Executives want to achieve turnaround in Ligonier Valley

From: Paul Schofield

Friday, August 16, 2024 | 6:18 p.m.

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The 2023 football season did not go well for Ligonier Valley.

The Rams finished 2-8 and finished the season on a six-game losing streak.

If senior lineman Wade Lamont and senior running back/linebacker Aidan Mulheren are to be believed, a lot of things will be different in 2024.

Look, a losing season at Ligonier Valley under coach Roger Beitel is not acceptable.

Injuries and a youthful roster lacking experience were the main reasons for the rare losing season. The Rams graduated a senior.

But Beitel and his team didn’t look for excuses. They simply got back to work.

“We have a lot of grudges,” Lamont said. “We worked hard all summer and don’t want a repeat of this season.”

“As a leader, you have to hold people accountable. That’s the most important thing. At training, you have to be the first one on the training field and be one of the hardest workers, if not the hardest worker, on the field.”

Normally, Beitel gives his players a break after the season ends. This team wasted no time and focused on this season.

“We were in the weight room on the Monday after the last game of last year and Lamont and Mulheren took the lead,” Beitel said. “When we went to Lebanon Valley for training camp this summer, we went as individuals and came home as a team.”

“We gave them leadership skills and they were in charge of a certain floor in the dorm or a certain group. When you have solid individual players like Wade and Aidan, they take on that role and use their leadership skills. Both of them received awards for their best performance at camp.”

Mulheren said he learned a lot in this camp that will make him a better player.

“I learned to always be honest, hold everyone accountable and be there for everyone,” Mulheren said. “Don’t complain and be someone your teammates can look up to. Always be that strong person and give 100 percent.”

“I gave it my all in camp. I learned to run fast and read the gaps in the defense better. I also caught the ball well, ran good routes and was able to read the defense.”

Lamont added: “It was a great honor to be selected as a top performer. It was our first year at camp, so it was a nice experience for all of us.”

“I worked as hard as I could. I wanted everyone else to work just as hard, and I think I set a precedent for the future.”

Both players emphasized that hard work and dedication would get the team back on the right track.

They worked together to keep the players focused and to help and encourage them during training.

“We all have to work together as a team and work really hard,” Mulheren said. “When someone goes down, we have to pick each other up. We can’t get each other down. We have to be there for each other, be motivated and work hard.”

And what is the biggest difference Lamont sees in this team?

“We’ve gotten tougher and a lot stronger,” he said. “That was a big focus in the offseason. We’ve added weight, we’ve gotten stronger, heavier and faster. We’ve got that tenacity about us. Nobody wants another 2-8 season.”

What intangible values ​​does Beitel look for in a manager?

“We expect them to make the right decision and put the team first,” Beitel said. “They’ve done a great job. They keep everything under control.”

“They’ve done a great job of avoiding drama on the field and in the locker room so that we as coaches can go out there and work on our skills and get better as a team. These guys accept their roles without complaining. They play anywhere.”

And Lamont said it’s special to be a Ligonier Valley football player.

“When you wear this jersey, you’re honoring the players that came before you and their legacy, and you’re building your own legacy and passing one on for future Rams,” Lamont said. “It’s about working hard, doing your best, showing mental and physical toughness and being there for each other. We’re a team, a brotherhood.”

Ligonier Valley opens the season at home against Derry on Friday.

Mulheren is excited about the challenge the team faces.

“It’s a pretty big game,” Mulheren said. “We lost to them last year and we’re looking forward to getting out there and turning the season around on a high note.”

“It’s a ‘Riot on the Ridge’ game, so you want to start the season off well.”

Paul Schofield is a reporter for TribLive covering high school and college sports and golf in the area. He joined the Trib in 1995 after 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he was sports editor for 14 years. Reach him at [email protected].

Tags: Ligonier Valley