The 2024 Cypress High School football team is extremely young, with several sophomores starting. The many coaches and players are working to do the best they can to bring home the win. Football consumes the players’ minds to the point that they doodle footballs on their papers. Each player dedicates every free minute to learning the plays that week and reviews film on their upcoming opponent.
Senior Matthew Baldonado, who plays defensive back and wide receiver, said, “All day goes to football. We watch film during lunch, after school, and when we get home. Then we go and practice on the field and don’t get out of practice until about six.” The players spend so much time on football, even coming in to review Friday’s game on Saturday. The players and coaches also sacrifice their summers to practice. Senior quarterback Keiran Edmundson informing that, “After school ends, we have two weeks off then go straight into practice, so it’s basically a year-round game.” “The summer practices are hard work but I like to do them because it makes you better,” said sophomore Mekaih Felix, who plays wide receiver. Head coach Rick Feldman said, “I’m going to try and prepare our guys the best we can, and I just want them to play as hard as they can every play.” The coaches do the best they can to make the players ready, and as long as every guy plays their best, the coaches are proud of them.
Football requires sacrifice from both the players and coaches. Sophomore Jaiden Anthony, who plays defensive back, running back, and receiver, said, “I know the stuff I’m missing and know what I’m sacrificing, but just remind myself to keep working.” Anthony is hoping to get a sports scholarship for college. He and the other athletes diligently work to find the delicate balance between sports, school, and social life. The coaches “sacrifice just as much, if not more, than the players. I spend all weekend and all week working as the defensive coach to put everything together,” said Cypress High School teacher and defensive coach Jeffery Crooks. Feldman stating that “I’m here Saturday and Sunday from the time the season starts until the time the season ends.”
The time spent together creates a close-knit family environment. “I think we’re definitely really close and as the season goes on, we’re constantly facing adversity together, and Friday’s game is a lot to go through, so you really get a bond with your boys,” said sophomore receiver and safety Matthew Rodriguez. Head Coach Feldman hopes that making them “better people will make them better teammates.” That approach working to build a cohesive team.
The team needs everybody working together in order to succeed. “For example, if the offensive line doesn’t block, then the quarterback can’t throw a pass; if the offensive line doesn’t block, then the running back can’t run the ball,” said linemen coach, Bobby Archuleta. However, there are some guys that have had a standout season so far, with Coach Feldman naming, “Bryson Busbee (Junior) as running back, Tyler White (Senior) as linebacker, Matthew Baldonado (Senior) at defensive back, Logan Kennedy (Senior) and Mekaih Felix (Sophomore) as receivers, Xavier Guerrero (Sophomore) and Keiran Edmundson (Senior) as quarterbacks, Kyree Lewis (Senior), Aaron Lamyuen (Senior), and Shane Puffert (Senior) on the offensive line, Garrison Manzanarez (Sophomore), and Chasen Sparks (Senior) has had some big moments on defense and offense.” Defensive back coach Dan Falt also noticed that “Chasen Sparks has been really good, he’s a leader on the defense; Matthew Baldonado is another leader on the defensive.”
The coaches recognize all the effort that every player has been putting in since they joined football. The players also recognize all the work the coaches put in. “I appreciate every single coach and what they’ve done for us so far and what they’re going to keep doing for us. They always try to put us in the positions to win and have success so we’re really fortunate to have so many good coaches here at Cypress,” said Rodriguez.
