The Warriors had a tough football season, ending with a record of 0-10. It was often frustrating to watch from the stands as each game slipped out of reach, and although there was a loyal group of students who always travelled with the team, the size of the loyal Westwood crowd diminished at each game. What the fans saw was a disappointing season, but to the team, this was yet another season to build bonds while having fun and learning from their mistakes.

None of the players felt discouraged by the outcome of the season. The boys didn’t forget why they started playing and what kept them going during a rough season.

“My brother played [football] growing up,” quarterback Jack Swensen ‘16 said, “so I just grew up watching him, and then when seventh grade came around I decided I was going to just signup and play, and since then I have fallen in love with the sport.”

Russell Stout ‘17 and Garrett Aylor ‘18 also had a family history of football and felt it was only natural that they continue the sport.

“I’ve always played football since I was five years old,” Stout said. “My dad played, my grandfather played – it’s just a tradition we’ve had in our family, so it wasn’t really a decision. It was obvious I was going to do what my dad does and what my grandparents did.”

Speaking about the overall football experience, the players felt grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so big/substantial.

“The fact that every Friday night the school band and a large portion of our students come out to cheer us on is something extremely special and one of a kind,” Max Zhao ‘16 said. “It’s almost euphoric when you run out of the tunnel and the band is blaring music and the fans are screaming.”

Mason Hernandez ‘16 echoed Zhao’s thoughts and called the experience an honor.

“Coach Wood told us that some people had never played Texas-level football – 6A, the highest level of high school football they could play,” Hernandez said, “and I just feel honored to do that, to be able to play on a varsity football team and just have fun and enjoy it as much as I can.”

Despite maintaining a positive outlook, the team still felt the effects of having a winless season.

“It was fun, but it was fun and not fun at the same time,” Te’shon McGinnis ‘17 said. “I expect much greater things for next season and a lot more wins because we’re going to be working hard.”

“This season in general obviously wasn’t the best season for us,” Rutger Worden ‘16 said, “but I feel like I definitely got to know my teammates better and got to know our coaches and created bonds that I’ll never forget.”

The sophomores and juniors are looking to use this past season as a transitioning point for future seasons.

“I feel like it’s part of the process,” Adnan Jaber ‘17 said, “and hopefully it will help us build and get good enough to make playoffs next year.”

Will Jennings ‘18 wasn’t necessarily happy with this season, but he took it as an opportunity to learn for his upcoming seasons as a Warrior.

“I feel like we could’ve done better,” Jennings said, “but I feel like it was more of a learning season than it was an actual winning season, so you could say it was more of a rebuilding, getting everybody prepared for the coming seasons.”

Most of the players felt grateful to have been given the chance to make amazing friends and memories.

“Football’s such a team sport, the camaraderie and all the friendships and bonds you create with all your teammates – you can’t trade it for the world,” Swensen said. “It’s just one of the most satisfying experiences ever just to be able to have that relationship with all your teammates.”