Spartans’ season gears up with a triple-header

Times Contributor

 

On Sept. 8 all three Strathmore Spartans teams will be playing their first home games of the season. This triple-header will see the peewee team face off against Olds at 11:00 am, the bantam Spartans against Stettler at 1:30 p.m. and the senior team against Taber at 4 p.m. All three teams are chomping at the bit to get this season started, as they’ve started practices and are ready to show their skills on the field. 

“We started up practices on the 20th so we have one week under our belt. We started up (some) things, picked up a little bit of conditioning and stuff,” said Carl Seafoot, coach of the senior team. Seafoot said the team was looking good after the first week of practice, and they’re excited for the second week, and to be able to put some plays into action. 

“Plans for this week are kind of to get into the play books and running some play reps like that,” said Seafoot. 

The team has also had a good turnout this year, with a combination of old talent and new. 

“The team looks pretty good, good mixture of players, got some new guys in there, got some of the old guys back, its looking pretty good in that respect,” said Seafoot. The one change the seniors will see this year is their opponents. They’ve been moved to a new league, and are now facing teams such as Medicine Hat and Taber. 

The bantam team is desperately hoping for a win on the Sept. 8 to start this season off on the right foot after two unsuccessful seasons with few wins. Coach Doug Klauck is new to the Bantam team this year and sees playoff potential if the team can keep their injuries down. 

“We have a team that can compete this year, and we’ve just got to stay healthy and keep the numbers up on the field,” said Klauck. After coaching peewee for eight years Klauck thought it was time for a change. 

“The kids are a little older, the game itself is faster, the kids hit harder, it’s going to be a challenge for me, it’s something I’m looking forward to,” said Klauck. 

“I hope we can change things around for these boys,” said Klauck. 

Since Klauck has moved up from coaching peewee, there’s been some new coaching in that program as well. Chuck Holloway has stepped in as head coach with assistant coach Brad Middlemiss, who stepped down from assisting with the bantam team to help with peewee and is facing some changes in coaching style. 

“It’s really the size and the maturity…sometimes you have to have a lot more patience with this group of kids,” said Middlemiss. 

The team has been practicing since August 18 and the players – there’s over 30 – are looking forward to the game and a chance to hit the field.  The peewee coaches have some pretty simple, but very important goals for this season. 

“Just to see them having fun, to see them get out, [and] to have them see a little bit of success,” said Middlemiss. All three Spartan teams can’t wait to see the home crowd cheering them on at their first game of the season. 

“It’s going to be great for the kids,” said Middlemiss.