WINLOCK — Right before 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon, the Winlock Cardinals set their helmets in a straight line behind the end zone and began stretching and warming up together as a group.
It’s only a footnote in the grand scheme of things, but it’s the little things like that that new Winlock coach Jeff Lund is hoping to instill in an effort to shift the football culture in Winlock.
Here are three observations from Winlock’s Wednesday practice.
Creating a team culture
Lund’s effort to change the culture began as the clock struck midnight and the calendar turned to Aug. 19, the first official day of the WIAA football practice window.
He had his team run 4.5 miles from Winolequa Park through downtown Winlock to the high school, where the Cardinals worked out for about 80 minutes.
It was an extensive first conditioning session for the group, but it’s one that already seems to be paying dividends.
“They’re starting to become a cohesive unit,” Lund said. “There was a lot of bellyaching (early) … Now these kids will do anything, and they’re starting to have fun.”
Senior Carlos Magallon credited the run for helping the players bond right away, a bond that has only grown each practice since.
“We’re actually together as a team,” Magallon said. “The new coaching staff has been fully vouching towards being more of a team, and everybody has been getting along with that and understand that we have to change something around here.”
Young guys stepping up
Magallon is leading Winlock’s senior class, but several younger players have also stepped up throughout the first week and are expected to step into big roles on Fridays.
Junior Monte Williams is set to be QB1, David Cason should get plenty of touches, and Gabriel Toms is expected to lead the line.
Lund also mentioned other younger players, including Dax Williams, Brody Hancock, and Camren Cusson, praising their work ethic and highlighting their potential.
“Our younger kids are the backbone,” Lund said. “They’re paving the way.”
Injury prevention
A key part of the first week of practice for the Cardinals was injury prevention.
Winlock was decimated by injuries last fall, even forfeiting a game against Taholah due to a lack of players.
Lund is taking a “proactive approach” this season, as he’s brought on former infantrymen Robert Reeder, a National Certified Phlebotomy Technician who is also working towards his kinesiology degree and other certifications, to his staff.
On Wednesday, Reeder led the team through a series of stretches and an extensive warmup routine, a habit that Lund hopes leads to a healthier campaign.
“Physical strength and preventative maintenance on bodies is a big key this year,” Lund said. “Keeping kids safe is our biggest thing.”
