Football team running low on steam with key players missing due to injuries and suspensions
Grass stains masking the crisp pants, mud covering their body head to toe, the captivating sound of a band playing in the background, and of course the inevitable injuries.
This season the Wenatchee Panthers football team has suffered a number of injuries. Over the course of the first two games Wenatchee lost two of its key starters: senior Joe Sells and junior Tony Esquivel. Sells separated the AC joint in his shoulder during week one and Esquivel separated the same joint the following week.
“It really sucks to get hurt in the first game of your senior year,” Sells said. “You work so hard in the off-season and the last thing you expect is to get hurt.”
Both Sells and Esquivel plan on being back in time for Wenatchee’s game on the road against Davis today.
“Losing Sells is a huge loss because it’s practically like losing three players. Running back, linebacker, and special teams,” Wenatchee football coach Scott Devereaux said. “We’re really limited in depth this year so every injury is a crucial loss.”
Wenatchee has not only battled with a lack of depth due to injuries, but also dealt with students being ineligible. Assistant football coach Dave Jagla says that during the first game of the season Wenatchee missed five players due to ineligibility and two in the second.
“It’s been awful not being able to support my team, watching from the stands wishing I was out there,” an anonymous senior said. “I really regret my choices but I’ve definitely learned from them.”
Devereaux expressed his optimistic expectations for the rest of the season.
“Just like injuries, suspensions really hurt a team when players can’t play,” Devereaux said. “Guys are getting healthy and eligible so we’re hoping to be 100 percent for the start of league by next week.”
