Our 118th Season
Following an extremely difficult 2014 season, Coach Josh Ludwig and his team went to work in the weight room with the expressed purpose of “ringing the bell” in 2015, both in winter workouts and on the field during the upcoming season.
In the weight room, an antique fire alarm bell from old Central School would prove to be a challenge to surmount, letting out its clanging sound only when a deserving player was allowed to give a yank on the chain upon reaching his goal for the day.
The other bell, mounted on a large cart at Patterson Field, had not been heard since October 11, 2013 when the Potters defeated Bishop Warren 35-7. Talk about a lonely little petunia!
Coach Josh Ludwig quickly turned to holdovers from his 2014 coaching staff for assistance. These included: Alvin Thompson, Mike Crane, Jeff Wright, Maurice Brown, Bill Potts, Eric McMahon and Rick Davis to be joined in the spring by Andy Vulgamore and ELHS alum J.T. Thompson following his graduation from Waynesburg University. Gary Lutton and Jim Olmstead were also on board for limited roles.
Returning lettermen included: Ryan Bombich, Noah Shaw, Dakota Ice, David Locke, Jake Cornell, Aaron Bombich, Austin Morris, Charles Iacobucci, Tyler Milhoan, Ryan Tanner, Caleb McHenry, Kyle Walker, Danny Wells, Freddie Plum, Ryan Lilly, Austyn Dozier, Dillan Reynolds, Austin Mayfield, Zach Gill and Roger Lawson.
Winter workouts, with some variations including boxing and swimming, were carried out on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Passing scrimmages vs. Southern Local and United Local continued into the summer months culminating with a Saturday night campout on the shores of the Middle Beaver Creek on July 25.
Double sessions began on August 1st with the annual Blue and White game on August 12, followed by scrimmages on August 15th at Southern Local and August 20th at Crestview. The season was rapidly approaching.