Wayne Hills at Super Football Conference Media Day 2024
The Wayne Hills High School football team speaks with the Varsity Aces at the 2024 Super Football Conference Media Day.
Something has been missing in Wayne Hills over the past few years.
Winning records? That’s obvious – 3-7, 4-5 and 2-9 finishes over the last three seasons mark the longest streak of subpar seasons since 1984-86.
But it goes even deeper.
“In recent years, we have lacked the depth to have competitive training sessions,” coach Wayne Demikoff said at the Super Football Conference media day on August 6. “So the pace and interactions at practice have been much better.”
“We have some kids fighting for the same spot and they’re showing competitive maturity, which is great. I think that will help us in the difficult moments during the season.”
Last fall was marked by many difficult moments, as the nine losses represented a dubious season record. However, success is never far away in the minds of the coaches and players of Wayne Hills.
The tradition
The banner commemorating a 55-game winning streak from 2004 to 2009 still hangs on the fence of the school’s stadium, part of an era in which Berdan Ave won eight sectional championships in a 10-year period.
Demikoff led a 12-0 season in 2016 and followed that up with a North Group 4 regional title two years later, so it’s safe to say the recent downturn is an anomaly.
“We always set (championships) as a benchmark … and I think when you do that, you raise the bar for your own training and for the kids,” Demikoff said. “The group we have this year understands the history of Wayne Hills and wants to live up to it.”
The challenge
Now that things seem to be looking up, the Patriots’ biggest challenge might be blocking out the noise that reminds them of last season.
The team’s annual season-opening road trip will help with that. Wayne Hills will visit its ninth state to open the season, kicking off in the Green Valley of Henderson, Nevada.
“They’re really fun,” senior defensive tackle Darrian Kim told Varsity Aces Live on Media Day. “It’s also a great way to set the tone for our season in a different and sometimes challenging environment.”
The Patriots only had nine seniors on the roster last year, but that number is significantly higher for 2024.
“The example that the seniors set kind of trickles down to everyone else,” Demikoff said. “We saw it back in December – the way they trained in the offseason was different than they had in the past. And we certainly saw that transition on the field as well.”
Expectations
So, the 11th sectional championship is on the way, right? Put the brakes on. Trophies didn’t come easy, even back when Wayne Hills often won them.
The current seniors – represented at Media Day by Kim, center Chris Romano and receiver Aaron Viray – talk about letting their actions speak for themselves when it comes to setting everyday expectations.
“Leading by example plays a big part,” Romano said. “Working hard in practice, working hard in the weight room, showing the other kids what level they should be training at — I think that really helps.”
“We’re bringing back a lot of experienced guys,” Demikoff said. “And when you’re young, as young as we are, you obviously have growing pains. But it’s always better next year.”
Schedule 2024
30 August: in Green Valley (Nevada), TBA
6 September: against West Essex, 7pm
13 September: against Nutley, 7 p.m.
20 September: at Kennedy, Hinchliffe Stadium, 6pm
27 September: in Caldwell, 7 p.m.
October 5: against Wayne Valley, 6 p.m.
October 10: in Passaic Valley, 6:30 p.m.
October 18: against Old Tappan, 7 p.m.
October 25: in Millburn, 7 p.m.
