The Wyomissing Spartans have a long, rich history in football including the last five straight District 3 Class 3A titles.
However, after losing a PIAA appeal this past January to remain in Class 3A, the Spartans will move up to Class 4A.
Head coach Bob Wolfrum, going into his 38th season, believes his team will compete at a high level regardless of who is on the opposing sideline.
Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum on the sideline against Conrad Weiser at Bob Wolfrum Field. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)
“Well, if we don’t win it (District title), it won’t be because it’s (Class) 4A,” Wolfrum said of the change. “There’s nobody in that division that we say, well, we can’t even think about beating them. There are a couple of good ones but the majority of the teams in 4A aren’t different than the ones we’ve been playing. I think we’ll be competitive there and who knows what happens this season.”
Wolfrum has instilled the same type of mindset into his players.
“To us, we’re just looking to play, it’s another football game,” Chase Eisenhower, a junior fullback and linebacker, said. “Got to play the best we can. No matter who we’re playing.”
“I think Coach Wolfrum actually enjoyed that we got moved up because it gives us a bigger challenge,” Derek Macrina, a senior running back and safety, said. “He hates having our big blowout games. So, a close game will be a nice challenge. Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
The Spartans went 12-2 a year ago and still garner respect around the state as evidenced by the first PIAA rankings poll released last week by Eric Epler of PennLive.com. Epler has the Spartans ranked fifth in Class 4A.
Just like after every football season, the Spartans graduated several big contributors including offensive and defensive lineman of the year Caleb Brewer, who is now at Penn State.
Even though it is hard to replace the talented players who graduated, Wolfrum believes younger players will step up and the Spartans won’t skip a beat.
“I think we have a really nice team,” Wolfrum said. “We’re loaded at the line positions. I think we have two of everything. We have skill players that we’re loaded with and they’ll all be back next year too. So you know, we’re going to be OK.”
The Spartans return their top two leading rushers in Eisenhower and Justice Hardy.
Eisenhower rushed for 1,075 yards and scored a team-high 18 touchdowns.
The junior isn’t worried about personal stats and achievements, he’s focused on winning.
“Just play week by week,” Eisenhower said. “Win each game that we can and keep the winning streak alive.”
Hardy rushed for 503 yards on 62 attempts, had 10 receptions for 197 yards, and had 12 total touchdowns in his freshman season.
Along with losing some valuable pieces on the field, the Spartans also lost three coaches this offseason.
“Our coaching staff changed a lot,” Wolfrum said. “I think between them they had 140 years of experience. I’m the oldest now, I was only the third oldest before so that’s going to make a difference. We always had extra guys just for that reason. When we lost people, the cover wouldn’t be bare as far as coaches. We’re going to miss those guys, for sure, but I think we’re OK as far as that goes.”
“We have two new coaches coming in and they both played in our system,” Macrina said. “They have a lot of experience. These guys played and they know what it’s all about.”
Wyomissing’s Derek Macrina breaks off a 60 yard run on the Spartans’ first offensive play in a 48-27 victory over Danville Friday in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal game at Shirk Stadium. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)
With high hopes, similar to every season, Wolfrum has a feeling the end might be in sight when it comes to his coaching career.
“Not like I did the first year,” Wolfrum said of how he feels going year 38 as head coach. “I feel more especially during camp when you’re out all day. When school gets in and we’re back to one a days then it’s a little easier. I do feel it now. I still love it.”
Wolfrum has spent more than 50 seasons on the Wyomissing coaching staff and even had the field at Wyomissing renamed after himself this past season.
“I’m at the point now where, I never said this before this year, it’s going be year-to-year now. I know I would really miss it. Probably if I did retire, if somebody would say, ‘you can go up in the booth’ and help that way, I would still do that.”
Wolfrum has coached his teams to 19 league titles, 12 district titles, and the 2012 PIAA state championship. Even with the years coaching the Spartans ticking down, what he has instilled in every one of his athletes will live on forever.
“I think we’ll always have the goal of trying to win every single game,” Macrina said. “We attack each week separately. We’re not trying to look too far ahead in the season, but I think we’re just excited to get there to compete and keep the winning tradition alive.”
Derek Macrina and Chase Eisenhower will look to lead Wyomissing to another successful season. (JARED MONTALTO – READING EAGLE)
A look at the Spartans
Coach: Bob Wolfrum, 38th season, 362-89-1.
Last year: 6-1 Lancaster-Lebanon Section 4, 12-2. District 3 Class 3A Champion. Reached the PIAA Class 3A semifinal.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Schedule: Aug. 24, Southern Columbia; Sept. 30, at The Haverford School; Sept. 6, at Academy of the New Church; Sept. 14, Northern Lebanon; Sept. 20, at Eastern Lebanon County; Sept. 27, at Donegal; Oct. 5, Daniel Boone; Oct. 11, at Twin Valley; Oct. 18, at Octorara; Oct. 26, Lampeter-Strasburg.
