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Wednesday, November 8, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Wessel leads Sisters all-league honors Young Outlaws build
football program
By Rongi Yost
Correspondent
The Sisters High School
football squad had 14 players
named to all-league teams this
season. Senior Brady Wessel
had an exceptional year, and
was named first-team all-
league on both offense and
defense.
Wessel earned first-team
recognition as a guard on
offense and on the defen-
sive line. Brady has been a
four-year varsity player and
a mainstay on the Outlaws’
squad.
“Brady is one of the hard-
est workers I’ve ever seen,
and not just in practice,” said
Coach Neil Fendall. “He
always puts in extra work
outside. He combines great
technique with good physical
ability.”
Austin Lake and Jake
Stevens (seniors) were also
first-team picks on offense;
Austin at tight end and Jake at
running back. Lake is a two-
year varsity player and very
athletic for his approximate
6'1" and 240-pound size. Jake
has also played varsity for
two years.
“Austin improved tremen-
dously on his blocking ability
throughout this year,” said
Fendall. “Jake has speed and
creativity. On plays where
there may not be much there,
he can make a good play, and
he’s tough to catch once he
gets going.”
Seniors Jaden Condel and
Christopher “Pherry” Luz
were named second-team
offense. Jaden earned the
recognition at tackle and Luz
at wide receiver. Jaden has
played on the varsity squad
for three years, and Pherry for
two.
“Jaden is a perfectionist
and highly committed to mak-
ing himself a better player,”
stated Fendall. “He’s very
sound in both his assignments
and technique.”
By Jim Cornelius
Editor
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Four-year varsity player Brady Wessel earned all-league honors on both
offense and defense.
Luz only played in two
league games due to a con-
cussion, but coaches remem-
bered his strong junior sea-
son last year. Pherry is a very
explosive player and is very
difficult to catch.
Joel Miller (senior)
rounded out the offense as
honorable mention. Miller
was recognized at the guard
position on offense and was
also a second-team pick at
defensive line.
“Joel’s strength has always
been his size (approximately
5'10' and 250 pounds), and
athletic ability,” said Fendall.
“This year he improved so
much, in both his assignment
and technique.”
In addition to Brady
Wessel, Jett Mingus (first-
year varsity) and Ethan
Morgan (second-year var-
sity) were first-team all-
league picks on defense. Jett
was named first-team inside
linebacker and Ethan was
selected at outside linebacker.
Of the duo, Fendall said,
“Jett plays with great passion
and with a great motor. He is
always going, going, going.
Ethan is a very good learner
and a steady player.”
In addition to Joel Miller,
Jaden Condel, Tyler Friend,
and Korbin Sharp were all
second-team selections.
Miller was selected defensive
line, Condel at inside line-
backer, and Friend and Sharp,
both at defensive back.
Fendall said, “Inside line-
backer is a natural position for
Jaden. Tyler is an exceptional
all-around athlete in terms of
size, speed, and strength. This
year he was way better at the
contact side of the sport being
physical and tough. Korbin
(6' and 180 pounds) showed
speed and quickness. He
plays the ball really well, both
anticipating and catching.”
Ethan Morgan rounded
out the all-league selections
as honorable-mention punter.
“Ethan had the strength
and ability to angle the punt
and prevent the returner from
getting the ball,” said Fendall.
“I’m really proud of how
this group handled adversity
throughout the year,” com-
mented Fendall. “They dealt
with a lot of injuries and
stuck together. We have a lot
of seniors (19), so it will be
a tough class to replace. This
class helped continue build-
ing a culture of accountability
and hard work, and we hope
future classes will emulate the
same kind of work ethic.”
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Young athletes in 7th and
8th grade learned football
fundamentals — and deeper
lessons — in a 3-3 season
that wrapped up last month.
“The kids did really, really
well,” said Coach Casey
Moore.
Though smoke conditions
delayed some practices and
a conditioning program, the
squad found good conditions
through the entire season.
“It was all nice weather,”
Moore said. “We didn’t play
in the rain once.”
Like the junior varsity
program, the 7th/8th-grade
football program is designed
to be a part of a consistent
Outlaws football philosophy
and structure. “We’re doing
that from fifth grade all the
way through high school,”
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7th- and 8th-grade Outlaws are building the foundation for their football
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Moore said.
Players are taught consis-
tent technique, including an
emphasis on safe tackling to
avoid injury — especially
head injuries.
Moore said it is impos-
sible to narrow the season
down to a few highlights. As
a coach, he loved it all.
“Being asked to do this by
(Outlaws Head Coach Neil)
Fendall gave me a lot of joy,”
he said.
For Moore, what happens
on the field and in practice is
about a lot more than a win-
loss record. It’s about a lot
more than football.
“Football,” he said, “is
just a gateway for these kids
to become great young men.
It’s not always about football,
winning or losing; it’s about
life lessons that you can take
to the bank the rest of your
life.”
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