Memorial High School varsity football stock is up
WEST NEW YORK, N.J. (BVM) — The 2020 Memorial Tigers are ready to get the season started, with a completely different vibe from last year. Coming off a 1-8 2019 season that started with a forfeit due to a lack of players, the Tigers are starting over with a positive outlook.
Head coach Stefano “Bear” Calderana feels that the team rebuild from last year has been very different from years past. Trying to increase participation after not having success the year before has been an issue.
“It’s natural for athletes to want to be part of a winning environment, so we had to spend a lot of time convincing our athletes that their participation will be what turns this program around and makes it successful.” Calderana said.
Coach Calderana thinks the group of guys he has on the field this season, “realize that they can be what propels this program into something special.”
COVID-19 and Football
When it comes to pandemic-related team obstacles, Calderana thought it was important for him to teach his athletes to “look at every COVID challenge as an opportunity to find new ways to get better.”
The toughest challenge for the team as a whole was the lack of time they spent training in the off-season and the minimal practice time they have had to prepare for the start of the season. The lack of preparation time has forced everyone to find other ways to work more efficiently.
“I cannot overstate the importance of our leaders and the roles they have taken through the pandemic,” Coach Calderana said. “From figuring out ways to safely work out together, to making sure everyone had paperwork done so we wouldn’t lose time once we got started. Our team captains have been remarkable. They made the communication problem much easier.”
Coach Calderana feels that having kept positive attitudes through this experience makes the Tigers “better players and better men.”
The Team
“Numbers were down last year, it was a challenging season, but I’m excited”, says assistant Coach Tony Perez. “We’ve got some talented players in some pretty important positions this year, we are happy to have them.”
According to Coach Perez, “practice this year has been high energy, like any other group there’s ups and downs, and peaks and valleys, but we’ve had steady energy and good focus, it’s good to see. Our stock is up!”
First year assistant coach Hussein Abdelmaksoud says the overall team vibe is a good one.
“Team numbers are up from last year, a lot of the kids get along with each other and want to win. The team looks better. We also have a handful of basketball players that have crossed over to help the team out.” Abdelmaksoud said.
Senior Juan Donoso (6-foot-1, 210 pounds), the “STUD” as described by Coach Perez, comes back this season with a noticeable maturity, ready to lead his team on the field. Donoso returns for his fourth season as the team’s starting quarterback and has also excelled as an outside linebacker and the team’s long snapper.
Senior William Rodriguez (5-foot-9, 150 pounds) returns for his fourth season at wide receiver.
Coach Calderana considers him “the heart and soul” of the Tigers.
“William is very coachable and always willing to learn,” remarked Coach Abdelmaksoud. “He is fast on the football field and has a good football IQ.”
Senior Brain Ramirez (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) is the team leader on both the offensive and defensive line.
In his fourth season with the Tigers, “he leads by example and always gives 100%.” said Coach Abdelmaksoud. “He is very coachable and just a great kid!”
Sophomore Aaron Swann (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) joins the team this year as starting left tackle and defensive tackle.
“Aaron Swann is a recruitable kid that can play football at the next level,” as per Coach Calderana.
Senior Miguel Carambot (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) is proving to be a talented tight end in his first season with the Tigers, playing a five technique on defense.
Coach Calderana said, “both Aaron and Miguel are big physical kids that play multiple sports, which gives them a high level of athleticism for their sizes.”
Sophomore Wendell Garcia (5-foot-9,170 pounds), a first-year running back, is already being considered a vital part of the Tiger offense.
“He is a very coachable, strong, fast and athletic kid, who respects his teammates and coaches. He’s one of the best”, added Coach Abdelmaksoud.
Former varsity head coach and Memorial High School Principal, Oscar Guerrero, feels this year’s team has some talented players that look like they can make a significant impact on the upcoming season.
“We have a nice combination of returning players and new talent that should be productive on the field. This is obviously not like any other season, dealing with the impact of COVID-19. The coaches have had to overcome more obstacles than ever just to get to this point and they’ve done a great job throughout,” Guerrero said. “With the support of the athletic office and the board of education the team has remained safe and is getting ready to play their first game, something that felt like a dream just a few months ago.”
The Memorial High School Varsity Football team has their first game tonight, Oct. 2, against Dickinson High School (Jersey City, N.J.). They will be the first MHS team sport to play on the newly re-turfed Coviello Field.
