Story and photos submitted by Junior Mustangs
Summer has finally arrived in London, and the Junior Mustangs football program is in full swing. Galloping in on the halfway point of the season, the program and its teams continue to represent London football successfully at the provincial level.
With the demand high for players at the Junior Varsity level, the decision was made to add a new entry into the Ontario Minor Football League. So far, the results have been outstanding. Led by Quarterback Cole Pelacek and a stout defense, the team has proven they will be in the mix to compete for a championship come August.
Our Atom team, which won the Ontario Championship last summer, was expected to experience a rebuilding year in 2014, but the players have continued to improve under Coach Richard Cooper. A playoff spot is not out of the question as these young athletes push the purple power forward.
The Peewees are currently ranked #2 in Ontario, and this special group — although saddled with a difficult schedule — will be successful as they move through a gauntlet of teams who would like nothing more than to upset them.
Bantam football is the age bracket where you can see 150-pound linemen squaring off against 200-pound boys. But this team, led by two-way player Siwon Lee and the positive coaching of former Western University O-Lineman Greg Wilson and his vibrant staff, makes sure these young athletes have fun and learn the proper skills. And, with a little luck from the football gods, maybe they’ll even earn a postseason appearance.
The Junior Varsity entry in the OVFL had high expectations, and so far they have not disappointed. Playing through a hellacious Adams conference schedule, the JV’s have put up some outstanding numbers, especially from Quarterback Ben Schmidt, who has been getting time to throw from a very cohesive offensive line. This group of players should make some noise come playoff time.
The traditionally strong Varsity program is again looking like it will challenge for the Adams conference title. Led by their ball-hawking defensive backs who lead the league in interceptions, this group of players is expected to bring the championship back to London. It’s still early in the year, and there are difficult games ahead, but this team has proven it can play with the best in Ontario.
The London Junior Mustangs would like to thank their families and volunteers as we move through the 2014 summer season, which is shaping up as perhaps our best to date. Registration is now open for the fall rep teams at the Atom, Peewee, and Bantam levels along with our new house-league (LMFL), which will take shape this fall. Please go to www.londonjuniormustangs.com for more information.
www.londonjuniormustangs.com
