WING-TEHACHAPI Mountain Football plays host to National Offensive Football Camp

PICK-SIX - In scrimmage action, Jason Hail makes a reed on a screen pass during the National Offensive/Wing-T camp held in June at Tehachapi High School. Hail will be one of the highlights of a deep and vested linebacking corps for Mountain Football this upcoming season.

Posted 07-05-08

TEHACHAPI NEWS - Nearly 300 athletes from four different schools converged at Tehachapi High School this past weekend for the National Offensive and Wing-T Football Camp, the precursor to an upcoming intense summer for the Warriors leading up to football season in a few months.

The camp features some of the best minds in both college and high school football and is headed by Steve Verbit, who has coached 23 seasons as defensive coordinator at Princeton University. Verbit’s roots in the wing-t are strong, helping the University of Delaware to a Division II national championship in 1979 using the offense.

“It’s always nice to be in Tehachapi because Steve Denman is an unbelievable great host,” said Verbit. The school and the boosters do a great job preparing for the camp and taking care of every coach and every camper that’s involved. This camp attracts hard working teams much like Tehachapi, and we have a group of people here that are hard workers and good listeners.”

Tehachapi has hosted Verbit and his staff five of the past six years. The primary instruction for the camp is the Wing-T offense, a system that Tehachapi has used to win two CIF championships in 2003 and 2007 and five SSL championships since installing the system in 1996.

“The coaches taught us how to use our arms and proper blocking,” said lineman Drew Howell. “It helps getting together for camps like this to see new competition.”

The camp instruction lasted from Friday to Sunday, from approximately 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Teams in attendance included Highland-Bakersfield, Selma, San Dimas, and Tehachapi. Each team had an opportunity to scrimmage during the camp along with learning fundamentals of various techniques in the wing-t, spread, no-huddle spread, and multiple, one, and two back offenses.

“We’re learning fundamentals of the game and perfecting our position,” said returning offensive lineman Vince Ortiz. “We get competition early; it’s good for our team. Last year we had to play catch-up a little bit but this year we’re going to be ready for two-a-days. We have a lot of returners back and a lot of guys hungry to fill the positions that are open.”

The offense that Tehachapi will be perfecting, the Wing-T, has original roots stemming from the University of Delaware, where head Coach Harold R. “Tubby” Raymond installed the then-revolutionary offense with his Blue Hen team during his tenure from 1966-2001. Raymond, who coached his final season at the turn of the century, compiled a 300-119-3 record in 422 games with Delaware, winning the UPI small college national championship in 1971 and 1972, and the NCAA Division II National Championship with camp director Verbit in 1979.

“Overall I’d say that the Wing-T that we’ve been doing every year is a large part of the success of our program in the early stages,” said Warrior Head Coach Steve Denman. “When you have a chance to get together and run plays and learn from some great minds, it helps us fine tune many different aspects of our program and get the players on a higher level heading into summer practice.”

The impressions generated by the Warriors this past weekend have many believing that Tehachapi can take what they learned and apply it towards a successful season.

“Tehachapi kids are very similar each and every year,” added Verbit. “This town has a group of highly dedicated and committed young men. They’re coachable, they play with energy, they play with enthusiasm, and they believe in themselves and they believe in their system. There is a great amount of trust that they have for one another. There’s no question from what we’ve seen, they had a great year last year and I fully expect Tehachapi to match that great year this upcoming season.”

Hit and Fly!

	Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament this Month! The Warrior Boosters will be holding a golf tournament on Saturday, July-26 at Horse Thief Country Club in Stallion Springs. The tournament will be a four person scramble at $80 per person. The fee includes green fees, cart, lunch, and prizes, with the day’s festivities also including first and second team putting contests, closest to the pin and longest drive along with the main competition. Space is limited, to reserve a spot in the event contact Booster Club president Chuck Hansen at 304-2167, 823-9870 or hansen587@sbcglobal.net. The tournament will raise money towards funding for Warrior events in the fall, winter, and spring sports season and provide funding for scholarships to deserving Tehachapi High athletes. This year’s tournament will honor long-time booster supporter Lars Oberg. On another fundraising note...a special thank you to Ed Grimes and the rest of the Tehachapi city staff for another successful 4th-of-July Pancake Breakfast!  The event raised over $1,000 for the football program.  Thank you Ed!
	Booster Membership 'Kickoff Sports Dinner' Coming in August Be sure and check the upcoming Tehachapi News sports page in late July for date/time on the upcoming Warrior Booster Sports Kickoff Banquet. Dinner attendance will give you an opportunity to join the booster club and buy "green seats" at the Warrior football games.  The date of the event is tentatively scheduled for the second week in August, most likely Thursday (14th) or Friday (15th). Booster Annual Membership is $35.00, which will give you the following: ** Warrior Hat and T-Shirt ** Access to purchase Football ‘green seats’ ** Exclusive opportunity to apply for booster scholarship for child in THS Sport ** Email newsletter ** Name listed in sports programs as Booster Supporter If you will be not able to attend the Sports Kick-off Banquet, email hansen587@sbcglobal.net to inquire how to become a member for 2008-2009.  Warrior alumni and supporters across the country and abroad are ENCOURAGED to become members!  GO WARRIORS!
	Be sure to tune in frequently to get the latest new, highlights, and commentary!  Also, check out the statistical highlights on all Warrior sports on maxpreps.  On maxpreps, a link to each Tehachapi sport can be found by scrolling on the left-hand side of the page.  Thanks to all of you for logging in and supporting Tehachapi High School Warrior athletics!