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Wesley Chapel Looking To Fill Graduation Holes

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By CRISTINA LEDRA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2008

There are a few positions on Wesley Chapel's team that are secured with returning players, but there are just as many questions in several major spots.

When the Wildcats play their Blue and White game on Thursday, the coaching staff will have its eyes on a number of players to see which ones might be able to step up to play in places vacated by graduates.

Division I recruit lineman Kamran Joyer, an incoming senior, returns for yet another season as a starter as does fellow lineman Patrick Pate.

One of the biggest losses Wesley Chapel had was dual-threat quarterback and two-way player Greg Jenkins.

Jenkins had been the starting quarterback since his sophomore year and now the job is open for one of four players who come in with little to no game experience.

When Jenkins was hurt last season, incoming junior Chris West filled in and saw playing time in six games.

"Defensively, there are a few positions we're not sure of," Wesley Chapel coach John Castelamare said. "Of course, Ray Rouch was a pretty good linebacker."

Castelamare said incoming sophomore Jacob Fisher would most likely start at linebacker this season.

Among those who have been the most impressive in the spring, according to Castelmare, are fullback/linebacker Hunter Joyer, tailback/cornerback Keenan Reynolds, tight end/tackle/defensive tackle Pierre Charles, wide receiver/safety Mitchell Wozniak, fullback/defensive end Amir Sullivan, wide receiver/defensive back Sebastian Pickney, and tailback/cornerback Jon Mahan.

"They just need game experience," Castelamare said. "You wish you were playing in a jamboree. When you're in this situation, you have mismatches sometimes because you may have a very good lineman against a No. 2 or No. 3 defensive lineman. It should be an interesting game, though. We've been going at it lately and we go Blue and White from Day One, so we've had some pretty good competition."

The Wildcats have had a tradition of splitting into their Blue and White teams from the start of spring practice complete with separate locker rooms, to help fester competitiveness and excitement between the two teams.

The winner of the spring game usually is treated to a nice dinner, while the losers get stuck with "beanie weenies."

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