SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Football

Full preparation under new coach gives Valhalla optimism

by Joe Naiman

Last year Jason Ehlen inherited the head coaching position of
Valhalla High School's football team the week of the Norsemen's opening
game. This year Ehlen was able to lead the Norsemen in Spring practice
and a Summer team camp.

"We have all worked hard since the last game of last year to try to
upgrade our program," Ehlen said. "I feel like we've done just about
everything we needed to do to try to make some positive change."
The Norsemen finished the 2000 season with a 2-6-2 record and were
0-3-1 in Grossmont South League play. But Ehlen has implemented a
strength and conditioning program, and the team went to Fresno State
University for a team camp.

"I like what I see in this group. Better leadership, better senior
leadership, better work ethic. The guys have really bought into the
idea of team," Ehlen remarked. "There's just a much tighter bond
between coaches and players and really the entire Valhalla community."

The team concept can be disrupted when a significant segment of
players are lost to graduation, but Valhalla returns more than 20
players from last year's roster. Returning offensive starters include
quarterback Claye Cantwell, running backs Quentin Anderson and Joseph
Karagianes, wide receivers Kyle Howard and Mark Sickenger, tight end
Tyler Gaus (who was also an all-league punter last year), and linemen
Travis Angeles, Aric Hiebing, and Chris Stelmar. "There's a fair amount
of experience on the offensive side of the ball," Ehlen noted.
Returning defensive players include defensive end Zak Teisher,
linebackers Gaus, Greg Barta, and 2000 all-league player Bryan Smith,
and cornerbacks Anderson and Remington Baum.

In addition to promotions from last year's junior varsity squad,
the Norsemen will also have the services of tailbacks Antonio Parker and
Garrett Huffhines. Parker, who is a senior this year, is a transfer
from Virginia who arrived on campus too late for Spring ball but was
able to participate in the team camp. Huffhines, who is a junior, was
injured all of last year. "We feel that those two guys in the tailback
spot are going to be pretty solid," Ehlen said.

Defensive back Ryan Shelton graduated from Valhalla in June. "Ryan
was by far our best defensive player and was an impact player all over
the field," Ehlen noted.

Valhalla will also spend the 2001 season without junior tailback
Jason Hinton, who is still undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury
suffered during last year's West Hills game. "That definitely is a real
loss," Ehlen said.

Ehlen has set a goal of reaching the CIF playoffs this year. "I'm
excited to start fresh and really feel like I've had an entire year to
prepare as head coach," he remarked. "I look forward to what they're
going to do this season."

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws