Mustangs go through traditional first day workout
Published 9:45 am Monday, August 5, 2019
- Van Wade/Orange Leader WO-S head coach Cornel Thompson briefs the Mustangs in the baseball stands about expectations for the season before the Mustangs first workout of the season Monday morning.
Local high school football teams conquered the heat Monday for the first official day of practice.
Over at West Orange-Stark, the Mustangs will be on a quest for their 10th straight district title as they will look to carry on a great tradition.
The Mustangs have reached at least the Class 4A Region III Division II Finals the last eight years under the guidance of head coach Cornel Thompson plus a run to four straight Class 4A Division II State Championship Games from 2014-2017 with two state titles in 2015-2016.
WO-S returns four starters on each side of the ball off a 9-5 District 10-4A Division II title team that advanced to the Region III Finals.
“We had a tremendous turnout this summer and for the most part, the guys have come in here in pretty good shape,” said Thompson, who is entering his 49th year of coaching. “It’s mostly about conditioning this first week. As far as conditioning goes, we’re looking good except for a lineman here and there.”
The Mustangs met in the baseball stands for Coach Thompson’s traditional annual pep talk and rules talk and then they hit the weight room. Then they went out and braved the brutal stands of Hooks Stadium before getting a little break and hitting the field.
Coach Thompson, who sports an amazing 100-17 record as the head coach, liked the numbers that the Mustangs had on the first day.
“We have about 60 to 65 kids that we consider varsity and junior varsity players,” said Thompson. “We’re happy with the freshman level too. We have about 25 freshman here on the first day, the most we’ve had it awhile. Hopefully we can field a freshman team the entire season and get those youngsters some experience.”
The Mustangs will have their media day for their football program and mugshots on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.
The Mustangs have two scrimmages set with Port Neches-Groves and Vidor. WO-S will host PN-G Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. on their new turf and will visit Vidor on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
WO-S will open its 2019 campaign on the road Aug. 30 at Nederland.
The Mustangs will look to navigate through six non-district games before they open up District 10-4A Division II play on the road in a big matchup against Silsbee.
