By Blake Chadwick
After Wilson High School closed a year ago, Sylvan-Lucas head coach Ben Labertew inherited five juniors who would be first-timers in his program.
The Mustangs were 7-2 a season ago, and now, with an undefeated start to the season, Labertew and his senior class of six have been seeing everything pay off.
“Coach Labertew coaches with an intensity that makes everyone want to work hard all the time,” senior Cade Brokes said. “He is extremely ‘football smart’ and has a personality that commands respect from others. In turn, he shows his players the same respect, and that makes me want to work all the harder.”
It wasn’t always easy, though, for the transfers and the coaches.
“Changing schools at the beginning of my Junior year meant that I had to learn a whole new playbook and a whole new football program,” Brokes said. “It was also at a time that I was an upperclassman and expected to show more leadership. The coaching staff and the other players were awesome and welcomed me and my other teammates right in and it has really made us a stronger and more competitive program.”
Labertew, who is in his 22nd year as head coach, has made sure they always play football his way, no matter who has been in his program.
“I’ve always enjoyed athletics and think they’re extremely important to culture within a school,” Labertew said. “Football strategy and game planning has always been one of my favorite parts of coaching.”
