Gladiators garner glory on the gridiron

By Ginny Privitar
GOSHEN — The Goshen Gladiators have had a fantastic football season. What was different about this year, and this team, that they recaptured the Spirit Award after 13 years, and clinched the Class A Division II title for the first time in 20 years?
“You know what it is? It's a core group of students who have played this game together for a very long time, who know each other well, and they’ve worked really hard,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matthew O’Brien. “They demonstrated exceptional leadership and worked very hard, and I also think our coaches have done a terrific job.”
O'Brien praised the Gladiators' coaches. They work extremely hard, seven days a week, he said. They did an excellent job of leveraging the kids' strengths and designing a strategy that allows the players to do what they do well.
“For example, we're lucky to have QB Matt Giordano, an excellent thrower of the football,” O’Brien said. “Our style of play allows him to throw the football.”
Their style is a little different, with more emphasis on passing, and with more long shots down the field, he said. And it’s working.
“We've asked the quarterback to throw the ball quickly, and we have talented receivers on offense,” O’Brien said.
Giordano’s accurate passes and quick receivers who can catch the ball have made for a successful season.
Head Coach Ed Killenberger is now in his seventh season.
"It's been a process of kids who've been together a long time, brought up from sophomores, with the ability to not let things bother them,” Killenberger said. “They're a mature bunch of kids on this team who get it. When things go down, they’re able to overcome it and move on. We set goals and work for end goals.”
Killenberger emphasizes the parallels between the game and life.
“Like life; things go wrong, and you overcome them."
Humorously, O’Brien added in an aside: "On JV, I was actually their head coach, and they were excellently coached."
Killenberger and assistant coaches Tom Tamburri, Kevin Frey, John Mardyniak, John Pezzullo, Marty Smith, Tom Giordano, and Rob Corter all contributed to the Gladiators' glorious season.
Back in the gameJordan Weaver, defensive end and wide receiver, is one example of the team's grit. He hurt his knee last year and was out for the season. The senior rejoined the team this year and is having a great year.
"It was a tough thing to go through, watching my teammates play all year, and not being able to participate with them," he said. "During spring practice, I went to jump for a ball and my knee popped. I ended up fracturing my kneecap."
His doctor gave him two choices: surgery or physical therapy. Jordan chose physical therapy and says he did better without surgery.
"We got off to a good start this season," Jordan said. "I feel like I stepped up my play with all my coaches helping me. And they helped me improve as a person.”
The team has been getting together more during the off-season and putting in more work. “We have better chemistry as a team," he said.
Jordan, a senior, has played with the others four years, but says a lot of his teammates have played together since their days in the youth league. Jordan plans to go on to study physical therapy.
So it’s been a heady several weeks for the Goshen Gladiators, who won the Spirit Trophy in a 14-7 win over the Warwick Wildcats on Oct. 5 for the first time in 13 years, and now the division title. The Goshen Gladiators beat New Paltz 29-14 on Oct. 13 to clinch the Class A Division II title, its first in 20 years. Goshen begins its postseason run in the semifinal round on Friday, Oct. 26 — a win there could lead to a potential Class A section title run. At 7 p.m., Goshen will meet New Paltz again at Dietz Stadium in New Paltz. Go Gladiators!