EL-Montrose football begins

BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

With Montrose football pre-season practices now underway, the team has some added talent as a number ofElkLakestudents are taking advantage of a football jointure agreement between the schools.

The jointure, which passed late last year, has seen eightElkLakestudents make the move to play for Montrose; six at the junior high level and two at the varsity level, according to varsity coach Russell Canevari.

Montrose superintendent Mike Ognosky said he believes this number will grow as the school year begins.

The primary goal of the jointure is to beef up the roster at Montrose.

“Our primary hope is that we will get increased numbers and participation which will make our overall football program deeper and stronger,” Ognosky said. “We are extremely hopeful that the junior high numbers will be increased over the next few years which will then strengthen our varsity program down the road.”

With the jointure just beginning, Ognosky feels that it will take some time to see the impact on the program.

“It will take time, we will receive some immediate impact, but our goal is to look at the program two years down the road and have a deeper talent base,” Ognosky said.

While it may take time for major results to happen, Elk Lake superintendent William Bush is optimistic.

“I think it is an opportunity that will benefit both schools and students,” Bush said.

ElkLakeassistant high school principal Brian Mallery said the biggest benefit of the jointure forElkLakeis giving the students to opportunity to continue competing.

“The biggest thing is giving the students an opportunity to compete,” Mallery said. “ElkLakehas never had football before, but a lot of our students have played in the youth programs.”

The process has gone smoothly thus far according to Mallery.

“Things have gone extremely well, and I think a lot of that goes back to already having a swimming agreement in place with Montrose,” Mallery said.

According to Ognosky, practices have gone well so far, and theElkLakestudents have been working hard.

“Players that have come to us fromElkLakeare working hard and incorporating themselves as teammates very smoothly,” Ognosky said.

Ognosky feels the additional athletes in the football program at Montrose will bring a new energy to the field.

Mallery said he hopes the increase in students fromElkLakewill help the Meteor team, given the jointure bumped Montrose up to PIAA Class AAA because of the boost in enrollment figures.

The Meteors will face a tough season competing against larger schools in Class AAA and look to improve upon an 0-10 2011 season record.

Montrose Area’s football team opens up its regular season atCarbondaleon Friday, Aug. 31, at7 p.m.