Shorthanded Blizzards, new staff eager
to carry on tradition
DISTRICT 9-2A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
After a season that saw Winters play
deep into the fall, the Blizzards suffered a flurry of postseason
changes.
Chuck Lipsey, the head coach who led Winters into the playoffs
during both his first and second seasons? Gone.
The offensive and defensive coaches who helped Winters remain
a force in the tough District 9-2A? Gone.
Standouts such as fullback Mark Moreno, tight end Rusty Jackson
and tailback Jose Vega?
They’re all gone, too.
With just a handful of starters returning to the lineup, first-year
coach Bret Barrick and his staff are looking to rebuild this season
and continue the tradition of success seen in Winters over the
past decade.
The Blizzards, who went 12-3 overall in 2002 and 3-2 in District
9-2A, reached the state semifinals last season before falling
to Cisco 55-22, and have made a playoff appearance six seasons
in a row and eight of the last nine years.
With no coaches left from the previous season and so many seniors
graduating in May, coach Barrick was unsure just what his starting
lineup was going to look like.
“I’m a brand-new coach with a brand-new staff,”
Barrick said. “Every position is open.”
Starters expected to return include Eric Lopez, Benji Valles,
Jerry Hord and Jacob Bridgeman.
Lopez, 5-9, 165 pounds, played last season at tailback/defensive
back; Valles, 5-11, 160 pounds, played defensive back; and Hord,
5-9, 210 pounds, was a force on the offensive and defensive lines.
All three will return as seniors.
Bridgeman should also return to help the Blizzards up front.
The 6-1, 225-pound junior should suit up for the offensive line.
Other players with previous varsity experience projected to
return are Tim Fenwick, John Heathcott and Josh Cavanaugh.
A lack of experience, as well as the new coaching staff, is
expected to be a major weakness for the team this season.
Winters hopes that their tradition, though, will allow them
to take District 9-2A and the rest of the state by storm for the
elusive state championship.
SCHEDULE
August
29 at Menard 8 p.m.
September
5 Cross Plains 8 p.m.
12 Mason 7:30 p.m.
19 at Wall 8 p.m.
26 at Robert Lee 8 p.m.
October
10 at Bangs* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Goldthwaite* 7:30 p.m.
24 San Saba * 7:30 p.m.
31 at Jim Ned* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Coleman* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Winters Blizzards
- School colors: blue and white
- District: 9-2A
- Last year’s record: 12-3 (3-2, second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1998
- Head coach: Bret Barrick
- Career record: 0-0
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: WR-DB Matt Odom, OL-DE David Wood, TE-DL
Paul Morton, DLB-RB Todd Harrison
- Returning and/or probable starters: xx
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: none listed
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: none listed
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: tradition
- Team weaknesses: new coaching staff, inexperience
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