BY GENE NARDI
The Wellington High School varsity football squad has been in training camp for the past several weeks, in preparation for the fast-approaching fall season.
The Wolverines are in what is arguably one of the toughest districts in the county, accompanied by the defending District 9-8A champions and state semifinalists Palm Beach Gardens, district runners-up Seminole Ridge, and Jupiter.
Head coach Thomas Abel, now in his third year, believes in his squad. “We’ve been emphasizing to these kids to believe in themselves, and now they do,” Abel said.
Last season, the Wolverines finished with a 5-6 record. Each year under Abel, the team has improved, and this could be the season the Wolverines make some serious noise in the district.
A majority of last year’s starting line was sophomores, so the Wolverines are stacked on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Wellington will have Miami commit Ahmmon Richards heavily involved in their new spread-style offense.
If it’s depth in the running game you want to see, Wellington has it. A junior class running corps with Christian Goss, Mike Howard and new addition Cavarian Brown will power the run game.
They also have depth at the quarterback position, with returning senior Devin Bolden and senior-transfer Shannon Patrick battling for the starting role. Bolden came in midway last season to replace the injured Cole Smallridge and put together a solid performance.
Bolden and Patrick, in addition to Richards, will have junior receiving duo Jean Rene and Kyle Branch to reach out to in the air. The offensive line will be anchored by senior center Brandon McNall, whom Louisville and the University of South Florida have shown interest in.
Wellington will bring a little more size to its line this season with junior Keegan Sullivan at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, and sophomore guard Santiago Pasada at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, opening up holes for the run attack.
On the defensive side, Abel stressed a more aggressive, attack-style approach, relying on the front seven to stop the opponent’s run. Junior defensive end pair Tyler Somers and Matt Mazzatti will lead the line, while junior linebackers Danny Barrios and Mark Lopez back them up.
Wellington’s special teams will also have plenty to offer. Senior kicker Alex Ng will be putting his boot on the ball again this season. “Ng is a three-sport athlete and is one of the best kickers in Palm Beach County,” Abel noted.
Wellington will enter the season ranked 14 overall in the county and could surprise many this year. “We like being the underdog,” Abel said. “It helps the kids stay focused, and they’ll take care of business on the field.”
Abel attributes much of the team’s improved success to his squad’s commitment and the supporting coaching staff that has kept the young men on track on and off the field.
Wellington will host Olympic Heights High School in a kickoff classic game Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., and then travel to Santaluces for the regular season opener on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
ABOVE: WHS running back Kyle Branch carries the ball upfield.
