By TYLER HENRY
JC Post contributor
After a disappointing 1-6 season the Wakefield Bombers have restocked and are ready to continue rebuilding in 2022.
“As a program, we feel like we’re on the uptick,” 14th-year head coach Chris Freeman said. “We competed well but struggled to finish out games last year partially due to our numbers. This year we have more guys out and we have a small but good group of seniors and some really good athletes here.”
An expanded roster will open up more opportunities to improve throughout the season, and the Bombers are excited to take their practices to the next level.
“The experience that our young kids have gained and the leadership within our team is our strength this season,” Freeman said. “We also have enough guys to get better quality looks in practice and that makes all the difference.”
Wakefield will return several key starters from last year’s team, including sophomore quarterback Kobe Wendt who led the team in both passing and rushing last season.
“Kobe has matured a lot and he’s grown physically in the offseason,” he said. “His maturity not just on the field but as a young man has come a long way and he’s a great athlete, you love having kids like that. He can manage mistakes but he’s also realizing that he has some really good guys around him and that he doesn’t have to do everything.”
Wendt will be joined in the Bombers backfield by freshman Kingsley Smith, who should add a downhill, contact-seeking dynamic to the Wakefield offense.
In the trenches seniors Connor Ward and Braelund Silversmith will anchor the O-Line while Noah Freeman and Micah Wendt slot in at tight end.
“We’d love to run power at teams with our size up front but we’ve got some athletes who can spread it out and a quarterback that can really throw it this year too,” Freeman said.
On defense, the Bombers will look to take a big step forward after allowing 50 or more points in over half of their games last year.
“We want our defense to be physical and disciplined,” he said. “Our guys aren’t flashy but they have good speed. We’ve struggled with coverage in the past but I think we’ll be a lot better there and we’re hoping we can stay aggressive and generate some turnovers.”
The defensive front will be led by Noah Freeman and Micah Wendt, backed up by Kingsley Smith and Braelund Silversmith at linebacker.
In the secondary, Kyler Deville will assume the “monster” position while Kobe Wendt and Wyatt Uken slot in at corner.
While many teams in Wakefield’s position would grow impatient, the veteran leaders in the Bomber's locker room have taken a slow and steady approach to rebuilding the program.
“Our seniors are a humble group and they want to win games to build for the future,” Freeman said. “We know we’re not competing for a state title this year but we want to build on the successes that we have had. We want to finish games and we want to be pouring concrete all season for our younger guys to be able to build on later.”
Wakefield will open their 2022 campaign on September second when they host a Herington Railers team fresh off an 0-7 campaign.
For more on Bombers football all season long stay tuned to the JC Post.