Cardinals at 8-man summer football camp

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg High School football coaches, Gabe and Dane Kiefel, took seventeen players to an 8-man football camp in Elgin, Oregon. The Eastern Oregon University camp took place from June 15 to June 18.

The Cardinals had both a varsity and a junior varsity squad competing in 5-on-5 scrimmages, a passing league where players wear helmets but no pads. They also had 8-on-8 scrimmages with full pads.

Coach Gabe Kiefel said the teams did well throwing and catching the ball, running routes, and covering the routes on defense in the 5-man passing league. By the end of camp, the 8-man scrimmages were going smoothly.

There were eighteen teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and one from California at the camp. Athletes from Dayton High School joined with four players from Union to form a team for the competition.

Kiefel said spending evenings sharing meals and playing games helped bond the Cardinal team. Teams camped in tents on the grassy area around the university's track.

Kiefel told the boys that the football camp was where they could practice new things and find effective combinations to help the team hit the ground running in the fall. He said the players were committed to improving, and their commitment is starting to show. Kiefel said he cannot wait for this team to take-off.

Attending camp were seniors: Jared Hankins, Tucker Hamilton, Victor Whitmore, Isa Reyes, Martin Vasquez, and Kyle Lindsey.  Juniors JJ Gleason, Landen Henry, and Isaac Mahre. Sophomores Bryer Paul and Camdyn Vories. Freshmen Jake Lynch, Uriah York, and Liam Kiefel. Eighth graders Mitchell Hays, Abel Creely, and Arrow Groom.