Energy, optimism and renewed spirit is not difficult to find on any Central New York high school football team in August as formal practices start and the promise of a great season remains ahead.
Yet there is particular enthusiasm in Chittenango about what might take place in 2019, due to a new yet familiar face to lead the Bears program and the players’ full commitment to seeking a championship.
Curt Kielbasa stepped down after last season, his teams having gone 14-11 in his three years at the helm, including a 4-4 mark last fall, and Chittenango didn’t look far to find his successor.
Bill Cretaro was not just a varsity assistant coach, but he had long and deep ties to Chittenango, having raised his family in the village and taught and coached at the high school for 30 years.
To a man, all of the returning Bears players supported Cretaro’s promotion. Senior lineman Nate Vivelo said that Cretaro “goes above and beyond” in his devotion to the team and is almost like a second father to his players.
But it isn’t just a new head coach that has Chittenango enthused. So does having 14 seniors back who are bent on improving from last fall’s defeat to eventual champion Skaneateles in the first round of the Section III Class B playoffs.
“They (the returning seniors) just weren’t satisfied with what they did last year,” said Cretaro. “They want to reach goals, and the key is having all our players feel that way.”
Senior lineman John Spencer said that players, throughout the summer, put in extra hours in the weight room, working at least six days a week and, at times, starting at 6 a.m.
“It’s a change in culture,” said Spencer. “We are working harder and are more focused.”
Who starts under center remained an open position battle during August practices. Senior Warren Tedford is the incumbent, but he could get some help from promising sophomore Aidan Cavotta, and Tedford will have plenty of solid talent around him.
Three players – Robert Connell, Nate Smith and Tavian Albertson – return at tailback, with Connor Van Patten and Nate Addison at fullback to give Chittenango lots of backfield depth.
Two more returnees, Nick Farr and Seth Kimball, line up at wide receiver, joined by Ethan Roble and Elias Clement, so there’s options there, too, behind what could be a formidable offensive line.
Five players return up front, led by Vivelo at guard and Spencer at center, with 300-pound Cody Hendrix at the other guard spot flanked by tackles Matt Eisenhut and Nick Korosec.
It’s imperative that they all stay healthy since they’ll form the heart of the Bears’ defensive line, too, with Hendrix and Vivelo flanked by the likes of Bryce Erickson.
With several players likely to go both ways, Smith, Kimball, Farr and Albertson will rotate at linebacker with Jake Inman, while in the secondary Connell and Cavotta could line up with Shane Kolb.
Of course, in order to get to the top of Class B East, Chittenango must, at some point, topple Cazenovia. The Bears will get a chance Sept. 21 when it visits Buckley-Volo Field, after it opens Friday at Mexico and then hosts Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Sept. 13.
“We do believe putting in all of these hours (of work) is what it takes to stop Cazenovia,” said Smith.
Tedford said the Bears were committed “24/7” to this season, and Cretaro said that kind of effort, combined with “guys working hard for each other and picking each other up”, could lead to something great.
Besides, added Cretaro, “the school year at Chittenango is a lot better when we have a good year in football.”
