National Guard works Sweetwater out through summer’s first practice

Tommy Bunch Jr. wanted to make the first practice of the summer for Sweetwater football significant.

As the new head coach continues to try to establish the culture and conditioning of what he thinks can be a championship football team in Sweetwater, he knew there was a group of people who could help set the standard.

He reached out to members of the National Guard Armory outside of Sweetwater who came and facilitated the Wildcats’ workout on May 28.

“I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve our country and support our military. To have them come out and teach our guys the core values of the military — the values of teamwork, hard work, endurance and resilience,” Bunch said. “That means the world to me because I really feel like there are no better teachers. I think of people who are selfless and put others before themselves and serve the people of this country.

“I want the young men in our program to exemplify those traits too. For them to talk and be mentored by people in our armed services is really important to me.”

Senior Lucas Rockholt felt the effect, referring to the day as one of the hardest workouts he has had while those putting it on said it was on their easier end.

“We are setting a tone that we are back and are not going to be afraid to hit you in the mouth,” Rockholt said. “We are going to be a team that is going to prove a lot of people wrong after that disappointing season we had last year.”

With freshmen joining for the first time this offseason, Sweetwater reached 66 kids, splitting the group into six teams of 10 to 11 people running through three drills.

The teams competed in a sprint, drag and carry relay that saw them sprint 50 yards before carrying weights the same distance and ultimately pulling sleds.

They also relayed a medicine ball over their heads for 200 yards before a relay race intertwined with pushups and body-weight workouts.

By the end of the day, the final Wildcat finishing the relays found himself surrounded by each teammate, showered with encouragement and support.

“That is one of the things we wanted to accomplish and we felt like our team really got closer together over the competition,” Bunch said.

For Bunch and the staff, building the atmosphere has become one of the first pillars of the summer.

“Football is the ultimate team sport. No individual is going to accomplish anything in the game of football without his teammates,” Bunch said. “I feel like it is important in the summertime to put some of our kids in situations that they cannot be the most successful. That way they have to rely on their teammates and I feel like it creates a bond and a brotherhood on our team that otherwise we would not have.”

For Rockholt, his senior year brings the responsibility of helping to facilitate that.

“I believe it is my responsibility as a senior to show the underclassmen that because they are younger does not mean they cannot help out,” Rockholt said. “It felt good. It was good, as a senior, to see some of these freshmen coming up for their first practice.

“It was good to see them step up and try to compete.”

In his first practice since returning from baseball season, Rockholt was given the Leadership Award for his encouragement throughout the practice.

Ayden Steffa, a junior, was given the Resilience Award for how he handled the training. Sophomore Koby McCosh was given the Endurance Award for his work ethic, showing signs of commitment outside of practice.

The dead period starts June 24 and, by then, Sweetwater hopes to reach three pillars designated by the staff.

“By the time we get to the dead period, we want to have found our identity as a team and be working together towards a common goal,” Bunch added. “Secondly, we want to adopt this mentality of toughness and being physical on our football team. I think those are the two most important traits that a man can have and that a football player can have.

“We want to learn what the quality of hard work is. Our moniker is that the ‘standard is the standard.’The standard never changes and we want to be the guys to set that standard.”