GHS ‘practice’ players make regulars better
Gilroy – Call them the “three grunts,” but don’t minimize the importance of Raymond Gonzales, Peter Guenther and Jaime Jensen to the Gilroy High School football team.
They are the three sophomores on the varsity team, the guys who run scout team and who do generally anything that is asked of them without complaint or the expectations of significant playing time.
“They have major roles in what we do in practice,” said coach Rich Hammond, preparing the Mustangs for their Tri-County Athletic League opener tonight with Salinas. “All three of them will be huge parts of what we do the next two seasons. They are three guys who work hard and never complain. They show a lot of character. When kids play varsity as sophomores, they’re usually very good as juniors and studs as seniors.”
The three sophs and the rest of the Mustangs start their “second season” tonight with the Tri-County Athletic League opener. The Cowboys are coming off a 31-10 defeat to Archbishop Mitty. Salinas is led by 215-pound senior running back Andrew Russo, who has rushed for 383 yards and six touchdowns. Senior place-kicker Chris Pinto gives the Cowboys another scoring option as he has booted two field goals.
But for the first time in three weeks, GHS will not be facing a talent deficit when it faces Salinas. Because the game figures to be close, the three sophomores will undoubtedly spend most of their time on the GHS sidelines. They’ll be ready to play, though.
“I get the defense ready for the week,” said Gonzales, a center who saw action against Oak Grove when starter Jonathan Bobadilla was out with an injury. “”It’s hard because these guys (I go against) are very good defensive linemen. It’s a matter of me holding up my end. Hopefully, it will pay off.”
Jensen saw mop-up duty in the game against Oak Grove. He also takes a realistic approach to his situation.
“I’m pretty much a practice player,” said Jensen, a quarterback. “I’ve learned more by being up here than I would playing on the junior varsity. It’s getting all of us ready for next year and will make us better.”
Guenther agrees. He’s listed as the No. 3 cornerback behind Sebastian Muro and Ryan Costa. He’s also one of the fastest players on the team.
“I think we’re all ready to step up when coach needs us,” Guenther said. “We’ll be a bigger part of the team next year because we decided to take the challenge this year and play varsity.”
They’re all good friends and multiple-sport athletes. The 6-1, 220-pound Gonzales, a transfer from Silver Creek, throws the shot put and discus in track. Jensen, a 6-2, 180-pounder is a basketball and volleyball player. Guenther, a 5-10, 155-pounder, plays soccer and runs track.
For now, however, they are as important as a 100-yard rusher, 200-yard passer or player with 10 tackles. After all, these are the players they go up against every day in practice.
