![Manitowoc Lincoln Ships Football Team Back on the Field in Preparation for Spring Schedule](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1960/files/2021/03/ships-practice-first-day-scaled.jpg)
The wait is over for the Manitowoc Lincoln High School Football team.
After their 2020 Fall schedule postponed due to COVID-19, everyone, players & coaches alike look forward to a 7-game Spring season. The first practice in helmets and shorts was conducted late yesterday afternoon at Ron Rubick Municipal Field.
Second-year Shipbuilders Head Coach Greg Enz summed it up in how it feels to return to the practice field.
“I think we are all thankful,” he told Seehafer News. “I think if you talk to anyone across the state, I think they are all thankful not only for the opportunity to play but for the opportunity to work with young men. Thanks a beautiful thing.”
Enz says he and members of his coaching staff traveled to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs a year ago in an effort to strengthen their program.
“We wanted to see not only what were they doing offensively, but we wanted to investigate what they do in terms of building that culture. If you want to know a culture, you turn to the military for culture,” Coach Enz said. “Something that really struck us was just the discipline, the mindset in how the approach not just practice, but how they approach their physical development and preparation outside of the practice field.”
Coach Enz praised the leadership of three seniors so far this offseason: Miguel Reyes Quintana, Cam Bandt, and Brysen Roulette.
Reyes-Quintana told us, “It’s actually really exciting to see everybody coming together after being far apart for so long. I haven’t seen a lot of these guys in a long time. It’s nice to see all these familiar faces, and seeing progress as a team, in the weight room, and on the field.”
Bandt spoke about getting to play the game after about a 7-month delay.
“It’s been a weird year as everyone can see, but it’s nice because we were all ready in the summer to come out and play in the fall,” he explained. “We did all our workouts then, and we all got ready to play, and then they pushed it back to spring. Then we had another six months to start warming up and get ready for the season. We are all antsy to get out on that field now. It’s getting exciting at this point.”
QB Roulette, who has rehabbed his way back after a meniscus injury, is being counted on to direct Lincoln’s run-pass option.
“We have to be all committed. We have to believe in one another,” Roulette said bluntly. “That’s what we are trying to build here. That’s what Coach Enz is trying to build.”
Manitowoc Lincoln will begin the football season on Friday night, March 26th against longtime rival Fond du Lac at Rubick Field in what Greg Enz referred to as the renewal of the 151 rivalry.