Raptors relying on resiliency

Three years ago, Carlton and Wrenshall combined for high school football and played their first season as a junior varsity team. Head coach Brent Pokornowski has been working on a five-year plan to slowly bring the Raptors football program along so that they can compete on Friday nights.

"Our first year we had 22 players, and last year we had 36 players," Pokornowski said. "This season we are up to 46 athletes. We are slowly trying to build a program with numbers that can come out and compete every night we play."

Currently, the Raptors are ahead of schedule as far as numbers of players. Much of that has to do with the cooperation between the two schools and the principals.

"Warren Peterson, the principal at Carlton, and Michelle Blanchard at Wrenshall have been so supportive in trying to make this work," Pokornowski said. "I came from Dassel-Cokato, which also went through this process. We are at the point where I can't even tell the difference as to which school an athlete comes from. That means everyone is buying into the team concept we are pushing."

So far, the season has been a struggle. On Friday, the Raptors lost 66-0 to Sebeka. Showing their resolve, the athletes have stayed positive.

"After the game on Friday, I sat back and listened, and I did not hear one negative comment from the players," Pokornowski said. "The guys are resilient, they never give up. They are working so hard and they are engaged in the process.

"They are not happy with the losses, but they understand we have a lot of work to do and they are more than willing to do it."

This year's team features three seniors, including Xander Hall, who is playing in his first season, and was discovered by Pokornowski while working at a Carlton gas station.

"Xander has the heart of a lion even though this is his first year of playing football," said Pokornowski. "We also have Shane Lavamaki, who plays both guard and nose tackle, and Alex Murray, who plays guard and defensive end for us. They are quality people."

The biggest challenge for the coaching staff is having patience to teach the game to players new to the sport.

"Simple things, like how to run a sweep, a trap and what their assignments are, are things we have to work on each day," Pokornowski said.

Despite having to build from the foundation, Pokornowski is extremely positive with how things are progressing.

"To see these two communities come together is amazing," said Pokornowski. "It makes it all worthwhile."