A memorable season for Mustangs ‘family’

MOUNT VERNON - Without a doubt, the Mount Vernon football team had an incredible and record-breaking 2015.

We watched senior Connor Herrmann as he defied gravity while jumping up to grasp the ball and make an extraordinary catch. We watched junior Tristan Wirfs sacrifice his body to save his teammates from being tackled. We watched senior Carlos Castro kick the ball gracefully through the goal posts. And we watched sophomore quarterback Drew Adams throw the ball as skillfully as a college player.

'I think being involved and winning two state championships, one as a coach and one as a player prior to coming here gave me some background knowledge about things we need to do prior to coming into the contest,” head coach Lance Pedersen said. 'Understanding what things are needed to try to get us to that point, and really when it comes down to it, it's just the small things that make a huge difference.”

Nearly all of the players said their most memorable part of the season was beating Anamosa in the quarterfinals to go to the UNI-Dome, or beating Albia to play in the state championship game. Thanks to their coach they were able to have these amazing moments.

'I felt like I had to practice each day and perform at a high level each game so I wouldn't let my teammates down,” Herrmann said.

Every single player agreed the most life-changing part of the season was the friendships and bonds they made with their teammates and coaches.

'It was the best team environment I've ever been a part of,” said junior running back Jack Cochrane.

The word they broke from their huddles with was 'family” because that's what they were to each other.

'One day after practice that's how the kids broke it down, we usually said ‘'Stangs' or ‘Mustang.' It carried us a long way,” Pedersen said.

The team's chemistry was undeniable when the players were on and off the field, It certainly helped lead to the Mustangs' success. Junior Sam Moore said the chemistry as a team is what motivated him throughout the season.

All athletes set goals, large and small, but the team's goal was simple. To get better - and that's exactly what they did this season.

'Our goal and my goal everyday was to get better,” Pedersen said, 'and if you're not getting better you're getting worse. You just don't stay the same.”

This wasn't a team that just had success handed to it. The Mustangs went through long exhausting practices, woke up early for lifting while still meeting expectations of their teammates, coaches and community.

'We always went hard in practice to achieve our goals,” junior Jack Bootsmiller said.

This season was absolutely extraordinary, but the team is not satisfied.

'We were so close to winning it all, we left it all on the field,” Bootsmiller said.

Right now, winter sports are in full swing, but that doesn't mean the team isn't making plans and setting goals for next season.

'Can't wait to win the big trophy next year,” Moore said.