New head football coach hopeful about Bees’ season
by John Benson
Going into the 2018 season, new Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Head Football Coach Martin Poder feels optimistic.
“I don’t believe anyone rises to low expectations,” said Poder, who spent the past five years as offensive coordinator at Stow-Munroe Falls High School. “We set out with a championship standard. My expectation is for us to come out of the gate and compete for a Suburban League Championship.”
Poder, who took over for Jason Simonetti, said his positive attitude started with his players’ work in the weight room over the spring and summer.
Expectations are high for sophomore quarterback Joe Labas, who started as a freshman and threw for 2,517 yards, 21 touchdowns. He completed 69 percent of his passes and was intercepted 13 times.
Poder said the 15-year-old is poised to take another step forward this season.
“At Stow, I had a quarterback who started as a sophomore, and by his junior year he was an all-state quarterback,” Poder said. “The benefit to Joe is that last year he started as a freshman and got 10 games under his belt. Even though we’re putting in a new offense and a lot more responsibility on his shoulders, it helps to already have experience, which you can’t replace.
“He is going to be a special talent. Right now, he’s learning the preparation part of being a successful quarterback in the Suburban League. When he understands that, the sky is the limit.”
Poder has high hopes for his three-pronged rushing attack, featuring junior Christian Mitchell, sophomore Garret Kubitz and senior Chris Hager. He’s optimistic about his receivers: junior converted running back Ronny Wilson and seniors Mitch Hager and Hayden Hebron.
“We also have sophomore receiver Jeremy Jonozzo,” Poder said. “Labas and him have been playing football together for a lot of years. There’s already a connection.”
Anchoring the offensive line are the bookends of Lukes: junior Luke Gibbons and sophomore Luke Kirin.
“Gibbons had one of the most impressive off-seasons I’ve been around coaching-wise,” Poder said. “Besides being a 4.1 honors student, I think he had nearly perfect attendance in the weight room and increased his core lift by 300 pounds. Kirin has the potential to be very, very good down the road for us. He’s very mature for his age.”
Poder said that defensively it starts with senior defensive end Henry Carroll and senior defensive end/tackle Tanner Watson. Senior wrestler Isaac Sell, who returns to the football team this year, joins the pair.
“At linebacker, we have seniors Nathan Hulten and Sean Clifford,” Poder said. “Then in the secondary, we’re looking at seniors Nick Hajek, Soren Osicka, Marco Regalbuto and John Jesser.”
Poder expects the Bees to significantly improve on their 4-6 record of last year.
“Our junior and senior classes are both mature and great leaders,” Poder said. “And our sophomore class might be one of the stronger classes to come through Brecksville in a long time.
“Everything is in place to have a successful season, as long as we continue to work hard and stay healthy.”