Stands begin to clear out and cleats get hung up as high school sports come to a close with the end of the 2023-2024 school year approaching on May 17. However, the Redhawks football team is getting started on next year. 

“We’ve been going for a while all spring with sprinkling in some skill work with weights and conditioning,” head football coach Matt Swinnea said. “But starting yesterday, we are taking two solid weeks of install, where we’re trying to get all our schemes ready for the fall.”

For junior Khaleb Cooper, spring work has been about having fun getting back to the sport he loves.

“I am excited, it’s been fun,” Cooper said. “Because we have been playing seven on seven lately, but no tackle, but we finna have more fun. We finna start doing new plays and installing new positions.”

Many other schools also began getting ready for the 2024 season, but unlike other schools that are having practices in pads and a spring game, the Redhawks are choosing a more informal way to spend the weeks before the school year ends. This decision also gives the Redhawks an early start to fall practice. 

“I’m not sad we will not have a spring game,” sophomore varsity quarterback Khi Bunting. “We will have two scrimmages in August and more practice time in the summer.”

The team will begin their non-district games two weeks after school starts, with their first being on August 30th against Lebanon Trail.

“The season is right around the corner,” he said. “It feels good to be back in the swing of things and getting back into the season. We have to put in the work now so we’re prepared.”