShawnKeefe, Mike Short, Andy Yeck, Zack Zeigler, and reintroduced Coach Frank Hernandezas the assistant coaches for the fall season of football. Anotherscrimmage was in store for the boys the following day; however this one wasaway at Langley and took place in the evening. Coach Lyons has changed theway things would be run this season. As a new coach and champion of many WPIALtitles in his coaching years, Lyons has been getting to know his players sincethe middle of the school year last year, during the lifting sessions the formerfootball team was provided with, for those who wanted to. The camp wasnot only preparation for the season, but it was also a way for all of theplayers to bond as a team. Mark Lyons’ way of coaching isa very structured technique. During camp he had a schedule for the assistantcoaches to follow with what practice entailed and what they were to cover. Hehad everything down to a time schedule – even the water breaks. Thisstrict regimen has showed positive effects in the team’s performance and hasboosted the spirit and faith in the Freedom Bulldogs for many players, parentsand even students. During camp,six players were named as the captains of the varsity football team. These sixare all in the senior class and have been dedicated to the Bulldogs forcountless years. They include Zack Burns, Joe Ermi, Scott Freeman, JeremyHerzog, Clint Jenny, and Adam Teets. These sixwill undoubtedly enhance the strength of the team as a whole in the hopes to bevictorious, like the result of their first game of the season against EllwoodCity. Here’s to the beginning of a new season, where the strength of the groupis in the strength of its leaders.