New football pitch almost ready
Posted at 8:17 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022
Jim Kozuch has seen a lot as the Washington High School Boys’ Football Coach. However, as he enters his 17e season on the pitch, he hopes to see something new in the next two weeks – a permanent home for the Pam Pack football teams.
Fundraising for the new facility that borders the western edge of the school grounds began in 2018.
Five years later, Kozuch hopes the end is finally in sight.
“Hopefully we’ll be playing on the pitch in three weeks,” Kozuch said. “The lights are on and the electricity will be on any day now. We have a new dashboard and the stations are ready, so that’s the next one to be installed. We’ve borrowed a few small sets of bleachers at Kugler Field, so we’re almost ready. The grass is almost there too, so we’re getting closer.
The team held pre-season training at Kugler Field and will play the first home games at Wagner Stadium as in the past.
The Pack lost three seniors from last year’s team that finished 14-6-1 with a trip to the second round of the 2A state playoffs.
They did not win the Eastern Plains Conference title for the first time in several years as Greene Central went through the schedule undefeated and lost the state championship game on penalties.
“It will be us and them again this year,” Kozuch said. “Their 50 goal scorer from last year is back but I can’t wait to play them again. We played well against them here last year and it’s always fun to test yourself against good opponents .
Senior captain Luke Brown returns to the left wing with classmates Connor Edwards in central midfield, Reid Apple in defense and Roger Cano in goal providing experience in key positions.
“These guys are going to do a lot for us and we have youngsters who are going to help us too,” Kozuch said. “Will Glover played a lot in college as a rookie and Edgar Quevado is a good finisher as a striker. If we can figure out how to get the ball to him, he has a good chance of putting it in the back of the net. .
The Pack opened the season with a 3-0 loss to JH Rose in Greenville on Tuesday and then beat New Bern, 4-1, in Thursday’s home opener. Glover, Brown, Apple and Ivan Machado scored.
“It’s the first time we’ve beaten New Bern in 17 years here,” Kozuch said. “We played well and I’m really proud of my guys.”
The season continues Monday at home against Havelock.
