RHS is loaded with experience
WEST LAFAYETTE – Ridgewood High School’s varsity football team will start the 2016 season with a roster packed full of experience.
“We have 18 seniors and a lot of them have been starting since they were sophomores,” said Head Coach John Slusser.
Those seniors are Braeden Smith, Nate Thompson, Trent Harrison, Javon Merrill, Bryce Hains, Blake Hamilton, Rayven Davidson, Kasey Bethel, Keith Leindecker, Kevin Bethel, Caleb Bowman, Michael Kelley, Jhett Slusser, Kyle Bethel, Hunter Davis, Abram Buckler, Kaden Edie and Luke Kerr.
This is Slusser’s 12th season leading the Generals who finished last year 10-2.
“We have a good program top to bottom,” he said. “It’s set up really well and that goes back to the 70s when Russ Ashkettle got it off the ground. We’ve been in good shape since then and the head coaches after him have just had to keep it going and not ruin it.”
Slusser said this year’s team doesn’t just feature one great player, but instead a lot of really good ones.
“We have tough kids, fast kids and big kids,” he said. “It’s a really nice mix, but with experience sometimes comes being lackadaisical. We can’t get complacent and think we have it all figured out.”
Ridgewood plays in the Inter-Valley Conference, which includes East Canton, Garaway, Malvern, Newcomerstown, Sandy Valley, Strasburg and Tuscarawas Central Catholic.
“The league should be pretty good this year,” Slusser said.
The Generals open their season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at Buckeye Trail, who replaces Bellaire on their schedule. Their first home game will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 against Waynedale.
“Our goal for the season is to win them all,” Slusser said.
Category: High School, Multimedia, Photo Galleries, Sports
