Windsor looking to compete in rough and tumble NBL
The varsity football Jaguars will put months of rigorous off-season training to the test when they open the 2017 campaign at Freedom High School in Oakley on Sept. 1.
Windsor will have a new look this season under first-year head coach Kevin Ballatore, a former star quarterback who spent the last decade as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Santa Rosa Junior College. A native of Valley Ford, Ballatore prepped at Tomales High School before going on to play for the Bear Cubs and later Southeast Missouri State College.
Although it’s early, the Jags new head coach has liked what he’s seen from his charges in a busy summer, which has included tireless work in the weight room and participation in the SRJC and El Molino passing leagues.
“Our guys have been working hard and I’ve been impressed with our senior leadership,” he said. “We probably have the toughest schedule of any team in the NBL but we’re approaching this season with the goal to compete for a league title, make it into the playoffs and see what happens.”
The Jaguars’ roster is a good mix of veterans and varsity newcomers, the right ingredients to sustain a winning football program.
A key addition to the varsity squad is sophomore quarterback Nick Pariani, a talented signal-caller with a strong arm and poise beyond his years.
“Our seniors have really bought into Nick being the starting quarterback,” Ballatore said. “He’s got great composure for a sophomore.”
The Jags will feature a stable of senior running backs that include all-purpose back Jorgen Sarganis, Brett Stibi and TE/FB Ryan Weir. The receiving core will consist of senior wide-outs Zack Rackham and Patrick Tappin, along with Thomas Kulas, Dylan Sosa and Clay Woo.
The offensive line will be manned by a group of veterans that includes left tackle Bas Osborn, right tackle Justin Faagata, center Kevin Winter, right guard Jairo Mejia and linemen Jesus Carrillo, Austin Jacob and Aidan Boettger.
The kicking chores will be handled by Otis Cain and punter Abel Espinosa.
The defensive line figures to be one of the team’s strengths, led by end Bas Osborn, last year’s sack leader. Also in the defensive trenches are tackle Justin Faagatta, end Ryan Weir and linemen Ben Smith and Aidan Boettger. The linebacking corps features Stibi, Kulas, Lorenzo Leon and Oscar Mayorga.
The defensive backfield consists of cornerbacks Woo, Tappin, Sosa and Mikey Contreras, Sarganis at free safety, and strong safeties Rackham, Octavio Vega and Tanner Tobon.
Assistant coaches are Thomas Carroll (offensive line), Ryan Benjamin (running backs), Kyle Burbank (receivers), Brad Stibi (defensive coordinator), Julian Tamayo (defensive line), Brett Bischoffberger (defensive line), Bailey Ticker (defensive backs), Todd Vehmeyer (defensive backs) and Zack Bozzelli (special teams).
The Jaguars should have a battle on their hands each week in a highly competitive NBL season, with Cardinal Newman and Rancho Cotate the early favorites to compete for the title.
