Sports

Behind the Helmets of the EP Football Team

A closer look into the Elmwood Park High School Football Team.

Elena Abarra, Staff Reporter • October 2, 2024

It’s been 14 years since the EP Tigers Football Team has won the Metro Suburban Conference Title. Let’s take a look into the present team and see how they’re feeling about this season. We’ll also take a look at some insights into their futures inside EP and outside of it!

Pictured above is the JV team at their second home game of the season. (Leila Diaz)

First, our freshmen! The freshmen that I talked to were mainly the players on the varsity team. I asked them, “How does it feel to be a freshman on varsity?” Thomas Dyra answered saying, “It it a lot of pressure, but you just got to deal with it, though, overall, it’s been a great experience.” Additionally, Michael Murphy said that “it can be stressful at times, but everyone on the team is nice and has been welcoming to us, which turns the situation around.” These boys work very hard on normal weekdays, usually attending JV and varsity practices, meetings and more.

Pictured above is junior Danny Dohoney, a varsity player. Dohoney plays wide receiver and safety. (David Porreca)

Now, let’s head on over to our sophomores and juniors, the middle men in the team. I talked to Danny Dohoney and Jairus Ponce, both juniors, and Jacob Solis, a sophomore. When asked, “As sophomores and juniors, you guys are in the middle of your high school experiences. What have your experiences in football been like these past years, and where do you see yourself for the upcoming seasons?” all three answered that they have had a good run so far. They would like to keep it up for the rest of this season and to “bang it out” during their upcoming years here. Ponce noted that their junior class has been with Coach Terrence Terry, the head varsity coach, for three years now, helping them with plays, strategies and communication skills. Also, now that they’re juniors and have grown as a team, Ponce feels they are more comfortable with each other on and off the field. Dohoney and Solis added that they love to hangout with their team and friends. They both work on weight lifting and outside training in their off-time.

And, last but not least, the Seniors! When asked, “How do you guys feel about it being your last year at EP and on this team?” both Michal Siembab and Harland Stone responded by saying they have had some great past years, and they’re all looking forward to their last season and ending it with a bang. Stone said he is looking forward to college, whether he goes on to pursue football or not. One of his goals after leaving EP is just to enjoy his life as much as he can.

When the players were asked about their greatest weaknesses, Patrick Loughnane, a freshman, answered that his weakness is getting mad and keeping himself contained. Murphy said that his biggest weakness is tackling and getting really into the game. Dohoney mentioned tackling and defense, and Dyra said he wants to work on his speed on the field. Ponce and Stone both said they think too much about the game and what they’re supposed to do.

Pictured above is Jaime Velasco, the quarterback for the varsity team. Although he was recently injured, he still shows team spirit by coming to the games and helping out on the sidelines. He is eagerly waiting for the doctor’s clearance to get back out on the field. (Leila Diaz)

Both JV and varsity have pretty intense training and practice schedules. Practices are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Along with team practice varsity hits the weight room before they head out onto the field. While on Thursdays with no practice, both teams have walk-throughs and Team Dinner to get the boys energized and ready for Game Day.

These boys all have such high hopes for the rest of the season, hoping to turn the tables around during upcoming games with a new quarterback, Eric Williams, stepping up. This transition is due to their former quarterback, Jaime Velasco, being recently injured in an early season game. Hopefully, Velasco will be returning in a couple of weeks after athletic rest. EP fans will assure you that they’ll be watching to see how these boys react and play this season. Whatever happens, the team is ready to rise to the occasion and make this season one to remember.

Works Cited:

D, Dohoney, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
H, Stone, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
J, Ponce, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
J, Solis, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
M, Murphy, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
M, Siembab, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
P,Loughnane, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
T, Dyra, personal communication, September 10, 2024.
Wikipedia,(2024, August, 12). Elmwood Park High School(Illinois), Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmwood_Park_High_School_(Illinois).

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About the Contributor

Elena Abarra, Staff Reporter

Hey! My name is Elena Abarra, and I am currently a freshman at Elmwood Park High School. I am on the JV Cheerleading team at EPHS. I am also involved in DECA, Student Council, and Operation Snowball. I love to read, watch TV, run, play piano, and play sports in my free time. Some goals I have are to travel as much of the world as I can and to work hard in school to set myself up for success. My plans after high school are to go to either the University of Hawaii, New York University, or Michigan State University, most likely to study business.