Hatboro-Horsham looking to take next step for program
HORSHAM — Last year was all about progress.
With each week that passed, the Hatboro-Horsham football team was trying to get better that it was when it started that week. By the end of the season, there were signs that progress had started to take hold.
While this is still a program building itself up, the goal for the Hatters is to start taking the next step in its growth.
“Last year was a focus on steady improvement and I was proud of the team for accomplishing that,” third-year coach Mike Kapusta said. “The win-loss record is not what you want, but part of that is it can be motivation for this group as well. We want to build off of it and learn from our mistakes a year ago.”
The Hatters finished 2014 with a 3-9 record, compiling a 3-4 record in the SOL American. All three wins came in the second half of the season, and the Hatters were also involved in a couple of close loses during that span as well.
While none of the coaches or players were happy with the losses, being within a possession or two late in the game was still progress from the first few weeks of the campaign.
Hatboro-Horsham has a solid amount of talent back, with Kapusta estimating he likely has six starters on each side of the ball back. Casey Walsh returns under center with senior Kingsley Nworu anchoring the running back unit. In the trenches, senior Phil Pagliaro mans the center of the offensive line and a defensive tackle spot.
“Our thing is we try to forget about the past, so last year is last year,” Pagliaro said. “But we had some good momentum coming into this year. We’re doing a pretty good job so hopefully we can carry that onto the field.”
Kapusta is trying to build up the program and his veteran players understand its a process. Pagliaro said he knows it takes time and requires a lot of hard work, but he’s glad to have been part of setting the foundation.
Both Pagliaro and Nworu said they liked what they’ve seen out of their team so far but added there’s still plenty of work to do.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is a new year for us,” Nworu said. “We’re starting fresh and learning from the mistakes that we made at the beginning of last season and that we fixed by the end of last season. We’re going to try and put it all together and fix it right from the start.”
Top Photo: Hatboro-Horsham football players (from left) linebacker Jordan Mason,defensive end Luke Gehlhaus, quarterback Casey Walsh, center Phil Pagliaro, running back Kingsley Nworu and wide receiver Joe Lee group together for a photo after a practice at Hatboro-Horsham High School on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015. (Mark C Psorsas/The Reporter)
