‘Gritty’ West Holmes football seniors have endured plenty
Hayden Smith (51) and Morgan Eastep (66) are two of the West Holmes football team’s 11 seniors.
When thinking about this year’s senior class, the word grit comes to West Holmes football coach Keaton Leppla’s mind.
Leppla, in his first year as head coach at his alma mater, has seen his 11 seniors adapt to and overcome a lot over the past nine months.
“Whenever they found out they were getting a new head football coach, from that time, they’ve just been gritty,” Leppla said. “They’ve just gone to work, whether it’s in their lifting class, to waiting to find out who their new head coach is, to when we started our offseason program. These guys have done nothing but work. They’ve continued to fight. This is a group of fighters.”
Leppla said the senior class should be closer to 15, but a few of them decided not to come out for the team this year. He said it’s a testament to those who stuck with the program through the coaching change.
“With something new coming in, it’s very easy to say, ‘I’m not ready to start over. I don’t want to start from the ground and start back over,’” Leppla said. “For those guys to come out and learn a new system and be taught a different culture, it shows their commitment to this community, to the school district and to this program. Our relationship has grown.
“It’s a special group to me because it’s my first senior class, but it’s also one of the more fun groups to be around.”
Leppla has seen the group grow as leaders throughout the season.
“They’ve led by example and in a positive way, holding others and themselves accountable,” he said.
Leppla said the senior class has taught him and his coaching staff a lot about themselves, helping them improve as people.
“My goal is that we’ve taught them enough life lessons, as well as football, that they’ll carry on in the next generation when they get married and have kids,” he said. “I know they’ve made me a better coach. They’ve made me a better husband. They’ve made me a better dad.
“I’m really thankful for them. My hope is that we’ve done our jobs and helped them, not only this year in football and if they go play college football, but just in life.”