Getting better as athletes is one of the many goals football hopes to accomplish for it’s season.

“Our number one goal is try to get better. Whether if we win enough games or not, and we feel like the program and players are improving to be successful in the long run. That’s more important at this point than wins and losses,” head varsity coach Ted Monken said.

This is Monken’s second year as head varsity coach.

“Of course we would like to win, it’s important, but in the early stages of getting the program started it is more on trying to get better,” Monken said.

After the first game against Oswego East on Aug. 28, the football program had mixed emotions on how they played. The team thought some plays went well while others did not. Oswego won 36-6.

In order to improve, the football team practices throughout the week as a team and separates into different groups.

“At practice every player does their individual position. We also have meetings and watch filmage of plays in games,” junior linebacker Rudolph Cardiel said.

Practices are important to the team. Hard days of practices are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

“We divide the team up according to their position with a different coach and they work to improve on their skills. The last part of practice is spent scrimmaging 11 versus 11 on the field,” Monken said.

The team is struggling with having the athletes being ready to play.

“We need to improve upon on making sure every player is doing everything in their ability to do things right. Also, players need be ready to play on Friday night and make sure that we are all committed to the success of the team in every way possible. There are a lot of guys that work hard, but we need everybody to work hard between practices, watch filmage and be ready both physically and mentally,” Monken said.

Although, the team needs to improve their record, according to Monken, the team has done a good job at being positive.

“At this point in the season we have struggled with our record but the thing that has been most promising is the boys have done a great job of responding the right way and have been showing up to get better to bring home a victory or two. It’s good to be on the same page as each other so we can move forward,” Monken said.

The varsity team brought a win against East Aurora on Sept. 18 at an away game.

“I felt relieved that we won because we didn’t do well the first three games,” Cardiel said.

Monken would like the football program to see there is purpose to what they are doing on the field.

“We want to make sure that the players see the value in what they are doing and to make sure they understand it is good for the team, not just because the coach said so,” Monken said.

The team has a record 1-5.