Seniors ready to lead Rondout
Ganders putting emphasis on rushing game, improving on defense
A senior-laden Rondout Valley High squad is aiming to make some noise in Section 9, Class B football this year.
The Ganders have 11 seniors, including five who make up the core of the team: Matt Kelly (quarterback/defensive back), Tyler Tomlin (running back/defensive end), Austin Wells (fullback/linebacker), plus Lukas Poremba and Dallas Romaguera, who are both receiver and defensive backs.
“We are senior-laden. We are going to draw on that experience, use that to help get us through. Our perimeter guys are all experienced, I feel we have good size and we have speed,” said new Ganders coach Chris Frenza.
A Rondout alum, Frenza was the junior varsity coach before going over to New Paltz last season. He returns to take over for Bob Koonz, who guided the team to a 2-7 record and a berth in the B playoffs.
“We’re excited to have him back,” Tomlin said. “We really missed him. He’s a great coach and we enjoy having him around.”
Added Wells, “We need to work on a lot of things but, so far, we’ve been looking pretty
good.”
Rondout opens the season Saturday, Sept. 1, with a 2 p.m. home game against Onteora.
“We have good-sized kids at those positions,” said Frenza, noting Romaguera (6-foot-3), Wells (60, 195 pounds) and Tomlin (5-10, 185). Throw into that mix returning junior lineman Isaiah Jones (6-0, 260).
Serving as New Paltz’s offensive coordinator gave Frenza a unique perspective of his alma matter. The Huguenots played and defeated Rondout twice, including in the Class B quarterfinals.
“It definitely gave me an opportunity to look at Rondout through a fresh lens, an opponent’s lens,” he said. “I wanted to really evaluate their personnel and really evaluate what was going on on both sides of the football. When I came in here, I took a look at the last two years of Rondout football and where we needed to focus,”
That has led to an emphasis on running the ball and defense, which allowed
36 points a game in 2017.
A pair of solid linebackers in Wells and sophomore newcomer Curtis Cafiero look to anchor a defense that is now run by coach Greg Jones.
“We got pretty much everybody returning, a couple of new kids, but they can pull their weight,” Wells said.
“We have a lot of returning juniors who are now seniors this year,” Tomlin noted. “We may not be as big, but I can say we’re just as fast, just as talented as any other team.”
Matt Kelly takes over for Ben Hikade at quarterback. Kelly filled in and threw for 112 yards in a early-season game against Liberty, which rallied to defeatedf Rondout 21-20.
“He had an opportunity last year at Liberty and played a great game,” Frenza said. “He has everything that we need in a quarterback. He can throw that short route and, most importantly, he can run the football. He’s definitely got possession receivers. We’re excited for him to have this opportunity.”
With Spencer Sands graduated, Wells — who ran for two touchdowns and also had a 62-yard interception return for another
score in that Liberty loss — will be in the backfield with Tomlin and sophomore newcomer Chris Ferrari.
“They are my primary runners,” Frenza said. “I’m loving what I’m seeing out of Tyler, and I can’t wait to give him the rock.
“The key is going to be whether we can jell our offensive line together to create the running game.”
Also returning are seniors Sean Jansen (defensive back/receiver), Aidan Kniceley (fullback/defensive end), Jack Nolterieke (linebacker/receiver), Maximos Sadow (lineman) and Tim Shaw (lineman).
Newcomers include senior Joe Frey (defensive end/receiver) and juniors Jett Capson (defensive back/receiver), Anthony Ermo (lineman), Caiden Frey (defensivbe back/receiver), Joshua Moore (lineman), Jouis Olivieri (defensive back/receiver), Sam Serrano (defensive back/ fullback), Omelyan Shuhan (kicker), Taevyn Reese (lineman), Dominic Carlucci (lineman) and Paul DeGraff (lineman).
“I have a lot of confidence in our team,” Tomlin said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if we stay true to ourselves, then I
think we can really push forward for the playoffs.
“That’s the ultimate end goal,” he said. “I really have faith in my team for sticking together. We’ve been bonding a lot and I think family is the biggest part to becoming a team and lead us into our end goal.”
Said Wells, “Going into my senior season, I want to go all the way as everybody else does on this team.Honestly, if we play the way we know we can play, we’ll have no problem getting there.”
Class B will be tough territory. This year it includes defending champion Marlboro, 2017 Class C champ John S. Burke Catholic and Port Jervis, which reached the Class A finals last year.
“We’re going to come out and do our best,” Frenza said. “I think we can compete, even where we are. I like our chances with the guys we have but, with B, you got to come ready to play.”
SCHEDULE
SEPT. — 1, ONTEORA, 2 p.m.; 8, at Dobbs Ferry, 1:30 p.m.; 14, at O’Neill, 6:30 p.m.; 22, MONTICELLO, 1:30 p.m.; 28, at Highland, 7 p.m. OCT. — 6, at Ellenville, 2 p.m.; 13, PORT JERVIS, 1:30 p.m.; 20, MARLBORO, 1:30 p.m.