Football, 6-5, faced early challenges and setbacks this season. But through grit, teamwork, and resilience, they came up as league champions, with a 5-0 record in league play.

Senior Tate Evarts, a captain alongside seniors Noah Devlin and Nathan Santacruz, credited each player’s hard work, adaptability, and determination for their success.

“We had a lot of adversity in the beginning of the year, and we grew as a team,” he said.

The Gondos found their identity later in the season, making big strides after a tough start. 

“We won 5-0 in our league, and that shows a lot of improvement,” he said. “It shows a lot of heart from all the guys. We really wanted it, and we were working hard all offseason, getting ready for this season. So I’m proud of everybody.”

Assistant Coach Ignatius Porchia Junior agreed, highlighting the team’s journey of self-discovery and development.

“Early in the season, we were really learning about ourselves. We lost a lot of starters, and many guys had to step into new, prominent roles,” he explained.

“It took us a couple of weeks to find where guys fit best. Some had to change positions, others got hurt, but over time, everyone finally started hitting their stride and believing in themselves.”

Even with the immediate loss in the Division One playoffs to the Franklin Panthers, 7-4, the Gondoliers still look at themselves highly, believing that “we were definitely the better team.”
“It was just execution, and we just missed certain opportunities,” Evarts said.

Evarts recognized the importance of mental strength, especially after a tough playoff opener. 

“You have little things getting in your head, like losing the first game of the season. That’s really hard on the team mentally,” he said. “That was a big obstacle for us, and we were able to overcome it.”

“It was more about us and being the best version of ourselves whenever we showed up.”

For seniors like Devlin, a defensive end and offensive tackle who “developed into one of the strongest players on the team,” and Evarts, who quickly became a team leader after transferring two years ago, this season was filled with unforgettable moments. 

“We’ve got glue guys like Nathan Santa Cruz, one of the fastest players in the city, who stepped into leadership roles and helped us win the league,” Porchia said. 

“Learning what it’s like to win regular season and playoffs are completely different things. The attention to detail, focus, and intensity have to go up.”
“Those are going to be good learning lessons for us when we get back to this point next year,” he said. 

With the team taking a massive hit in player count, losing 18 seniors, the Gondos are already prepared thanks to their young talent.
“So as those guys continue to work and grow and become leaders on this team, this team can definitely become something really great,” Evarts said. 

The Gondos are already looking forward to next season.

 “I think in the next couple of years, this team is going to be really good,” Evarts said. “A lot of our skill players are young, and we’re going to have a strong line, both offensively and defensively.”