Photo by Bella Schmidt
By Marlene Rashidi
Lincoln High freshman football team started out their first game with a win against Southwest 44-9 at the Links Beechner field on September 5th, and on September 12th at the Beechner field the Lincoln High freshman team won 36-12 against East High. And they didn’t stop there. After their win against Fremont on Sept. 26th, the 9th Grade Links are 5-0!
The freshman football team is determined to play a clean strategized game throughout the season with as much encouragement they can get from the varsity players they can go far. The links had a shaky football season in the past year(s) but this year is going to be different. These freshman want to change people’s minds when they think of Lincoln High football team, they want to not only show them Lincoln high is all about bonding, but bonding to get victory.
Kyle Dawson a freshman and football player at Lincoln high said, “I feel like it’s going to be a good year. I feel like we have a good team going.”
There is a positive outlook to this season and more, unlike other seasons. These freshmen want supporters to come to their games hungry for a win and leave overfilled. I asked the Varsity Football coach’s opinion of freshman football team and this is what coach Mark Macke had to say, “I haven’t seen them play, but from what I’ve seen this summer and to see them in the weight room, there were several guys who were very committed. And I think there’s some very good football players, the freshmen that we have are going to be good.”
I hope the several committed ones were all of them, because it takes dedication to get victory, it takes a soul that is brave and fearless to scream, “I Want Victory.” Freshman football team needs as much encouragement from their varsity teammates and that is why Yohanna Shokai a senior and varsity football player who is determined to be a better athlete, a good leader for his teammates and to take his team to the playoffs said, “They are young kids that work hard and very competitive on and off the field. They should work harder, in school and during summer, because that’s where you learn important things.”
It is a big deal and important role to be an athlete at Lincoln high, it reveals how much dedicated you are into your school. This is what Xheronte’ Lewis a junior and varsity football player at Lincoln high had to say about the freshman football team, “I think they are a very talented and dedicated young team. I believe that with no doubt by their junior year they could win Lincoln High a title.”
Anthony Magor a freshman football player for the Links said, “ My first year of high school football at Lincoln High is fun. Interesting and my we’re going great. My goal is to win all or most of our games and tackle a lot. I personally thank the varsity players, because they give me good advice that helps me become a good player day by day.”
The graduating senior varsity player are the first people who the freshman and other young teams would look up to for advice, because they have more experience and knowledge.
Just like Cordarrius Bailey a freshman football player for the Links said, “We’re trying to go undefeated, and every second we spend on the football field practicing is where we should learn, perform and get corrected, but the help from the varsity players will help us so much.” These freshman football players one day will be our varsity player who other kids might look up to too someday. All hope is that, how they started stronger is how they should end up.”