As students and family members of the Stillwater District relax in the heat and comfort of the summer break, Stillwater Area High Schools Ponies have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming fall season. The teams' spirits are high, as Team Captains and players alike work side by side in summer training to be the best they can be. This summer consisted of intense training and physical conditioning with players counting down the days till practice. 

After last year's defeat in the 2020 playoffs, the team is striving to make a smashing debut at their first game against Centennial. Their first game takes place on September 2nd, 2021, following the students' first week back at SAHS. Many players feel the pressure of the upcoming game. 

Team Captain and Senior Jayden Leach explained that while Centennial does present a threat, he is confident that the Ponies will bring a fight.

The Ponies have been training all summer, combining a mix of player-led cardio, and weight-training, followed by 2-a-day practices with Coaches. The team utilized the training provided to them at the P.A.C, the training facility at SAHS. This training is managed by seasoned coaches that lead the team, including Head Coach Beau LaBore, Coach Mike Weiss, Coach Jason Caballero, ETS Gym Trainer David Pothen, and ETS Gym Lead Trainer Derrick Schmidt. 

“These guys have pushed us to work hard every day, and they are going to continue to do that this fall. They are pushing us hard. It’s good,” stated Leach

These players' summer has not just been preparation for the fall. Many have been working with young Stillwater students in the Pony Youth Camp, a summer program that teaches third to sixth graders the basics of football. The program consists of drills and training practices taught by current players to aspiring young athletes. 

“We teach them some of our drills and some of the warm-ups that we and the Varsity do,” explained Leach, when some of the previously mentioned athletes passed by the weight-training room. 

Fellow Team Captain Eddie O’Keefe added, “We just teach them football, then they get to play some razzle-dazzle football, a little bit. It is always fun for them to do stuff with us.” 

Equally as important as training, team dynamics are essential to the function of a team. Without teamwork and trust, a football team is in serious trouble. In an article published by the University of Notre Dame, team dynamics is defined as “...psychological forces influencing the direction of your team's performance and behavior. Those dynamics are created by the personalities involved and how they interact.” 

Team Captains Conner McCormick and O’Keefe feel that the team dynamics are stronger than ever, stating “it has been really exciting… bonding well and getting along.”

“We’re trying to treat it like a family this year… I think our chemistry is going to be great,” said Leach. 

As summer break slips away and students begin to pack their bags for the upcoming school year, the Ponies football team eagerly awaits the approaching football season. Weeks of practice and anticipation have pushed these young men to perform at their highest level, leaving many confident of their future. “Our goal is to have a winning season. We are trying to be the best team we can be…” finished McCormick.