COUDERSPORT — Tom Storey is no stranger to what it takes to become a champion.
Back in his day, the former Coudersport High School athletic standout was a Big 30 All-Star in football at the end of his senior year for the Falcons.
More impressive is the fact that he crowned his 1988-89 season as a member of the CHS wrestling team with a Pennsylvania state championship in the PIAA tournament.
He continued to perform well on the grappling map as a member of the United States Naval Academy team where he got a taste of the NCAA national tournament.
After graduating from the Annapolis school, he embarked on a 20-year career serving in the Navy, where he did a tour of duty in Afghanistan and rose to the rank of Commander before retiring in 2013.
You could say he’s come full circle because he’s back at Coudersport now and is about to begin his first season as the Falcon’s varsity football coach, stepping in after two-year skipper Ben Cary resigned to spend more time with his young family.
“I think with my military background, I’ve developed some skills that I can pass on to our players,” Storey said. “I believe I can help build kids and teach them leadership skills.
“I was looking forward to coaching under Ben for a couple more years. Ben stepped down after last season to dedicate more time to his children.That happens. You need to have your priorities in order.”
“And while (Cary) wasn’t the head coach for very long, I think he got us pointed in the right direction,” Storey added. “Now it’s up to me to make sure we don’t slip backwards. It’s time to step up and do the deal.
“It makes you feel like you’ve done something right when you apply for this position and get asked to take it on.”
Cary, who led Coudy to a two-year record of 10-10, followed in the footstep of former Falcon QB Chris Fink, who was 20-25 over the five previous years.
“You hear a lot of people talk over the course of time,” Storey said. “I’ve known a lot of coaches over the years and there are times when you may not know a whole lot about the sport, but it’s how you deal with the kids and show your leadership skills.
“I’ve been a position coach … now I’m learning to be the Xs and Os guy.”
So what does Storey bring to the table?
“Over the last two years, I felt like I bought a lot to the program as far technique,” he said. “I go back to my days on the wrestling mat and know how important that can be. I think it’s just as important on the football field.
“It’s 11 individual battles out there throughout a game and if everyone is doing their technique right, the way they’re supposed to do it, the whole team comes to life.
“We’re seeing the kids start to believe in that building process,” Storey added. “And because of that, I think the kids who are back gained a lot from last year.
“I think a couple of our games a year ago could have gone a little different if the level of our conditioning was up a little bit more. I think the Bradford game (36-34 Coudy win) should not have gone into overtime. And Otto-Eldred could have been a different game and that could have changed the end of the season dramatically.”
After winning three straight games in midseason, Coudersport dropped a 24-14 decision to the Terrors in a game that ultimately decided the Allegheny Mountain League’s North Division regular season crown.
“I think Kane is a good example of what I’m talking about,” Storey said of the two-time defending AML and three-time defending District 9 champion Wolves. “They’re a school, like us, with a small talent pool.
“But their kids have bought into the program. They get it.
“Our guys are coming around,” he added. “We saw it start with their commitment to get to the weight room this summer. That’s where it starts.
“We may not have those 200-pound linemen across the front. So what we need is for the kids to believe in themselves … and they need to have heart and the willingness to stick their noses into the hard work for three seconds … to stand their ground for three seconds every time the ball is snapped. If they can do that, maybe against a bigger guy, they have done their job.”
Storey added, “When I was playing, one of my best blockers was Derrick Gooch and he wasn’t much more than 170 pounds. But he had the heart and determination to not fail. Football is a sport where heart can carry you through to victory.”
“Speed? I think we have the kind of speed that can match with most anybody we play … we showed that last year. We don’t have blazing speed, but it was speed nonetheless and we’ll be able to use it again this season.
“In terms of strength, I think it can go different ways. You can be a kid who can bench press 300 pounds or a kid who can bench press 125 pound 30 times in a row. No matter, if you have the heart and desire to hold your ground for just three seconds, it opens a seam and we can be off and running.”
“So there you have it,” Storey concluded. “It comes down to the basics. If you play with heart and play with the determination that you refuse to fail and then add to that the all-important three-second effort, you can make life miserable for any opponent.”
Storey lists the following assistants on his staff for the coming season: Dan Counts (offensive and defensive line), Mike Russell (defensive coordinator) and volunteer J.R. Page.
THE RETURNING starters:
Elijah Ayers, junior, 6-0, 190, center/defensive end
David Burd, senior, 6-0, 155, split end/cornerback
Matthew Daniels, sophomore, 6-2, 175, guard-tackle/defensive end
Jared Green, senior, 6-0, 185, split end/safety
Elliot Hite, senior, 6-0, 280, tackle both ways
Derek Keglovits, senior, 5-10, 150, split end/cornerback
Dillon Keglovits, sophomore, 6-0, 155, split end/safety
Stephan Kelly, junior, 5-8, 160, running back/safety
Kolby VanWhy, sophomore, 6-0, 150, tight end/linebacker
ALSO LETTERING were:
Travis Gleason, sophomore, 6-1, 175, end both ways
Mason Klesa, junior, 5-10, 145, split end-quarterback/cornerback
Thomas Wilson, sophomore, 5-9, 155, running back/linebacker
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense
Quarterbacks: Green, Klesa, Hayden Keck (fr., 5-10, 155)
Running Backs: Kelly, Keck, Wilson, Chase Whitman (sr., 6-0, 210), Chase Fuller (sr., 5-5, 145), Daniel Frame (so., 5-9, 130), Jacob Pitcher (so., 5-7, 140), Griffin Haskins (so., 5-10, 145), Brandt Kightlinger (fr., 5-10, 155)
Ends: De. Keglovits, VanWhy, Di. Keglovits, Gleason, Burd, Klesa, Frame, Ayden Seeley (sr., 5-1, 175), Josh Lawton (so., 5-11, 150), John Minor (so., 6-0, 155), Dalton Keglovits (fr., 5-7, 130), Josh Powell (jr., 5-8, 145), Garrett Watson (jr., 5-7, 140)
Guards: Daniels, Preston Cobb (jr., 5-9, 220), Brock Clay (fr., 5-10, 190), Brandon Neefe (jr., 5-10, 175), Jeff Gunn (sr., 5-11, 260), Owen Ott (fr., 5-11, 160), Brandon Goss (fr., 5-11, 240), Wyatte Osborne (jr., 6-2, 265), Ricky McCord (jr., 5-11, 205)
Tackles: Hite, Daniels, Cobb, Clay, Gunn, Goss, Osborne, McCord, Quinlan Bailey (jr., 6-2, 260), Kelly Amack (fr., 6-5, 265)
Centers: Ayers
Defense
Ends: Gleason, Daniels, Whitman, Ayers, Neefe, Ott
Guards/Tackles: Hite, Cobb, Gunn, Bailey, Goss, Osborne, Amack, McCord
Linebackers: VanWhy, Kightlinger, Wilson, Clay, Watson
Defensive Backs: De. Keglovits, Di. Keglovits, Kelly, Burd, Green, Klesa, Seeley, Keck, Frame, Lawton, Minor, Da. Keglovits, Fuller, Powell, Pitcher, Haskins
THE SCHEDULE:
August
25 – Ridgway 29, Coudersport 8
September
1 – at Bradford High
8 – Kane
16 – at Elk Catholic
23 – at Sheffield
29 – Cameron County
October
6 – at Smethport
13 – at Otto-Eldred
20 – Port Allegany
