In between practicing their tackling and blocking techniques this week, players on the Edmonds-Woodway football team spent time playing games one would never associate with the gridiron.
Egg tosses, frozen T-shirt contests, belly flop competitions.
What were these guys up to?
It’s all part of the fun at Camp Brotherhood, a wilderness retreat near Mount Vernon off Highway 9 that E-W visits every year. The trip is a key bonding experience that seems to unite all the players long before they face their first opponent.
Tony Heard, E-W’s senior tailback/inside linebacker, said he looks forward to Camp Brotherhood every year.
“We come together as a band of brothers. This is a great place to be,” Heard said Monday in between practice drills on one of the sports fields at the scenic, soothing camp site. “You’re so comfortable around these guys and you have a warm feeling in your heart.”
For $80 each, players get about six meals over three days and sleep two nights in a massive lodge, E-W head coach John Gradwohl said. At night they keep the good times going by watching sports movies like “Cinderella Man.”
More on Heard: The 5-foot-11, 230-pound bruiser already has a scholarship offer from the University of Washington. He said he’s also received interest from Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Washington State, Boise State and USC.
Even though he generally gets more attention for his achievements as a running back, Heard said his heart is on defense and he might play linebacker in college.
“I just feel more comfortable out there. I like to hit,” he said. “I like contact and you’ve got a better chance of delivering a blow on defense than you do on offense.”
Heard gained five pounds since last season but said he feels faster, which is undoubtedly a scary thought for anyone who will have to try tackling him this fall. How strong is this guy? Take a look at his weightlifting maxes:
*bench press: 325 pounds
*power clean: 325 pounds
*squat: 485 pounds
*incline bench press: 285 pounds
Heard doesn’t have as many proven skill players around him this season, but based on his improved strength and speed it should be another incredible year for the E-W star.
Read all about Heard and other local standouts next week in The Herald’s 2008 high school football preview.
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