GAMES
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Some of the stars of 2023-24 Westbury Christian Football
VYPE Coaches Corner: Okwuonu reflects on milestone season for WCS Football
Photo provided by Coach Kenneth Okwuonu
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VYPE: With the twenty-five year history of this program and your time spent at Westbury Christian, what does this first season mean to you and the school?
COACH OKWUONU: “It’s an exciting time for the school. We’ve gone through several changes since we started. We used to play 11-man football, but we’ve been playing 6-man for the last three years. The goal is to get back up to eleven.”
“I get the unique opportunity to keep building up the high school team. I’ve seen our ups and downs, but I’m hoping this group can change things around. Since I’ve been here for some time I’ll get to work with players that I’ve seen grow through the middle school program. So, it’s a great opportunity to build the team from the ground up again.”
VYPE: What’s the culture you intend to instill and emphasize within the football team?
COACH OKWUONU: “One of the biggest things I try to emphasize comes from a quote from Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks HC) which is ‘Always Compete’. No matter where you’re at in our program or in your level of talent, I want them to compete to make themselves better. Something I try to focus on is the notion that ‘good is the enemy of great’. We always need to strive to be more.”
VYPE: So, what is it about Westbury Christian that makes you so infused with the organization?
COACH OKWUONU: “I also teach here at Westbury Christian, so there’s multiple reasons why I invest into this school,” he said. “I also believe in the school and the program enough that I’ve had two kids who went here, and two more that currently go to school at WCS.”
“Westbury Christian is a place where I believe in it enough that I bring my own family into the system. I trust in the teachers, I trust in the coaches, and it brings me a lot of security in my decisions.”
Westbury Christian's Hunter Morgan
EYES ON THE PRIZE: WCS' Morgan making a name for himself
Bradley C.Collier (VYPE)
“What led to my success is my competitive edge and hardworking spirit,” said Morgan. “Even when my team is down, I’m trying to do anything I can to help us get back in the game. During COVID lockdowns, I wasn’t able to go anywhere, so I was just finding any exercise I could do on my own at home. I feel that helped me become physically and mentally stronger, going into high school. Lastly, I like to be as prepared as possible, so I consistently watch film to help improve my technique and better understand upcoming opponents.”
As previously mentioned, Westbury Christian displayed flashes of greatness, particularly early in the season, which saw them score over 100 points in two consecutive victories. That was not a typo. Thanks to the feet of the 5-foot-11 Morgan, the Wildcats put on a spectacle to surpass triple digits.
“That [the back-to-back 100-point games] was my highlight of the season for sure,” Morgan said. “I had 13 touchdowns in one of those games, and I think that definitely made the team get closer.”
2022-23 Westbury Christian FootballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Wildcats will look to build upon the successes and failures of this past season to turn things around.
“My plans for this offseason are to get faster, bigger and stronger, while also building more chemistry with my teammates and any newcomers we get. The goal for next season is a State Championship, but my personal goals are to get first-team, all-district, and hopefully pick up a few college offers after attending some camps during the Spring and Summer.”