KINGWOOD — Things are a bit different this summer at Preston High School.
As the Knights’ football team completes their first week of the WVSSAC three-week summer practices, there is a noticeable difference in just about every facet of the team’s game compared to one year ago.
The biggest asset the team has gained, according to head coach Jonathon Tennant, is strength — with nearly 80 percent of the roster last season consisting of freshmen and sophomores, the extra year of physical development and an offseason in the weight room has done wonders for the squad.
“The big difference is that we’re a lot stronger. Last year we only had one or two kids that could bench press 200 pounds and hit 200 on power clean — now we have over 10 that can do that. Last year we were 14-15 year olds competing against 16-17 year olds, but now we’ll be more competitive. We felt like some teams took advantage of our youth last year, and we have had a long memory about that,” Tennant said.
“Last year, there wasn’t much weight on our team. Now we have kids up in the weight room breaking records and putting heavy weight up,” senior Colton Rosenberger added.
The added year in the program, combined with the physical development of younger players, has helped get the summer sessions off to a much faster start. The Knights return nine starters on both offense and defense, and most of the players on the team are already acquainted with the structure of the program and the playbook.
“With strength and experience comes confidence. We have so much more confidence in this group, and I like their energy and their passion,” Tennant said. “We’re so much more experienced, and we already know the offense and the defense so much better. We have just about everyone back.”
“That type of thing builds up confidence in us. We’re not just filling in roles like last year, we know what to do. Everything is just coming this year, and everyone knows what to do. We just have to compete with each other during these practices. That’s what’s going to build us up to be ready for the main stage on Friday nights,” senior Jesse Gribble added.
The offseason of development on all ends for most of the current roster has also created an environment more suited towards driving competition amongst the team and continuing to progress players, whereas last season the upperclassman found it challenging to do so.
“You can really tell out here on the field because everyone is competing with each other — everyone is kind of even now,” Rosenberger said. “Last year, the older guys couldn’t really practice because we had to go against such younger, inexperienced guys and that showed on Friday nights.”
“Last summer, we just ran all over the field in practice and come Friday night we’d come up against kids our size and our age, and we were at a disadvantage because we’d practiced all week against younger guys and dominated them. I can feel that we’re all even now and that’s going to help us compete on Friday nights.”
As the Knights’ football team completes their first week of the WVSSAC three-week summer practices, there is a noticeable difference in just about every facet of the team’s game compared to one year ago.
The biggest asset the team has gained, according to head coach Jonathon Tennant, is strength — with nearly 80 percent of the roster last season consisting of freshmen and sophomores, the extra year of physical development and an offseason in the weight room has done wonders for the squad.
“The big difference is that we’re a lot stronger. Last year we only had one or two kids that could bench press 200 pounds and hit 200 on power clean — now we have over 10 that can do that. Last year we were 14-15 year olds competing against 16-17 year olds, but now we’ll be more competitive. We felt like some teams took advantage of our youth last year, and we have had a long memory about that,” Tennant said.
“Last year, there wasn’t much weight on our team. Now we have kids up in the weight room breaking records and putting heavy weight up,” senior Colton Rosenberger added.
The added year in the program, combined with the physical development of younger players, has helped get the summer sessions off to a much faster start. The Knights return nine starters on both offense and defense, and most of the players on the team are already acquainted with the structure of the program and the playbook.
“With strength and experience comes confidence. We have so much more confidence in this group, and I like their energy and their passion,” Tennant said. “We’re so much more experienced, and we already know the offense and the defense so much better. We have just about everyone back.”
“That type of thing builds up confidence in us. We’re not just filling in roles like last year, we know what to do. Everything is just coming this year, and everyone knows what to do. We just have to compete with each other during these practices. That’s what’s going to build us up to be ready for the main stage on Friday nights,” senior Jesse Gribble added.
The offseason of development on all ends for most of the current roster has also created an environment more suited towards driving competition amongst the team and continuing to progress players, whereas last season the upperclassman found it challenging to do so.
“You can really tell out here on the field because everyone is competing with each other — everyone is kind of even now,” Rosenberger said. “Last year, the older guys couldn’t really practice because we had to go against such younger, inexperienced guys and that showed on Friday nights.”
“Last summer, we just ran all over the field in practice and come Friday night we’d come up against kids our size and our age, and we were at a disadvantage because we’d practiced all week against younger guys and dominated them. I can feel that we’re all even now and that’s going to help us compete on Friday nights.”
Caleb Shrout during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Richard Layton rushes the ball during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Richard Layton rushes the ball during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Trevor Lewis takes a snap during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Trevor Lewis hands the ball off during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Gauge Lantz makes a catch during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Jaxson Lewis makes a catch during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Trevor Lewis makes a pass during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Trevor Lewis makes a pass during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Robbie Stenson makes a block during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Levi Lowdermilk leaps over an obstacle during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Jesse Gribble carries the ball during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Ayden Bishop leaps over an obstacle during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Ayden Bishop carries the ball during practice Thursday in Kingwood. 
Ayden Bishop carries the ball during practice Thursday in Kingwood.
