There is more to soccer than football.
That’s the message new Ford manager Mike Sarkiewicz has been sending to his players since taking over in January.
The Falcons visited the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum for a team building experience this summer.
They toured the USS Edson and spent the night on a Vietnam-era destroyer. Their hosts included a man who served on a 418-foot vessel who was commended for her role in the evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon.
“It gives us the opportunity to be a little more empathetic with what’s going on in the world,” says Szalkewicz. “It was a great opportunity for our children to talk, reflect and understand some of the sacrifices made by those who came before us.”
Szalkiewicz, who played at Warren High School and coached as an assistant at De La Salle Collegiate, said “grit, passion and accountability” are the foundations of the Ford program, which has not won a regular season since 2015. Told.
“Everything we do is based on these three things,” says Szalkewicz.
His players feel the difference.
“It’s a whole new culture,” said senior running back/linebacker Victor Hitzelberger.
“It’s more energetic and exciting,” added senior receiver Nico Nunnally. “We all do things other than practice to build team chemistry.”
The MAC White Team’s offense is built around senior quarterback Luke Kameg, who had 606 passing yards, four touchdowns and three rushing runs last season.
“Luke is a pure athlete,” Sarkiewicz said of the player who was on Ford’s 2021 MAC White Championship baseball team.
“He’s a starter in his third year. It’s time for him to hit his stride as an upperclassman and be able to understand, manipulate, coordinate, direct and carry out this attack like a great composer.” That’s what we expect from him.”
Nunnally is one of the Falcons’ most experienced pass catchers.
“We have some receivers,” Szalkiewicz said. “We’re probably eight or nine deep there.”
Hitzelberger is part of what the coach said was a “committee” of running backs.
Senior tackle Ricardo Jackson is one of the leaders on defense. Andrew Miller, Gabe Hess, Jacob Brzezinski and Jake Austin will join him on the defensive and offensive lines.
Other teams to watch on both sides of the ball and special teams are Andrew Florence, Lorenzo Childs, Noah Rowland, Ryan Powers, Jacob Blanco, Josef Nurekai, Jack Nilsson, Drew Graves and Elijah Di. Falco, Caron Flowers, Diego Harden, Dylan Islow. , Hunter Witt, Michael Brown.
Ford went 3-6 last season and is now 1-6 in 2020.
“A lot of emotions have accumulated from years of losing,” Jackson said. “We have something to prove in the field.”
“I want to fix what happened in the last five or six years,” Kameg added. “I want to change that. I want a different outcome.”
Half of the six-team white division is new. Gros Pointe South, Reims Crews, Roseville replaced Anchor Bay, Reims Crews North, Warren Mott. The 2021 playoff teams were each rookie.
Kameg’s father, Eric, has known Sarkiewicz since they were both at Warren High School.
“My father told me he was an outspoken man,” said Luke Kameg. “He’s a great guy and works hard for us. We’ve seen improvement.
“He doesn’t mess around. It’s no fun if you play pranks.”
Szalkiewicz’s coaching mentors include the late Bud Doba from Warren’s era, and Paul Verska, Mike Giannone and Bob Schroeder from De La Salle’s era.
“Listen to everyone,” Sarkiewicz said. “You never know who will get the information that will help shape you.”
Giannone, now the coach of Anchor Bay, called Sarkiewicz an “excellent communicator”.
“He’s very organized,” said Giannone. “He is smart and very technical in all his teachings.”
Ford will start the season on August 25th at home to Temperance Bedford.
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