By Curran Coakley
Community Contributor
Following a narrow defeat to a strong Dover-Sherborn last Thanksgiving there was one emotion on the minds of all players and coaches as they closed out last season: hope.
The Warriors had come up just short against a DS side that had narrowly missed a Super Bowl a few days prior. Optimism for the future was aplenty. "We feel things are turning in Medfield Football," remarked head coach Erik Ormberg in an interview after the game.
In spending 5 minutes with this team, it is apparent that not only has this belief carried over to this season, but that every single player and coach agrees.
The Warriors enter 2023 as a veteran squad boasting 17 seniors, the largest senior class the team has had since 2017. It's a large jump from just 4 last year and the experience the rising seniors have will help the team in spades.
There are familiar faces on both sides of the ball, with 8 starters returning on defense and 6 returning on offense. The experience on this team even extends to the captains. Returning senior captains (CB/WR) Will Griffin and (TE/DE) Nick Gangemi bring seasoned leadership and recognized talent. Gangemi was selected as a Division 4 All-State player and TVL Large 1st Team All-Star for the 2022 season.
New captain and rising senior (RB/LB) Matthew Stevens is no stranger to the game. This EMass player of the week and defensive stalwart is entering his fourth year with the program. Stevens has a high football IQ from the linebacker position and his awareness and level-headedness make him a great captain for younger players to learn from and look to in big moments.
Quarterback Nick Hasapidis enters his senior season as the starter for three consecutive years. Hasapedis saw arguably his best performance with the Warriors on Thanksgiving against DS, in a game where he seemed to do all the little things right.
Other seniors to watch include cornerback Roman Schoenfeld, (RB/LB) Cal Gardiner, and (CB/WR) Tri-Valley All-Star HM Tommy Ojulape who will no doubt make it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to be successful through the air. Hard-hitting junior Nate Taris will provide a nice boost to Medfield's secondary as well.
One of the big names to watch this year will be sophomore running back and Medfield’s Rookie of the Year Brady McCormack. The Medfield rookie of the year was last year's breakout star rushing for 600 yards. His vision in finding holes and blocks is impressive for a young player and the two-sport track star has scorching speed once he gets enough space. Coach Ormberg had plenty of praise for the young halfback saying "He has a veteran presence about himself in the backfield and is one of the hardest-working players in the program."
Senior linemen Tyler Rosen and Declan Frazier along with the rising junior Luke Gobin will look to provide a clean pocket for Hasapidis as well as holes for McCormack as they've shown they can do in the past. The run game struggled with some inconsistency last year but became a strong part of the offense when it was working to full effect.
No matter how it shakes down, there is no question among the fans and players that the 126th season of Medfield football will be one of the most fun to watch in recent memory.
Medfield will begin their season on September 8 on the road at Medway. Follow @MedfieldAD on X/Twitter and @medfield_football_community on Instagram for news and updates.
