More experienced Warriors expect their share of victories

Posted: August 23rd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Back in 2020, the Wildwood High School football team broke a 47-game winless streak that had encompassed 5 ½ seasons with a win over Lindenwold.

Three years later, the Warriors are in such a better place.

So much so that the vibe around the program isn’t just to try to win a game or two. Now, the Warriors are stalking a winning season.

After going 3-6 last season and being competitive in a few of its losses, Wildwood, with a senior-laden group, feels it is in position to compete for one of the top places in the West Jersey Football League’s Horizon Division.

This isn’t a pipe dream, either. It’s a real goal.

Schalick, the defending champion, is the favorite. But there’s no reason to believe Wildwood can’t also be a contender in a division that also includes Bishop Eustace, Gloucester Catholic, Lindenwold and Riverside.

“I think we can be in there competing for one of the top spots in the division,” Wildwood coach Ken Loomis said.

Wildwood has some very good football players. Whether the team has enough good football players to overcome a lack of depth as the rigors of the long season progresses will be the challenge. Wildwood will suit up with about 30 players for its season opener at home against Cumberland on Thursday, Aug. 31.

“We’re looking to be productive and competitive again,” Loomis said. “When we play games, we have trouble against teams with a lot more size and depth. The problem is when we run out of depth and run out of gas in the third and fourth quarters. But I really think we can compete in all our games this year and win our share of them.”

The Warriors are led by their seniors, many of whom have been starters since their freshmen seasons. Three-sport standout Junior Hans drives the bus. He’s a dual threat to pass and run from the quarterback position, having completed 78 passes for 718 yards and five touchdowns while also running for six touchdowns. He also led the team in tackles with 42 from his defensive back position. 

“He was a first team all-star at quarterback in our division last year and we expect him to be even better this year,” Loomis said. “Our whole offense runs through him. He’s our guy.”

Other top seniors include WR/DB Ryan Troiano (21 receptions, 30 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries), WR/LB James Wyers (15 receptions, 30 tackles) and WR/LB Harley Buscham (11 receptions), all of whom, like Hans, are three-sport athletes.

“Besides Junior, those are the next big three for us offensively, and even on defense and special teams, too, because those guys will never come off the field,” Loomis said.

Up front, the Warriors are led by senior Niko Kalogeris, and junior Nate Wolf, both returning two-way returning starters. Other returnees along the lines who started on one side of the ball or were in the rotation last season include seniors Hamdane Kaced and Kevin McGee, junior Nick Kroesche and sophomores Eric Jordan and Liam Carmel.

Juniors Brian Ortiz (RB/LB) and Thomas Rios (RB/LB) are expected to get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield.

Others expected to start or contribute extensively include seniors Gabe Rossett (WR/LB), Karl Abbatiello (OL/DL) and Christian Ortiz (WR/DB), sophomore Justice Santiago (WR/DB) and freshmen Trevor Troiano (WR/DB) and Gianni Troiano (WR/DB).

The Warriors expect to compete well in 2023.

“With our experience, depth and the schedule we play, we really thought last season and this season was a two-year window for us to be really competitive,” Loomis said. “We won three games last year and we felt we should have had at least four (wins), so this is a year where we feel we can be at least .500, if not better.”

Loomis’s assistant coaches are Casey Dillon, Chris Chobert, Kevin Atkinson, Dale Ridgway, Kevin McGee and Tom Higgins.