Panther football looks to continue the trend of Centralia’s athletic success
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Centralia is looking to extend its trend of success with an eighth straight winning season.
The Panthers have been hard at work this offseason, impressing even their own head coach Tyler Forsee with how good they look. The team has come in ready to work, and is ahead of schedule for where the staff thought they could be.
"I'm hopeful that we are more polished than what we've been. So, you know, I feel like we are ahead [of schedule] because we're able to kind of fine tune up the smaller details that maybe make a big difference," Forsee said.
With the team already into the polishing stages, the team feels optimistic with what they could be capable of for the year ahead. But as coach Forsee puts it, everyone feels good at this stage, because nobody has lost yet.
Perhaps the biggest reason behind the team's offseason success has been the emergence of the new senior class, and their ability to seamlessly step into a leadership role.
"That was my big question going into the season was, 'how are we going to replace the seniors that we just had?' Because, we lost a tremendous group last year, they were talented, but they were great leaders," Forsee said. "But I've been very impressed with our seniors this year. Thus far, they've done a great job of, leading. You know, kind of how to do it, but also being vocal about it in a good way."
These returners have already started to act like 'on-the-field coaches' which is something that Forsee know will be a huge help once the season gets underway.
"In practice, I can kind of be out there and we can stop play and do corrected stuff. But, having guys like that out there on the field is like having another coach on the field. And that's a huge advantage if you got guys like that."
The Panthers are looking to follow up one of their best season's in the past decade after going 10-2 just one year ago. Even with expectations so high, Forsee says he tries his best not to let it get to him or the players, but with the recent athletic success that the school has had, its nothing that is new to them.
"We've had a lot of success lately, not just in football, but, you know, our cross country team just went back-to-back. Our wrestling team went back-to-back. Our boys track team just got a state banner. And, every sport that we have in the school year, one conference was ranked in the state or brought home a state banner. So, you know, that's a heck of a school year for us. And, you know, that's just kind of how it is."
Up Next - Centralia will open up its season on the road against Mexico. Kick off is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28.
