This past weekend, the Washingtonville Wizards traveled to Warwick where the decisive game was played. The ending score was 27-43 thus showing that the boys put up a good fight. After over a season of grueling hard work and labor-intensive preparation, the Wizards unfortunately did not qualify to make it to the playoffs.
The season was like a rollercoaster; the Wizards started off rocky, and the turning point seemed to be the homecoming game with an incredible margin of victory that was, unfortunately, very short lived. From winning 24-14 against FDR on homecoming, to losing 0-34 against both Our Lady of Lourdes and Minisink, the Wizards definitely got a taste of both overwhelming victory and crushing defeat.
Senior left tackle Coleman Rossi has been playing for the Wizards for most of his life. His journey to the playoffs was not easy. “Not going to the playoffs was hard, especially because we didn't make it last season.” Coleman went on to say, “The season didn't go exactly how we planned. I was hoping to make it this season but we still had fun.”
Likewise, senior cornerback Timothy Mackay expressed, “I think the season didn't go well at all; we did much better last year.” Timothy still conveyed that “even though the record wasn't the best, [he] had a great time with some of [his] best friends.”
For both of their four years of high school and years of playing varsity football, the Wizards have, sadly, not made it to the playoffs. The Wizards were anticipating a comeback to secure their spot and compensate for all their hard work.
On Friday, October 25, 2024, the unfortunate events of the season came to a crescendo. The crowd was in a complete uproar, from parents yelling to student cheers turning into screams of frustration. Being the underdogs with an overall score of 2-5 motivated the Wizards amidst the rising tension while going up against a school with such an immense reputation. Ultimately, the final score sealed the Wizards’ fate, and as the lights faded, so did their aspirations of getting into the playoffs.
Despite the outcome, the support and motivation was unwavering, heard throughout the crowd from both parents and students. On the side lines, Wizards motivated each other to hopefully ameliorate the score. The Wizards' motivation quickly turned into drive sourced from their exasperation.
Although the playoffs are now out of reach, the Wizards still have one last home game against Cornwall to look forward to and hopefully end the season on a positive note. While the overall season was a humbling one, fans can wait expectantly for November 1st to be a memorable game where their losses will be replaced with a satisfying victory.
The Wizards have persisted in showing up and playing their absolute best, even amidst both difficulty and a sub-par record, and are optimistic that their persistence will pay off.
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