Speaker 1: 0:00

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Speaker 2: 0:29

Welcome to the bubble lounge.

Speaker 1: 0:30

I'm Nellie shuteau and I'm Martha Jackson and boy is it hot outside, martha. I mean it has been a hundred nine, like Consistently, and it's just miserable. It's like why did I even take a shower? I know I know well, just don't I Mean you might as well not, because if you walk from your car into the building, for example, you smell bad.

Speaker 2: 0:53

And your hair looks ugly, so why?

Speaker 1: 0:54

bother. That's kind of where we are in Texas right now.

Speaker 2: 0:57

It's bad. It's bad hair time. It just is. No matter what you do, it's bad.

Speaker 1: 1:01

I know well it seems like it's about a month after school starts that the evenings anyways start getting a little cooler, and I'm very much looking forward to that. I am too. I cannot wait for fall. I know well, fall technically kind of kicks off tomorrow night for Highland Park when we have our first, first football game. It's Friday night lights, and I'm so pumped up for it.

Speaker 2: 1:19

No, I think it's really exciting and I love that we have all the captains, because there are so many on today, because they're just really Nice young men and they're very inspirational.

Speaker 1: 1:30

Well, I this is our second year to do the captains and have them on the show and I just I love how well spoken there they're so polite, they're so articulate and they're so professional and do such a good job of talking about the program in general and just all the positive things that it has to offer.

Speaker 2: 1:45

So, in today's show we have Wilson axley, west geesey, warren Peck, case Pickleman and Henry Richter guys.

Speaker 1: 1:53

Thank you for being here. Let's start with you, wilson. Let's go around and just introduce yourself and tell us how you got into football.

Speaker 3: 1:59

I'm Wilson axley. I play running back and I got into football when I was. I've played since I was as young as I can remember. I Mean just the why really brought it out of me, I'd say, competitive nature through that and playing against my friends every day, whether that be in the backyard or and at the playground in elementary school.

Speaker 4: 2:22

I'm Henry Richter. I'm a defensive end. I started getting into football Just growing up playing flag football. I didn't start playing tackle football till my freshman year of high school, and so that was definitely kind of a different route than everybody else. But just playing flag football, kind of learning how to move your body, and then didn't start playing tackle till my freshman year.

Speaker 5: 2:40

I'm west geesey, I play cornerback and I mean Same as them. I've just been playing football as long as I can remember with the YMCA and just with my friends. I'm Warren.

Speaker 6: 2:52

Peck, I'm a quarterback and I really got into football at a very young age, like three or four, just watching my brothers YMCA games and just Seeing how fun it looks.

Speaker 7: 3:03

I'm case pickleman, I'm a sinner and I kind of gone to football, you know, since my neighborhood, you know, used to have a lot of kids and so we just go out and, you know, go out to whoever had the biggest front yard and, just you know, play some football there. And then I got an attack on football in around fifth grade.

Speaker 1: 3:22

Well, you guys are doing a great job, and usually there's not quite so many captains. Why is there five this year? I?

Speaker 3: 3:30

Mean we just have a talented team and we have five, five talented, really talented guys that Coach Allen thought would all meet the criteria of being captain this year.

Speaker 2: 3:40

Well, also, it's a leadership position, so I'm sure it was based on your leadership skills, all of you, you know, which translates so well into college etc. I mean, you're all seniors, so I imagine you're starting to think about that.

Speaker 4: 3:52

Yes, man, college is definitely something we're all thinking about right now. It's definitely very stressful right now. We're gonna college essays and stuff. Yeah, we both know ours.

Speaker 1: 4:01

Both of ours just graduated last year, so it feels really good not to have seniors this year.

Speaker 2: 4:05

Yeah, more power to you.

Speaker 1: 4:08

So, being a captain, everyone's looking up to you. How do you lead the team? How do you keep them pumped up and energized?

Speaker 6: 4:14

Um, I would say, like you lead by example. You let them know how you want things to be done through your actions and then you go through with it. So if you want everyone to be super excited, you got there yelling, having fun, and People will follow.

Speaker 5: 4:31

I Think one of the main things is like when things get hard, you just have to be a type of person that people can look up to.

Speaker 4: 4:44

Yeah, I think West said it great just being someone like people can rely on and look back to if something goes wrong, like just having that's like kind of like that brick, kind of just to fall back on to and have kind of a sense of home, almost like having someone you can go talk to if you're actually struggling on the field or off the field.

Speaker 2: 5:00

Like just having someone to talk to you, sure, sure no, there's our interesting comments, because I always think of sports as a metaphor for life. I really do think so, and it's such great training for life. Because of that, you know, and I have a question for you all, it has been so Hot I was trying to think of an adjective. I could say on air, it's been so hot. How is training going and how do you gear up for that kind of thing?

Speaker 3: 5:22

I think running camp was extremely important this year. We Put the intensity to a new level, new level at running camp this year and I think that's been super important.

Speaker 4: 5:34

Going into practice, we've been in better shape than ever before, so yeah, I mean definitely having the indoor helps to I during the summer. We do our summer training from two to four in the afternoon, so that's really hot, and so having that indoor is something, a fantastic tool to have that helps us Stay from overheating in the summer, basically yeah, and the trainers are obviously doing their best to keep us hydrated.

Speaker 5: 5:59

They're giving us like pickles and you know, the Gatorade during practice.

Speaker 2: 6:06

So the whole pickle juice thing is so funny to me. I pretend as that I was watching Patrick Mackenor with Wimbledon. He was like what's with the pickle juice? Because all the pros were drinking pickle juice. But apparently it really hydrates you right.

Speaker 4: 6:17

Yeah, it's all the sodium in it, I'm pretty sure okay, helps helps you retain the water.

Speaker 2: 6:23

What is your commitment to football as seniors, because you're gonna have so much else going on. Like, do you get there super early in the morning? You know, for people out there who don't realize the kind of rigorous schedule you all have.

Speaker 4: 6:32

I know on the defensive side of the ball we have every Monday before our games we have a meeting at seven o'clock in the morning. It's really not that bad. But when they start to add up and then you watch film as a position group on Tuesdays it's usually 715 7 in the morning. Wednesdays usually kind of an off day, you don't really have film. And then Thursdays, I know the defensive one and Hottles one and two get together, we go watch film at someone's house, usually kind of later at night, after our team dinner, you know home, kind of hang out for a little bit and then we watch film Thursday night at someone's house.

Speaker 3: 7:05

Okay, and I think to add on to that, you have the recovery aspect of that as well. Trainers do a good job of putting out ice baths and whatnot. That also takes time to recover, to be able to go at it again the next day.

Speaker 2: 7:18

So so Martha's got her son going off to. Blake's gonna play football as a freshman. If there was one piece of advice you could give your freshman self or Blake, what would it be?

Speaker 1: 7:29

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Speaker 2: 7:57

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Speaker 1: 7:57

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Speaker 1: 8:33

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Speaker 1: 9:18

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Speaker 2: 9:41

Martha's got her son going off to Blake's gonna play football as a freshman. If there was one piece of advice you could give your freshman self, what would it be?

Speaker 7: 9:49

I would just say to keep a positive mindset, you know, not let anything negative affect you, because the way you think, if you think positive, then you'll be positive, and if you think that you'll do well and visualize yourself doing well on the football field, and that'll most likely happen because it gives you pretty much natural confidence, and so I think that's really important. That's probably what I would tell them.

Speaker 6: 10:17

Take it all in. It goes by really fast. It feels like just a couple days ago I was a freshman and just make sure you get in the most of it, because I really regret dreading Scott Makers and powerlifting. It's one of the best bonding experiences you'll ever have with your teammates, so just take it all in.

Speaker 5: 10:37

I would say, if there's anyone out there debating on doing football or not, I think you should definitely do it, because I mean it's just so rewarding, like the feeling on Friday night after a win and playing. It's really. There's nothing like it.

Speaker 4: 10:55

I think in your freshman year, just kind of knowing your role and doing your job especially, it's just something like the upper classmen will recognize and see you kind of like like just doing your job, like coming to practice with 100% effort every day, like coming with a smile on your face. Upper classmen will notice that and kind of take you in and start realizing oh, like you're fun to be around, like you're doing your job, like you like to be here, like that's kind of something I notice.

Speaker 3: 11:22

I say I believe that hard work beats talent. When talent fails to work hard, because you may be the smallest kid or the biggest kid and there's going to be lots of ups and downs, but if you keep working hard it pans out, or even the kid that works harder will end up maybe even becoming better than the talented kid. And then I'd also piggyback off of what Henry said and just have consistency and showing up every day to powerlifting, to Scott Maker, to football practice, consistency is key.

Speaker 1: 11:55

I love your advice. I think it's great advice, not just for football but life in general.

Speaker 6: 11:59

It is.

Speaker 1: 11:59

You just show up, you have a good attitude, you just keep going.

Speaker 2: 12:03

I'm going to save this and listen to it. It's good advice for me too. All ages.

Speaker 1: 12:08

Okay, so all of you are seniors now. Obviously, you're playing a whole lot more than you did last year. I knew the whole team last year. I don't know everyone this year yet, but tell me just like, what has it been like transitioning from junior to senior year?

Speaker 4: 12:22

Yeah. So I feel definitely, as I mean junior year, you're still kind of an underclassman, especially on the mostly senior football team, and so you're kind of playing for these seniors. You're playing for them because you know it's their last season, so you want to leave it all out on the field for them, because you know they're doing that for you. And so coming into your senior year now you're playing because you want to leave it better than you found it. You want to lead the juniors to make them better and just kind of set a path for them almost to leave it tradition that the seniors before you left. So I guess how I look at it a lot of it is.

Speaker 6: 12:54

This is the last time you'll ever play with the people you've been playing with since third and fourth grade and flag football it's. It's a really leave it all out on the field and if not, you're gonna regret it.

Speaker 7: 13:08

And another thing when you're a junior, you don't have as much varsity experience as the seniors do, and so something I would have to do is I would have to sometimes rely on certain seniors and then, when you become a senior, now you have a greater responsibility, to the point where now there's other underclassmen that are now relying on you in order to do well yeah, people are now.

Speaker 2: 13:30

They're turning to you. You guys are the top of the you know top rung. So, guys, I would kill to be a fly on the wall in the locker room because Highland Park you guys are known for coming in, you know, in a clutch moment, right in the second half of the game, what is it like? What goes on inside that locker room, what, what are you guys told to do? Are you allowed to tell us?

Speaker 3: 13:51

yeah, I'd say I firmly believe we have the best coaching staff in the country. I mean their game plans, they know exactly what to do, they do great job of scouting the team and then also knowing what the team is doing the first half and being able to to adjust to that. And then also, I believe it's very important that we're player-led and at halftime we're all very serious, no matter the score, whether we're down, whether we're up, like we hopefully should be, it's it's always very serious so it's like he keeping your head in the game.

Speaker 2: 14:24

Is that really what it's about?

Speaker 6: 14:25

mm-hmm at halftime, which is really interesting. What we do at HP which I don't, I don't know if any other high school in the world does it everyone sits down, no one says a word and everyone self-reflects. There's like there's no word said and if you do say something, you'll be, you'll be y'all that okay, I, we all.

Speaker 5: 14:48

We have this saying. I don't know if y'all heard it called Scotty's find a way oh yeah and yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:53

I just think that a lot of it is the, the community and knowing that the people that you're playing for, they're all supporting you and it just always seems to kind of boost everyone and we always find a way well, it's such a good saying I was saying that to Coach Allen when I had him on the show is that sometimes I'm in the stands and I at halftime and I'm worried because maybe you guys are a little behind, and then I, somebody near me, will say you know what Scotty's find a way, and that just that phrase is just such so catchy and it's so true and it's just a good reminder that you guys will figure it out, you're gonna come back and you're gonna do it so Scotty's, find a way is basically your theme, your motto, and you all have faced some adversity.

Speaker 7: 15:35

Tell us a little bit about that for each of you yeah, so a time I had to overcome adversity was a definitely when I was in my junior year and my primary position was center.

Speaker 7: 15:46

But we had our starting left tackle, lawson Petty, who was actually a captain go down with a back problem and so I had to step up and pretty much had to learn how to play left tackle in a week and it was definitely hard because, you know, I hadn't played tackle since middle school and my primary position was center since freshman year and so, with the help of my coaches, like coach Wells, my offensive line coach, and you know, coach Farinsley, my other offensive line coach, and I was able to go into that game we had that Friday.

Speaker 7: 16:21

We were playing Irving MacArthur and you know I actually ended up playing pretty well and I don't think I'd be able to do that unless, you know, I had that support from my coaches and the support from my parents and so, yeah, that was, that was the time I really had overcome that, you know, adversity of playing tackle my sophomore and junior year I had two really major concussions which really scared me, because you hear all these stories of people saying, oh, he got a concussion, he was never the same and just things like that.

Speaker 6: 16:56

And what really hit me is like I don't want to be one of those people who football ruined their lives. But for about two months after that I was. I was so scared to get on the field. That was. I was timid, I was scared to get hit. And then some clicked and I was like you know what, if I get a concussion, it's all in God's plan. So I'm just gonna play my heart out, not be scared and do the best I can.

Speaker 1: 17:30

So I couldn't help but notice. The other night at the scrimmage you had a very interesting helmet that I've only seen in the NFL. I haven't yet seen anyone in high school wear it. Can you tell us about that?

Speaker 6: 17:40

Yes, ma'am, that's the guardian. So if I get hit in the head, it cushions it to where it won't blow up and make my brain shake. Same with the cue collar that I wear it's to prevent my brain from shaking when I hit the ground, which is what a concussion is. And I really appreciate the coaches getting those things for me because it shows that they not only care about me as a football player but as a person in my future in sports.

Speaker 4: 18:11

Yeah, so the cue collar is something I wore on the cross too. It's really something special. It helps increase blood flow to your brain so your brain doesn't rattle around in your skull, basically, and so I know they used them in the military too, with grenades and explosions and stuff, and so that's something that I like to wear too. It's very helpful.

Speaker 3: 18:31

I'd say the biggest obstacle I've had to overcome was breaking my back. My sophomore year, first game of the season I broke my back and I didn't get to play that whole season until first game of playoffs. I'd say the biggest thing to come back for me was just being in the weight room. I knew it'd be a hard journey back, but the weight room is crucial and it's a perfect example of how to fight back against adversity. And then I'd also like to shout out the coaches, especially Coach Stringer, who would come over to my house when that happened and just be there for me, because I was a receiver at the time and he was the receiver's coach, and then also Coach Leidner, who'd pray over me for my back, and it was just super cool to see the coaches just have my back the whole way through.

Speaker 5: 19:22

One of the biggest parts about our culture at Highland Park that contributes to overcoming adversity is the mentality of the next man up mentality, and we have lots of depth and so many people want to play and there's just even if you're not a starter on the team, you still have a major role because you're the next man up. So if someone goes down, there's always someone behind them that has been waiting, that's ready to step up and take the role.

Speaker 1: 19:58

So football teams are a lot like families and you guys have said that you look to your left and you're right and you've seen the guys that you've played with so many years. How do you feel like that tight knit community has played into your team's success?

Speaker 4: 20:11

Yeah, I mean just playing with the same people you've played with all your life is just. It's really something special. You don't find it anywhere else and so kind of growing up in this small community that's very tight knit is truly special because you know the people you're going to the schools are the same people that you are going to graduate with and play football with, so it's really special.

Speaker 2: 20:30

Well, I'm sure it's a very confidence building too.

Speaker 4: 20:32

For sure yes.

Speaker 7: 20:34

Yeah, with me personally. I mean, most of my friends came from football and so just getting to be out there on that field with my friends just gives me a sense of just comfort, which really helps me.

Speaker 1: 20:48

So nothing brings our community together more, in my opinion, than sports, especially football, and everyone will be there tomorrow night. Tell me how that makes you feel Like when you look up in the stands and they're just filled and people are going crazy. Does that energize you? What do you think about it?

Speaker 4: 21:02

It's definitely very energizing. I mean, having a couple thousand people watching you play high school football is something you don't find anywhere else in the state of I mean, you find it in the state of Texas but you don't find it anywhere outside of Texas. Like having those big Friday night lights moments is really special to this town, like Highland Park and Texas High School Football.

Speaker 1: 21:22

Well, you know, there was a few teams that we played last year that barely had anyone in their stands and it really made me sad and it really made me realize how special our community is. We really rally, whether it's a home game away, we're there, we're packing the stands, but you just looked over there and there wasn't many people over there.

Speaker 4: 21:39

Yeah, for sure. Some of the Irving teams definitely had kind of a smaller fan base and barely a student section sometimes. So it definitely shows how much Highland Park football means to the community.

Speaker 5: 21:49

Right. I think that's something that makes us a little more successful than most of the other teams. Is that just we have that community with us?

Speaker 1: 22:00

Well, my favorite is the student section, the guys in the striped overalls. They're very enthusiastic. They love when I come by and do videos. They crack me up. I think I might get some of those overalls this year and be one of them. Okay, guys, we got your big game tomorrow night, the first one against Marcus. Tell us the time and location and all the details.

Speaker 4: 22:21

Yeah, so it's tomorrow night 7 30 pm. It just got changed.

Speaker 1: 22:26

From 7 to 7 30, right From 7 to 7 30,. Yes, ma'am, because it's going to be so much cooler at 7, 30, right? Yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am.

Speaker 4: 22:31

And so we're at Flower Mound Marcus at their stadium. They definitely have a strong defense returning. I know they just have some strong defensive linemen I actually train with they're offense. I think they have kind of a newer, younger offense and so it definitely be a fun, exciting game.

Speaker 1: 22:46

Sounds great.

Speaker 7: 22:47

And another thing about them is they actually have a new head coach, and so it's definitely going to be a different experience than last year, you know, with this new head coach.

Speaker 5: 22:57

And they have a new offensive coordinator, so a lot of new coaches for them. So we don't really know exactly what they'll be doing, so we're just going to have to react.

Speaker 1: 23:08

Yeah, there could be some changes. Well, I feel like you guys are ready, I can tell.

Speaker 2: 23:12

Okay, so in a few weeks you all have the big dinner coming up. Tell everybody about that.

Speaker 6: 23:16

Yes, ma'am, we have the Kaniak Supper, so it's a fundraiser for the football team, and you come by to the cafeteria and you can get a ticket online. And you just come by to the cafeteria, eat some canes, meet some of the some of the staff, and it'll be fun.

Speaker 1: 23:36

It's September 15th, five to six thirty, you have a DJ and you have a silent auction, right.

Speaker 4: 23:41

Yeah, lots of good auction items, I'm sure. And you come to the game after Perfect.

Speaker 2: 23:47

Can you all eat that Canes chicken and then play football? I wish, how does that sit? Probably not. Probably not the best thing.

Speaker 1: 23:55

So is there any any special messages you want to say to the community and just like help get them out there.

Speaker 3: 24:01

Well, first off, we just appreciate y'all, and y'all are huge to our success. We really, we just appreciate y'all.

Speaker 4: 24:08

Yeah, I mean it's definitely a special team this year, lots of younger guys, so it'll be exciting, kind of fun team to watch, young team, so a lot of people flying around, especially the scrimmage. I think the hustles out there, the attitudes out there, it just it's just got to all come together.

Speaker 5: 24:22

Yeah, I don't. I think people don't know how much it actually helps us, so you should be there.

Speaker 1: 24:28

Get out there and yell out.

Speaker 6: 24:30

Yeah, definitely come out to the games, because you mean a lot more to us than you think you do. So.

Speaker 7: 24:37

And I always say the more, the merrier, I mean the more people in the stands, the more fired up the sideline and you know the players on the field will be there you have it.

Speaker 1: 24:45

They want you out there. Bring your family. See you tomorrow night.

Speaker 2: 24:49

Well, you guys are all obviously very impressive athletes, but it's really nice and obviously you're chosen as captains for a reason. It's just nice to hear what lovely people you are as well, and I think you're real inspiration for other kids in high school and other football players. So thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1: 25:03

Well, guys, thank you so much. This has been such a treat. I'm so happy that we got all of you in here at the same time.

Speaker 4: 25:09

Thank you very much for having us. Thanks so much.

Speaker 2: 25:12

So that's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Nellie Shudo.

Speaker 1: 25:16

And I'm Martha Jackson, and we'll catch you next time, go.

Speaker 4: 25:18

Scots.