While preparing for an upcoming season may be tough for any football team, junior Kurt Apostol said he is confident the hard work will pay off for the RHS football program. “It’s really tough to fight through the climate at practice everyday,” Apostol said. “The heat can make our players lose focus and not do their best. But we have to be strong and overcome it. At the end of the day, we all know that we got better.”
With a 28-0 win over L’Anse Creuse North under their belt, Apostol said the varsity team is excited for the season. However, they may not be alone. According to JV head coach Eric Magiera, his team feels similarly.
“I’m really looking forward to playing the first game,” Magiera said. “That is when we get to see how much the players have grown over the past year and how they will respond to adversity. Plus, the atmosphere of playing under the lights is really exciting for the kids.”
However, the season will come with its challenges for both teams. “The toughest part of the season for everyone has been the low numbers we have,” Magiera said. “It’s always a challenge to have so few players.” Still, Magiera said the team has a positive outlook on the season.
“We have been working a lot with the varsity and freshmen teams to ensure we get the best look possible in practices,” reports Magiera. “Also, 
we really stress the importance of hard work and mental toughness in the face of challenges. Although we are usually speaking in terms of football, these are very important off the field as well.”
With that, many players like Apostol, hold high hopes for the team. “We have one goal and one goal only: playoffs,” Apostol said. “When we overcome challenges every day at practice, we get better, which will help us win our games and eventually get to that goal.”
Emily Hayward, Student Journalist for Rochester High School
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