Sports, Youth

Summer Won’t Be Endless: Minicamp Held

Jack Hampel (right) and his teammates practice their football stances on the first day of Junior Eagles minicamp July 12 at Norm West Park. (All photos by Steve Bowman)
Jack Hampel (right) and his teammates practice their football stances on the first day of Junior Eagles minicamp July 12 at Norm West Park. (All photos by Steve Bowman)

Turnout is low as Junior Eagles clear the cobwebs

 
By Steve Bowman
Editor, The Brentwood Spirit
Email: bowmansj@sbcglobal.net

One of the first signs that fall is approaching can be seen at Norm West Park this week. The Brentwood Junior Eagles football program is holding a minicamp for students about to enter fourth grade through eighth grade. Two-hour sessions are being held each night from July 12-14.

On the first night 18 players turned out. That’s about a dozen fewer than last year, when the program had a large eighth-grade class. Also, a number of youngsters who are expected to join the team in August are either on vacation or live outside Brentwood and lack transportation to the minicamp, said program representative Jacquelyn Mills.

Minicamp director and eighth grade head coach John Sappington makes a point.
Minicamp director and eighth grade head coach John Sappington makes a point as assistant Jacob Clay looks on.

The Junior Eagles consist of two teams – one of mostly eighth graders under head coach John Sappington and the other of mostly seventh graders led by Tom Magee. Each team will play a schedule of games this fall. The schedules have not yet been finalized.

Tom Magee runs players through a tackling drill. Magee played football at Brentwood High School.
Tom Magee runs players through a tackling drill. Magee played football at Brentwood High School.

Sappington and Magee are assisted at the camp by former Brentwood High School standouts Tyler Jones and Jacob Clay. Jones was an all-state linebacker as a senior in 2011-12. Clay graduated this spring with the state record for career yards per carry and numerous school records for rushing yards and touchdowns. He will start football practice at Drake University on Aug. 10.

Both Jones and Clay played for the Junior Eagles.

“I remember my first practice with the Junior Eagles when I was in the sixth grade,” said Clay. “I was really nervous.”

Tyler Jones, a 2012 BHS graduate where he was an all-state linebacker, is helping with the minicamp.
Tyler Jones, a 2012 BHS graduate where he was an all-state linebacker, is helping with the minicamp.
Recent BHS grad Jacob Clay is helping with the camp. He leaves to start football practice at Drake University in August.
Recent BHS grad Jacob Clay is helping with the camp. He leaves to start football practice at Drake University in August.

2016 Junior Eagles Mini Camp Roster
Fifth grade
Dylan Walker, Caleb Williams Ransom
Sixth grade
John Clay, John Forsythe, Louie Magee, Ian Thornton, Quinn Tilley
Seventh grade
Anthony Braasch, Justin Erby-Carr, Jamal Isaac, David Kloeppel, Jason Manestar
Eighth grade
Latrel Decoy, Jack Hampel, Michael Jones, Xavier Lane, Jalin Sanders, Thomas Suntrup

Anthony Braasch does the standing broad jump, one of several agility tests coaches administered.
Anthony Braasch does the standing broad jump, one of several agility tests coaches administered.
Latrel Decoy runs the 40-yard dash.
Latrel Decoy runs the 40-yard dash.
Caleb Williams Ransom (right) races Xavier Lane through an exercise to test lateral movement.
Caleb Williams Ransom (right) races Xavier Lane through an exercise to test lateral movement.
Quinn Tilley tests his foot speed.
Quinn Tilley tests his foot speed.
David Kloeppel scrambles through an exercise.
David Kloeppel scrambles sideways through an exercise.
Ian Thornton fights his way past a blocker to reach the tackling dummy.
Ian Thornton fights his way past a blocker to reach the tackling dummy.
Thomas Suntrup is set to make a tackle.
Thomas Suntrup is set to make a tackle.
Jamal Isaac makes a catch as coaches assess ball handling ability.
Jamal Isaac makes a catch as coaches assess ball handling ability.
Xavier Lane runs the 40-yard dash.
Xavier Lane runs the 40-yard dash.
Louie Magee (right) gets set.
Louie Magee (right) gets set.
John Sappington talks to players during a water break.
John Sappington talks to players during a water break.
Jason Manestar heads for the finish line.
Jason Manestar heads for the finish line.
Tyler Jones watches Jim Smith in the broad jump.
Tyler Jones watches Anthony Braasch in the broad jump.
Coach Tom Magee watches Xavier Lane (left) and Jim Smith run the cones.
Coach Tom Magee watches Xavier Lane (left) and Jim Smith run the cones.
John Clay runs the 40.
John Clay runs the 40.
Jack Magee shows his agility.
Jack Magee shows his agility.
Jacob Clay snags a pass during a break.
Jacob Clay snags a pass during a break.
Michael Jones crawls sideways over the ladder obstacle.
Michael Jones crawls sideways over the ladder obstacle.
Jalin Sanders sees what he has to get past to teach the tackling dummy.
Jalin Sanders sees what he has to get past (right) to teach the tackling dummy (left).
Jack Hampel hauls in a pass.
Jack Hampel hauls in a pass.
Players line up to practice their stances.
Players line up to practice their stances. From left: Dylan Walker, Ian Thornton, John Clay, Quinn Tilley and Jalin Sanders.
Dylan Walker eyes the pass . . .
Dylan Walker eyes the pass . . .
. . . and catches it.
. . . and catches it.

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