The Intelligencer Journal – New Era sports article “Williams helps red-hot McCaskey sail past York High” reports the surprising news that “The team that had won one game over the previous two seasons is suddenly 2-0, its latest success a 45-14 smackdown of York Friday night, in which senior tailback Markeith Williams ran 21 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns.”
Obviously the players on the Tornado football team and first year coach Rob Monzon deserve much of the credit for a stunning return to competitiveness this year after a virtual decade of disappointing and even disastrous seasons.
There are at least two other heroes who go unnoticed.
One is Jon Mitchell, Athletic Director, who was engaged three years ago and who set forth a multi-year program to rebuild the dysfunctional athletic program. Mitchell has worked marvels with the selection and motivation of coaches and has brought a winning attitude to the athletic program.
The other is School District of Lancaster Superintendant Pedro Rivera who lost no time in bringing about changes when he arrived in Lancaster. He understood how detrimental teams that constantly lose were to the self esteem not only of the players but to the school population in general, many who come from circumstances which in themselves promote low self esteem.
Readers of long duration may recall the series of expose’ s that NewsLanc published concerning the abject neglect and dysfunction of the administration of the sports program from the school superintendant’s office down prior to the arrival of Rivera.
Perhaps the biggest challenge ahead for a winning season is whether the players can maintain adequate Grade Point Averages to retain their eligibility. This has been a big problem for the Tornados in past years.
