High school football preview: Things starting to feel stable for Oberlin

No matter if you're building a home, a skyscraper or a football team, the first thing you need is a strong foundation. After years of turnovers, trials and tribulations, Oberlin feels like that foundation is finally in place. Phoenix coach Kenny Washington is returning for a second year and trying to bring the stability the program has lacked in recent years. "We had the guys for a full offseason. It gave us a chance to get back to the basics," Washington said. "It's a big difference, the players know the system and the coaches. We were able to build a consistent workout schedule for them. Consistency is the main thing we focus on every day."Since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Oberlin has endured one of the worst stretches of football in the school's long history. The Phoenix is in the midst of a 30-game losing streak and is 2-44 over the last five seasons. Oberlin has won only one Lorain County League game in the six-year history of the conference and it hasn't won back-to-back games since September of 2018, when it defeated Trinity and Brookside and was 2-2 after four weeks of the season. Despite the struggles, the Phoenix has a strong group of eight seniors — led by veteran quarterback Drew Walter — that have worked hard to ensure that better days are ahead. "I play for the community and my family," Walter said. "I always wanted to make them proud. That is what pushes me to come out here every day."Washington pointed to his seniors, specifically mentioning Walter, Carmello Williams and Mason Rosenthal, as role models who are leading the transformation of Oberlin football. "I think they are strong young men and I give them their flowers for sticking it through," Washington said. "After last year they understand they are the pillars of what we're trying to build there. They have sacrificed over and over again but I think they understand the first few pillars are going to be rough and it's going to take some time, but they are building something special here and eventually they will see the fruits of their labor."Senior wide receiver Jackson Cikalo sees the improvement in the program and he's hoping he's around long enough to see the payoff. "It's been going a lot better," Cikalo said. "Since I was a freshman we've had a new coaching staff every year, so it's really important to me that we have the same coaching staff this year."I stuck with football because of the people around me and I love playing football. We've all been playing together since freshman year so I just couldn't leave them. I want to leave it out there. I definitely want to win a game this year."Senior Korrie Freeman agrees with his teammates that having Washington and his staff back for a second year has made a huge difference as the Phoenix prepares for its season opener against Wickliffe on Friday at Oberlin College. "It feels great coming into the new season with the same coaches," Freeman said. "We're able to just build off of last year. We have to all just stick together."Walter remembers the worst of times for Oberlin in 2023 when the Phoenix had to cancel its Week 8 game against Wellington when it didn't have enough healthy players. Now Oberlin has over 20 players on the roster and is hoping to build on those numbers once classes begin Aug. 25. "I remember my sophomore year we had to cancel a game because we didn't have enough people, so we understand how important it just to make it through and have a healthy team," Walter said. "The goal this year is to win some games. I want everyone to finish the season healthy and I want us to grow as a program."Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.