Indians Finish Second Tough Season In A Row
Bennett Spry #2, takes off up field against Carlisle on Friday night. Spry eventually went out of the game with a fractured collar bone.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The night ended with the traditional walk for Oskaloosa Seniors who are part of the football team. One last time, down the field, hand in hand with their classmates.
That was the sad end to a very tough season for the Indians. The 2-7 season was one win better than last year’s 1-8 record.
Carlisle and Oskaloosa were locked together going into half-time 8-8, but the Wildcats came out of the locker room to start the second half ready to play, and quickly scored twice on the Indians.
Oskaloosa Head Football Coach Mike Sterner said once again that he sees no quit in his football team, a theme he had talked about all year long. “There isn’t. There’s no quit in these guys.”
“I’m really proud of their efforts tonight,” said Sterner. “They went up against a team that did some things better than we did.”
Sterner said that Carlisle was better than Oskaloosa in the weight-room in the off season. “We’ve got to get that rectified. When we commit to that, we’re really going to be something to hold on to.”
Sterner said that being stronger on defense would have allowed the Indians to hold on versus the Wildcats breaking through tackles.
Oskaloosa News asked Sterner what other options were being looked at to improve performance next year besides the weight training. “As coaches, we’ve really got to sit down and evaluate and give it our full thought. The weight training has obviously got to continue to develop. When we get our kids where they are strong, balanced bodies, we’re going to look better. We’re going to be able to hang with any team that we play with.”
Before the season started, we asked Sterner if he was feeling pressure to perform this year. “It’s a new year, with new kids and we have to adjust things that are going to help fit our kids well. Last year obviously was a disappointment. Our kids did not want that to happen. Our coaches did not want that to happen.”
“Our coaching staff will be solid this year, and strong. Our younger kids are now growing, so they should be better,” said Sterner in a pre-season interview. “Year three of what I’m [Sterner] trying to do. Year three is usually a year when you can try and move some things in the right direction,” explained Sterner, who says it takes about three years to get a new program going.
Sterner went on to say, “Our coaching staff, the men I’ve selected to be with us and to be interacting with our kids, they’re positive men, they’re experienced in the game of football, and they do the right thing for kids. That’s what we’re in this for, to teach young men and young ladies, teach our young people how to be good people. It’s more than football.”
Just two weeks prior to the final game, Oskaloosa News asked Sterner if he felt as though he was feeling any external pressure to produce wins. “No, I’m not worried about wins and loses, we’ve got to make us better. That is going to show up on the score board sooner or later. We’ve got to continue to grow.”
The Indians ended the year with a 2-7 record, with wins over Saydel and Chariton, which is one win better than last year; which had the lone victory coming on the road at Saydel.
The Indians will now turn their attention to winter sports, but not before the well respected Oskaloosa Varsity Volleyball team makes an attempt to make it to the state tournament. They host their first round game on Monday night at 7pm in the main gym.
