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Several key players for Crestwood this season, from left, first row, are Matt Krupa and Nick Aigeldinger. Second row: Chris Vega, Mark Orloski, John Lasko and Shane Mitchell.
s. john wilkin/the times leader
Myers
Coming into this season with the task of getting an inexperienced Crestwood Comets football team ready to compete, head coach Greg Myers must have been happy with what he saw in the offseason.
With 42 of 47 players participating in the conditioning program, Myers said that the Comets are starting to develop not just the depth, but the competitive nature needed to become one of the area’s better teams.
“We have something here I’ve never had. We’re starting to develop that core group of players we can roll over from year to year,” said Myers. “Friday nights tend to be a little easier when you’re competing all week during practice.”
ON OFFENSE
The bulk of that inexperience will be along the Comets’ offensive line. As a result, Crestwood fans can expect to see a fast-paced, spread offense this year that will look to get the ball into the hands of three fast and capable receivers in seniors John Lasko, Chris Vega and Matt Krupa, all of whom Myers expects to see playing next year at the collegiate level.
“Offensively our strength is in our skill positions, our three receivers had a great summer,” said Myers of what he refers to as “The Big Three.”
Sophomore quarterback Nick Aigeldinger, who Myers calls a talented and smart leader, will be responsible for getting the ball to that trio. Senior Mark Orloski will be the starting tailback, and will be spelled by juniors Ethan Slembarski and Jimmy Crablo and sophomore Eric Pickett. Senior Shane Mitchell, a three-year starter who Meyers considers his offensive unit’s best leader, will be the starting fullback.
Along the line, sophomore Anthony Survilla is the only lock, penciled in as the starting tight end. Seniors Adam Kita or Kevin Spause will be vying for time at center. The guards will be a rotation of David Knight, Angel Salas, Danny Distasio and senior Brent Harmon. Ben Ralston, Jake Rebarchik, the only senior of the bunch, Zach Fogleman and Matt Hilenski will see time at the tackle position.
ON DEFENSE
The Comets will play an odd-front defense, with either three or five down linemen depending on the looks the opposing offense gives them. While Myers considers his defense a little behind where he’d like them to be entering the season, the players have strengths they can call on.
Inexperienced at key positions, the Comets defense will be centered around Mitchell at middle linebacker, who Myers considers his best defender. Mitchell is a three-year starter and the leader of a unit that’s the strength of the defense. Nico DiSabatino, a junior, and Survilla, a sophomore, will play alongside Mitchell.
Slembarski and Pickett are expected to start at cornerback despite not having much experience there. Krupa and Aidelinger are penciled in as backups at the position. Completing the secondary will be Vega or Lasko at free safety, and Orloski or sophomore Roger Legg at strong safety.
The ends will be a rotation of seniors Aaron Zack, Rebarchik and Spause, along with junior Mitch Hildebrand factoring into the mix.
At the tackle position, Ralston will spell starter Tony Morgante, a sophomore Myers is high on. Knight and Kita also will see time at the position.
Myers will rotate sophomores Legg and Eric Bozek with Distasio and Harmon, a senior, to look for the right combination of size and speed at nose tackle.
ON SPECIAL TEAMS
Worth mentioning is the strong leg of kicker/punter Krupa. The senior, who took up kicking just a year ago, is drawing interest from Pitt and Temple as a kicker. During the summer, Krupa won a competition at a Pitt camp by beating out eight others after splitting the uprights from 55 yards away.
OUTLOOK
With above-average speed at their offensive skill positions and a solid linebacking corps, the Comets, despite their youth, should be in position to improve on their 2-8 record of a year ago.
“Were a very young team,” said Myers. “Were going to take each week at a time and continue to get better as a team but at the same time we will be very competitive. The young kids we have are very talented and are going to keep us in a lot of games.
“I feel we can play with any team on our schedule and I think a lot of people are going to be surprised.”