Jake Beistel,17, of Scottdale and Ryan Francis,17, of Tarrs are two Southmoreland seniors who have given their time to help with midget football through the school district.
Beistel, who has had a love for the sport ever since he was 5 has been playing football for nine years and counting. He helps with division 3 – the youngest players ages 6 to 7 – of the Southmoreland Area Midget Football Association coached by Ron Smith.
For Beistel, the transition from player was nothing but a breeze for the linemen as he began his position as coach.
“Walking onto the field for the first time as a coach was a little nerve-wracking,” said Beistel, “I wasn’t sure how the kids would react having me there.”
Beistel, 17, is able to juggle everything smoothly despite having a busy schedule, and the young players he coaches are glad that he can. They are excited to have him on the sidelines for their team.
“He’s supportive, fun, and is always there for us,” said Ty Whoric, 7, who plays running back.”He never misses a practice.”
Jake said his parents, Stacey and Kurt Beistel, are very encouraging, supportive, and critical of everything he does on and off the football field.
“My mom always told me to give back as a kid, and once I saw the opportunity to coach I took it.”
Coach Smith said he appreciates the attitude that Jake brings to the team.
“He’s a dedicated and a hard working kid, and he’s definitely a positive tool on the team.”
Coach Smith said he hopes he will get more boys to step up to help coach the team in the years coming.
”To the kids having Jake is like having an NFL player here coaching them,” he said.
Francis also decided to take on the responsibility of helping Coach Al Govern’s division 1 – ages 11 to 12 – midget football team. Francis got the opportunity to coach after he attended a practice to work with just a few kids, but a unique bond quickly developed with all the boys on the team. The forming of these bonds inspired Francis to expand his involvement and become a coach.
“I fell in love with the kids,” said Francis. “They’re like my little brothers, and I wish I could’ve gotten involved sooner than my senior year.”
Coaching has given Francis a new view on the midget football organization, and he hopes to stay involved with the midget football program after he graduates and continues into college. For Francis, making the transition from player to coach was like “a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders.”
The weight is back on his shoulders though when he walks on the field as a player once again. Sept. 25 Friday night football game was a game full of emotion for Francis. After a close loss, he went back to the bus full of anger, but that changed in the blink of an eye. Francis received a candy gram thanking him for all the help he’s given Kaleb Tkacs, a boy he coaches on his midget football team.
“It made me feel warm inside,” Francis said. “It made me realize that what I’m doing has an impact on him.”
Francis has been assisted by Andrew Polokovsky, 17, who has been playing football for 12 years. Polokovsky wears number 5 in remembrance of Brandon Rice, a childhood friend who died in 2011. Rice’s baseball number was 5. Polokovsky has been coaching the midget team for a week now.
“I know all these kids, and I’ve had such great coaches in the past. That made me want to give back to them and the kids,” Polokovsky said.
With the three boys being seniors, the midget coaches hope for upcoming juniors and seniors to step up and help coach in the coming years.
Coaches Al Govern and Lonnie Potoka had nothing but nice and encouraging things to say about the three high school player/coaches.
“The younger kids look up to them as role models,” said Potoka. “They see them as player to player, rather than coach to coach.”