By HAILEY CHAPMAN
The two-time defending champions of the MIAA are concluding their annual team camps throughout the course of this week.
The 11-man team camp was June 9 to 11, while the eight-man camp will take place today through Saturday at Lewis Field Stadium, where players within varsity and junior varsity levels can train alongside coaches and players on the FHSU football team.
Within the team camps, participants will partake in one-on-ones, scrimmages and games all guided by coaches and current Tiger football players. Each team is able to compete against others their age, allowing them to grasp where they stand prior to the season starting.
According to Chance Fuller, a sophomore quarterback, the team camps are a great opportunity for teams to bond with one another, as well as get pointers from some of the greatest coaches in the state — including MIAA Coach of the Year, Chris Brown.
The Tiger football team assists with set-up and tear down, as well as film and reffing. But campers are most eager to gain advice from some of the best players in the state as they follow their dreams of playing college football.
“It is very beneficial for the players because they learn from our coaches, and they get a chance to prove they are worthy to play for us,” Fuller said.
The individual prospect camp begins June 22, where high-school athletes can train and get exposure alongside college coaches and athletes. While both team camps are already underway, the $25 pre-registration is due today, while the $35 registration after this date will begin at 9 the morning of June 22. The individual prospect camp begins at 10 a.m. and will conclude at 2 p.m.
At this camp, participants can expect a day in the life of a Fort Hays football player. Athletes are pushed to their limits, running through drills and gaining position-specific pointers throughout the day.
For some, it is their first experience with what being a Tiger really means. Coaches instill their expected work ethic, values and priorities that can be expected out of an NCAA Division II program.
However, the camp is not just for a Division II program, but rather the best program in the MIAA. Athletes are given the chance to be seen by a top-tier program, and likewise, coaches are able to watch each individual to see who they think can represent the future of FHSU football.
Working alongside the campers is senior defensive linemen Kiel Simas. Simas pointed out the importance of the camps, especially for juniors and seniors. While it is beneficial to building skills, it is even more beneficial to building their character.
“I’ve learned that you’re not always going to be in the limelight. You really have to work to get the attention you want. Put in the work now, so it pays off later,” Simas said.
Coaches at this level are looking for athletes who are dedicated to the team and to their future. This means being a team player — putting in the work in the classroom before even being granted an opportunity on the field.
“You can be the best football player on this planet, but if you can’t make your grades or get along with your teammates and coaches, they won’t even bother taking a chance on you,” Simas said.
In 2018, the Tigers held their place as the reigning conference champs for the second straight season. The team graduated six key players: Jacob Mezera, quarterback; Wyatt Parker, defensive lineman; Doyin Jibowu, safety; Connor Shedeed, safety; Jose Delgado, linebacker; and Malik Young, defensive line. Losing those valuable athletes gives younger players the opportunity to show what they are capable of amongst teammates.
Junior offensive lineman Amari Angram said coaches are specifically looking for “dudes.”
“Fierce competitors, tough guys, coachable kids and, most importantly, natural leaders,” Angram said.
Angram emphasized the importance of picking up more “dudes” for the defense in order to continue the Tigers’ reign as conference champs. Even more so, the Tigers have their eyes set on a bigger goal — a national championship.
The seasoned team is looking for its first national championship in program history after the last two historic years under head coach Chris Brown. Brown has turned the program around, starting his coaching career in 2011 with a 4-7 record. Each year, the team progressed and made milestones within the MIAA.
In 2016, the Tigers were champions in the Heart of Texas Bowl, with an 8-4 season record. In 2017, the Tigers were the undefeated conference champions, boasting an 11-0 record and making it to the second round of the NCAA playoffs.
Tight end Matt Wendelberger has proven himself to be influential in the Tiger offense, as well as the weight room and classroom.
As a senior this year and in his fourth year at Fort Hays, Wendelberger has been along for the ride as the Tigers have dramatically improved. Starting his freshman year, he experienced losing a bowl game, taking the Heart of Texas bowl, and then finally back-to-back conference championships.
He said the biggest motivator, however, has been the team experiencing losses in the playoffs two years in a row.
“The work we are putting in daily has shown progress, shown that it works. We hold a grudge, and the losses fuel us to continue the program’s success,” Wendelberger said.
“In past years, a national championship has only been something we would dream of. But now, it’s within reach. It’s completely in our hands how far we go.”
With the constant progress, the Tigers can see the championship on the horizon. The team’s hard work is aimed at one goal: becoming champions.
Fellow senior and Hays native Hayden Kreutzer shares the same motivation as Wendelberger.
“When we came in, Fort Hays was a lower-tier team in the conference and over the years, improved to being the powerhouse,” Kreutzer said.
Both Wendelberger and Kreutzer entered the program their freshman year, with Fort Hays coming off an average season with plenty of losses to overcome. Having experienced the heartbreak, they are even more motivated to be the top dogs.
“We have seen what it takes to win a conference, but it’s no longer a goal — it’s an expectation. Our sights are set on a national championship, and we know the steps we have to take to get there,” Kreutzer said.
The 2019 season begins Sept. 5 at Central Missouri. Historically, the Tigers have won six of 16 contests against the Mules, but have proven dominant in recent years.
A passionate and motivated leader on the team, Kreutzer said the Tigers are prepared.
“We want to be not only a conference defender, but a national powerhouse,” he said.
Pictures provided by Allie Schweizer.