State of the Program: Wallington gearing up for new challenge
The story in Wallington last summer was the arrival of a new football coach.
The big news this year is the arrival of a new challenge.
The Panthers have bumped back into mainstream competition in the NJIC after moving from the Union Division (for struggling programs) to the Patriot Division. The timing may seem unusual after a 3-4 season, but coach Justin Avedissian likes the young core in place and the direction of the program. Participation is slightly up with the Panthers hoping to reach 40 players by September.
"The team seems to be growing," Avedissian said. "The program is growing. We have a full-time strength and conditioning coach being approved. We had a full offseason compared to last season when I got in so late. So things are definitely looking up."
When asked about the biggest change since he's taken over, Avedissian points to the culture. One of the things he's underscored is building consistent habits in practice and the need to make sacrifices to be successful. Sometimes that means re-scheduling a vacation or not going at all. It could mean having a freshman go up to a senior if the effort or technique is off.
All the little details can add up when you're one of the smallest schools on the Group 1 level.
"What I like about this team most and my assistant coaches feel the same way is there's really no ego on this team," Avedissian said. "Everybody holds each other accountable."
The tradition
This year is the 70th anniversary of Wallington's first football season. The Panthers have claimed three sectional title since then, including two in the modern playoff era (1990 and 2010).
Their two most common opponents are current division rivals Wood-Ridge and Park Ridge.
The challenge
Wallington needs to acclimate to a higher level of competition after finishing fifth in the NJIC Union. The Patriot is arguably the deepest division in the conference with three teams coming off winning seasons.
"Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not. Would a lot of coaches and programs have done it right now? Probably not," Avedissian said. "But that's how we feel we're going to advance our program and get to where we need to be over the next two years."
The perennial challenge for Wallington is being in a square-mile town where some of the best athletes play soccer. Success is predicated on doing more with less and relying on two-way players to hold up.
Expectations
This looks like a year to build for the future with a big sophomore class and a small group of seniors.
However, the Panthers still have a fair amount of experience with eight starters back on defense led by junior Matthew Sudol on the line.
Senior QB Filip Lyczko is back after throwing 13 touchdowns last year and slides from safety to corner on defense due to a teammate's ACL tear. The team's leading receiver has a new title as well with senior Dariel Gil Polanco shifting over to running back.
Avedissian has developed a better sense of personnel now after being hired last year in July.
"We're able to plan a little better based on their skillsets," Avedissian said. "I think everybody around the program feels like we're in a better spot compared to a year ago today."