All the chatter about Westlake — and you can blame me, too — has been about its roster. The varsity has only 25 players, which, from a coach’s point of view, is barely enough to run an offense against a defense during practice.
My tour of camps over the last 10 days led me to Westlake late this afternoon, but it was then I learned a valuable lesson: Numbers can lie. Are there Class B programs with more bodies in jerseys than Westlake? Sure. But there is one factor you must take into account when comparing the program to others its size: Westlake has a JV.
Over the last couple weeks, I’ve come across opponents in Class B and some former opponents in Class C with rosters that total in the 30s and low 40s. Westlake actually has 50 or so players in its program, but they are divided among two teams. The Wildcats just happen to have 25 players of those players on the varsity who can compete. And from what I saw today, they will.
When I had e-mailed coach Rich Hennessy over the weekend, he replied with the team’s practice schedule. By the time I arrived today, it was at the end of the second session, more than nine hours after the first one had started. Still, Westlake continued to run through offensive plays close to full speed. Around 5:30, when this day in the blazing sun was coming to an end, players shed their pads and helmets and lined up to run laps around the practice field.
It is this type of hard work and commitment that has Hennessy turning a blind eye toward his program’s modest-sized roster. The Wildcats actually feel strong and cautiously optimistic, even despite last year’s 2-6 finish. They return 13 seniors, including multiple starters who will play two ways.
The leaders can’t be boiled to just a name or two. The senior class is very deep. HB/LB Matt DeBiase will be the top running option on offense, replacing Adam Ranellone, who rushed for 869 yards and 10 TDs. HB/S Nick Cevallos, one of our Captain’s Corner participants, will help anchor the defense.
Six other returning seniors are expected to see action on both sides of the ball: G/DT Joe DeVito, FB/LB Nick Calcagni, WR/CB Fabio Ricci, TE/LB A.J. Pizzola, C/DT Christian Murphy and FB/DE Nick Squillante. One other very, very big returning piece is RT/DT Tommy Hopkins, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound sophomore that is already among the bigger players in Section 1. And he’s only a sophomore.
The QB battle that I mentioned from Tiger Camp is still being waged between senior Vinny Manzo and junior John D’Onofrio. But no matter who earns more snaps, they will do so in a few new formations, turning away slowly from the Wing-T. Hennessy admitted that his offense has worked toward unearthing a little more diversity to better exploit its talent, although Westlake will still rely primarily on the run.
One major passing target is senior Mason Adams, who transferred back home after spending last year at Iona Prep. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Adams looked very electric as a WR today at practice. His size is a major factor, but he’s not short on athleticism. Hennessy said Adams originally transferred to Iona Prep to play basketball for the Gaels. He returned to Westlake in June and began to work out with the team in July. “He’s matured and is showing a lot of promise,” Hennessy said.
The Wildcats have a few other newcomers. The sophomore class sent six to the varsity. One, Mike Manzo, Vinny’s brother, will join Hopkins on the offensive line, as will junior Rob Lynch.
The greatest challenge presented by the roster size will be depth. Westlake has very little. Today, a thumb injury had Cevallos out of practice, which costs the Wildcats not just one starter but two.
“Most of our guys will go both ways,” Hennessy said. “We’ll try not to, but it’s something we have to do. We’re trying to condition them appropriately without pushing them too hard. It’s possible that some of them won’t really come off the field, so we have to get them prepared for that.”
With a deep reserve of returning players, Hennessy hopes his team can draw off its experience in 2008, when it played Croton-Harmon at Mahopac for the Class C championship. He believes the players’ determination to return to that form rather than the doldrums of last year.
Simple hard work has been their avenue to achieve that. They may just be 25, but it’s been 25 strong.
9 Comments
Hey josh you ok , dont you know most small schools kids go defense and offense and westlake has only 25 kids so what are you saying they got a jv so what if a varsity player gets hurt what will they do go get little 15 yr old joey or johnny to fill in against 18 yr olds so he gets killed with very little experience did you play football josh get real The jv in high school is nothing as far as replacing a player in football. The size of the football player is nothing see if he has football heart westlake had a player will carter small as linebackers go but what a tackler and could he hit football heart. The team has some players i saw from last year but lets see how the play as a group a family . I wish them the best
Assuming that the person doing the camp reports has an eye for teams and individual players it looks like if they stay healthily and with a less predictable offense than in the past Westlake should be in the mix for a play-off spot. Point that was being made is that having 50 players in program is a good thing. Establishing and having numbers for the JV will only grow and sustain a program as kids will come out and get valuable playing time on JV as opposed to standing on sideline for two years if school only has a Varsity program, in fact many of them will lose interest if there is no opportunity to play for at least two years.
KM im not knocking the j v system but having 40 on a roster is much different they know the varsity plays in case of injury etc I do agree about playing time so it has its pros n cons but josh cant mark it down as 50 players that westlake has not true pz
There is some hope for the playoffs based on schedule and teams losing seniors but i have to see a scrimmage . The team last year easily should have made playoffs but thats water under the bridge . They have to replace a good back and i got to see the offensive line play but thats why they play the games. Also to play the wing T with this group is difficult might has to change it.
Hey legend are u going to be patrolling the hill and breaking balls like u usually do this year with ur black on black uniform??? Please refrain from writing while u r under the influence and please use spell check it’s a wonderful tool!!
this is about the 2nd-3rd year of the current jv squad…back in 02-03 they’re was a jv, but both are you are right. Westlake’s size they need to have a large varsity, however having 10-12 on varsity means the freshmen need to either field a freshmen team or do the old modified 7-9 squads. Modified is obviously different in ways than varsity is, and its hard to field a frosh squad when most schools don’t even have a jv!
Also I believe the point about the 25 varsity is that Briarcliff has about 40ish on their varsity, but no JV. So is it small? somewhat, but its safe to say the JV is getting playing time in the jv games against the same school’s jv teams.
so in westlake’s case, 25 and 25 exactly in the high school makes sense. Small schools have players on BOTH sides of the ball, and its’ been like that in Thornwood for many years now. Even the kicker is the qb, or the punter is the starting rb. Class B has been a horror show since 2003 with exception to that one year where they made the semis and lost to rye. This team looks like it could do that again and have a spot and maybe have something happen. But it’s going to be a tough road
Hey husker comon, you stop breaking balls be nice i got nothing against you. I call it football knowledge i can get highly qualified people to back me up , nfl, college,and yes my dear westlake. Husker by the way just for you , what should i wear, oh yes nebraska red for the huskers lol . Also theres no reason to pace the hill, Steve graduated, plenty of guys disagree with coaches, maybe your spending to much time watching me, listen to the other fellas . I gave coach hennessy and his staff all the credit in the world for beating ryeneck, so dont give me the ball buster stamp, i tell it like it is , some like it , others dont . Im 55 years old i could care less about my grammar , so stop with the insults be friendly !
Josh,
Boohoo, what did I spoil your fun? the Super 11 is out! it’s
1. Donnie Simmons – Stepinac
2. Tyrell Goodman – Stepinac
3. Mike Longo – Iona Prep
4. Justin Ciero – Greeley
5. Kieren Borcich – Bronxville
6. Tanner Knowx – Harrison
7. Darius Favors – North Rockland
8. Jordan Lucas – New Rochelle
9. Connor Eck – Rye
10. Adrian Pritchett – Roosevelt
11. Max Ngolla- Nyack
It’s very, very weak of you to delete my post just because you don’t like what I wrote. I didn’t violate the user agreement in any way. You can’t expect to keep something like this secret in today’s age of modern technology. As soon as the kids got back the other day they were texting and posting on facebook. Get a grip Josh.
Section 1 recruiting has ranking of top 5 B teams. Edgemont is 1, Croton is 2 and Pleasantville 5. Nanuet and Lourdes from other division are in 3 and 4 spot. Croton and Pville seemed to be ranked little higher than expected. Thought maybe Kennedy and Pelham would be in top 5.