The Hornets’ annual trip helps build relationships that are critical to the program’s success

Teddy Prusok was not going to give up.

Looking out over the picturesque landscape of the Allegheny River, Kirtland football coach Tiger LaVerde was actually ready to give up.

“I don’t think we’re going to get anything today,” LaVerde said as Prusok reeled in the line on the rod.

Prusok conceded.

“Come on Coach, you have to give me one last cast,” Prusok begged as he tossed the lure back into the rocky inlet of the river.

Prusok felt a rush of fish, brought it into the boat and captured another memory of the Kirtland football team’s annual trip to their coach’s hometown.

For 19 years, LaVerde would gather his team and drive them to his mother’s house in Oil City, Pa., for a weekend full of football, team bonding and fellowship. The weekend begins with a trip to Pittsburgh to play in the University of Pittsburgh’s 40-team 7-on-7 tournament and is booked with a 7-on-7 tournament in LaVerde’s hometown.

Meanwhile, the Hornets are staying at the house where LaVerde grew up, swimming and fishing in the river, playing wiffle ball, watching movies and, in short, just hanging out.

For 19 years, the Hornets dominated the football field. This is evidenced by the seven state championship trophies and five runner-up trophies that are kept in the school’s trophy case.

Of course, weightlifting and training are important to the success of the program. But if you ask LaVerde and his players, an unsung and often overlooked component of their success is the tight bond between the team, which was greatly strengthened by the trip to Oil City.

“This stuff is huge,” Prusok said. “It really helps bring the team together. The more chemistry you have outside of the game of football, the more chemistry you will have in the game of football. This is vital to the success of our team.”

As usual, the Hornets performed well at 7-on-7 in Pittsburgh, finishing second out of the 40 teams that played there. At the end of the trip, they won 7-on-7 at Franklin High, not far from their alma mater Oil City LaVerde.

Meanwhile, they had fun and made memories. Oh, they ever did.

“We do this every year,” LaVerde said. “My mom likes it. She prepares food for everyone. We go to the river, play Wiffle ball, fish, watch movies. We’re playing twice 7v7 this trip, but in between we’re having as much fun as we can.”

To make sure the team cohesion he’s looking for comes to fruition, LaVerde takes each player’s cell phones as the team boards the bus and leaves. Players get their cell phones when they get close to home to call their parents to come and pick them up.

“It’s something they’ll remember forever,” LaVerde said. “Things that children remember in the future are not always related to football. Usually they don’t. But when these guys look back in 10, 20, 30 years, they’ll remember that trip with their friends and things like fishing on the Allegheny River.”

Another bright event is the Wiffle ball tournament. This year’s tournament was won by LaVerde, fellow coaches Ryan Beeler and Lino Disapri, and LaVerde’s longtime friend Del.

“Who is good at Wiffle ball?” senior tight end Jackson Carestio said. “Max Paul… and any LaVerde. A coach can be the best Wiffle ball player. He is GOOD.”

Paul, Kirtland’s senior starting quarterback after incumbent Jake LaVerde went down with a broken arm, said he can hold his own.

“I mean, I don’t like to give myself too much credit, but I can play,” he said. “It’s just a fun trip. Great for team building. At first you’re afraid to give up your phone for a few days, but then you realize it’s so much fun to chat with friends.”

This year’s ride took an interesting turn when players sprawled across the floor of a sprawling house watching the horror film The Conjuring were uprooted by a bat flying around the house.

“I think everyone was jumping and screaming,” Paul said with a laugh. “Luckily, Coach came in and took care of that for us.”

In a few days, Kirtland will bring its 10-0 record — the 13th unblemished regular season in the LaVerde era — into the first game of the Division VI, Region 21 playoffs against visiting Rootstown (4-6). The ultimate goal, of course, is the program’s eighth state title in program history.

The Hornets are often in this situation.

You know what else they do a lot? Spend the weekend getting together as a team in the hills of Pennsylvania. No phones. No distractions. Just guys who talk and like to spend time together.

“This trip is extremely important to who we are as a team,” senior Niko Samak said. “Being from such a small school, we are all close. Such actions help us become who we are.”

Max Paul went even further.

“You only get a few experiences like this — never,” Paul said. “You should use them because you will remember them forever.”