After falling just short in recent seasons, Salina South senior center Armando Franco believes the Cougars have all the pieces in place to make a championship run this fall.
“The thing that I am most excited for the next football season is finally being able to put everything together,” Franco said. “It felt as if we were missing just a small piece in past years. However, this season we have everything put together and I am excited to show what the Salina South program has grown to.”
As one of the Cougars’ veteran leaders, Franco has embraced the responsibility that comes with helping lead a team with high expectations. A three-year starter and two-time all-league center, he has made leadership a priority throughout the offseason.
“One way that I have been wanting to improve on this season has been my leadership skills,” Franco said. “I lacked a little in that area and throughout this entire offseason I have been leading multiple player-led practices and player-led meetings, as well as holding others accountable for showing up to weights and practices.”
Franco has paired that leadership development with an intense offseason training regimen. Along with participating in Salina South’s strength and conditioning program, he has continued lifting outside of football, attended multiple camps and dedicated extra time to refining his footwork.
“This offseason, in order to prepare for this, I have been continuing my strength program outside of football,” Franco said. “Likewise, I’ve been to multiple camps, and I’ve also been doing footwork practice outside of everything to make sure my craft is perfect.”
That work has already translated into one of the state’s top offensive linemen. Franco allowed minimal pressure last season while earning second straight all-league honors at center. His dominance has also extended to the weight room, where he owns Salina South’s all-time squat record at 655 pounds and previously set the school’s 220-pound class squat record with a 590-pound lift.
Still, Franco believes his best football is ahead of him.
His individual goals include not allowing a sack all season while earning first-team all-state recognition and capturing a third consecutive all-league selection. More importantly, he wants to help Salina South make a deep postseason run.
“Some goals I have for myself this year is to not allow any sacks all season and also be first-team all-state,” Franco said. “A goal for the team is to dominate the playoffs and get a chance to play in the state championship.”
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