'12 Team Preview: Wilmington Hurricane
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It's a new, fresh start for the Wilmington Hurricane in 2012. This year, they have left the Fort Ancient Valley Conference, will play in the newly minted Southwest Ohio Conference and wait two years before joining the South Central Ohio League.
It's safe to say the Hurricane won't be any strangers to various conferences in the near future.
But this is the 2012 season, and their main focus until otherwise noted will be on winning the first conference title in the SWOC as they are coming off a 7-3 season one year ago with a FAVC mark of 2-3.
"We have a mix, really, of youth and experience this season," said Wilmington head coach Robin Vida, who is entering his eighth season (32 total years of coaching) at WHS with a record of 45-35. "This year's team will have more depth, but we lost some good leaders and players, and they will have to be replaced."
The Hurricane return Colt Briggs, David Henry, Austen Kessler, Kevin Phelps, Will Welsch, Cody McCune, Zack Day, Antwan Morris, Charlie Walker and J.T. Lykins this season and will look upon them to bring the Hurricane that conference championship.
Lykins was the Hurricane's leading receiver last year with 31 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. McCune returns as the starting quarterback for WHS. One season ago, McCune passed for 867 yards (91-of-160) and six touchdowns.
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Though the Hurricane return many players from last year's winning squad, they did lose some top players in Kyle Davis, Jesse McCann, Damian Tomlinson, Nick Eden and Jake Weber. Tomlinson rushed for 596 yards on 141 carries and five touchdowns.
Some key newcomers who will play a larger role this season for WHS are: Garrett Rollins, Evan Hickey, Mark Huff, Jaime Cline, Jeremy Richmond and Marty Beaugard.
"We have some experienced players returning, and overall team speed and strength should be good," Vida said. "One of our weaknesses is we will have many new linemen that will have to contribute, but we always expect to field a competitive team. We have a good group of seniors, and our potential will depend on their leadership."
As for the Hurricane playing in the new conference this season, Coach Vida said the conference isn't much different from the FAVC as schools in the SWOC include: Harrison, Mt Healthy, Ross, Little Miami, Edgewood, Talawanda, Northwest and Wilmington.
"There is not a real big difference. Most of the league is Division II, of the FAVC," Vida said. "We have played many of the teams in the new league before, so there is some familiarity. It is a good league, and we are excited to get started.
"Our goals are to compete in every game. We line up and compete for a league title. As for eventually joining the SCOL, that is something our district felt was in the best interest of all involved. We are still two years away, so we are just focusing on what is in front of us at the moment, and that is the SWOC."
It's safe to say the Hurricane won't be any strangers to various conferences in the near future.
But this is the 2012 season, and their main focus until otherwise noted will be on winning the first conference title in the SWOC as they are coming off a 7-3 season one year ago with a FAVC mark of 2-3.
"We have a mix, really, of youth and experience this season," said Wilmington head coach Robin Vida, who is entering his eighth season (32 total years of coaching) at WHS with a record of 45-35. "This year's team will have more depth, but we lost some good leaders and players, and they will have to be replaced."
The Hurricane return Colt Briggs, David Henry, Austen Kessler, Kevin Phelps, Will Welsch, Cody McCune, Zack Day, Antwan Morris, Charlie Walker and J.T. Lykins this season and will look upon them to bring the Hurricane that conference championship.
Lykins was the Hurricane's leading receiver last year with 31 receptions for 336 yards and two touchdowns. McCune returns as the starting quarterback for WHS. One season ago, McCune passed for 867 yards (91-of-160) and six touchdowns.
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Though the Hurricane return many players from last year's winning squad, they did lose some top players in Kyle Davis, Jesse McCann, Damian Tomlinson, Nick Eden and Jake Weber. Tomlinson rushed for 596 yards on 141 carries and five touchdowns.
Some key newcomers who will play a larger role this season for WHS are: Garrett Rollins, Evan Hickey, Mark Huff, Jaime Cline, Jeremy Richmond and Marty Beaugard.
"We have some experienced players returning, and overall team speed and strength should be good," Vida said. "One of our weaknesses is we will have many new linemen that will have to contribute, but we always expect to field a competitive team. We have a good group of seniors, and our potential will depend on their leadership."
As for the Hurricane playing in the new conference this season, Coach Vida said the conference isn't much different from the FAVC as schools in the SWOC include: Harrison, Mt Healthy, Ross, Little Miami, Edgewood, Talawanda, Northwest and Wilmington.
"There is not a real big difference. Most of the league is Division II, of the FAVC," Vida said. "We have played many of the teams in the new league before, so there is some familiarity. It is a good league, and we are excited to get started.
"Our goals are to compete in every game. We line up and compete for a league title. As for eventually joining the SCOL, that is something our district felt was in the best interest of all involved. We are still two years away, so we are just focusing on what is in front of us at the moment, and that is the SWOC."