Spartans gear up for gridiron

Times Reporter   

 

The Strathmore High School (SHS) Spartans had an early start to their 2014 fall season, with tryout camps beginning just a few weeks ago. Travis Gorski, strength and conditioning coach, took the team to the Jamboree Tournament on May 9 in Medicine Hat to test their skills.

“We got the boys together, gave them a taste of football,” Gorski said. “I was so impressed with our boys.”

After suffering a loss in their first game to Taber by a score of 22-17, the Spartans rallied against McCoy 36-7, and also defeated Medicine Hat 23-9. Medicine Hat High School is a Tier 2 division team with fifteen coaches, Gorski said, while Strathmore has only four, and has a lower Tier 3 division standing.

“That was huge turn around, because last year they beat us 73-0,” Gorski said of Medicine Hat, who only had four players graduate since their previous meeting. “We were essentially playing their exact same team.”

The difference this year was a new coaching staff for the Spartans, and a lot of help from Crowther Memorial Junior High School players.

“We picked up some Grade 9 players, who were huge factors,” Gorski said. These players will officially join the 23-man roster next year when they arrive at SHS. “We’re going to have a really strong team these next couple of years,” Gorski said.

Gorski and the boys had their last practice on May 14, until season camps begin in August.

“We were just doing individual skills with the kids, just giving them the basics, and teaching them the game,” Gorski said – a former Medicine Hat High School player, who also spent six years on the field for the University of Saskatchewan. “I’m trying to give them a total understanding of the game. I start them off very simple, but I like to work the mind and the body.”

The Spartans have their first season game on Sept. 5 against Medicine Hat High School. 

“We’re bringing a team that can compete. They’re going to be competitive, they’re going to be well coached, and they’re going to be well trained,” Gorski said. “It’s going to be a really interesting season.”