The Wright City Wildcats are laying the foundation for the upcoming season on the gridiron. 

Wright City recently completed their six-day June high school football camp. The camp was held over four days last week and Monday and Tuesday this week.

The Wildcats started installing their basic offense and defense last week. Wright City football coach Tyler Rickard said the focus of the camp is to prepare for the season and be ready for Sullivan team camp, which is held later this week.

“It goes a little slow right now in June,” Rickard said June 22. “But that’s ok. That’s why we do it now so that when July comes and then August, we hit the ground running … It’s been good. The kids are working really hard. They’re picking things up. We’re definitely better today than we were Monday. And that’s what we’re after. We just want continual growth.”

While both sides of the ball take time to implement, Rickard said offensive installation takes more time. There is more terminology for the offense. He said for the defense, they want to “keep it simple and let them fly around.” 

Even though Wright City’s system is slightly different than last year, there are still a lot of similarities to last year’s system. Rickard said terminology changed more than anything. Rickard said the returning players are picking up the new system quickly. 

“Those young guys, they’re able to help coach up,” Rickard said. “This is what we’re doing. Here’s how you can improve. Here’s what you need to do a little different. Because they’ve been through it before. They understand how it all comes together. And so they’ve been very good about that.”

The Wildcats are slated to compete in the Sullivan Team Camp June 28 and June 29. Wright City is participating in the camp for the second consecutive year. 

“It’s great,” Rickard said. “I love it for the football aspect but even more so for the team camaraderie. We go down. We stay the night at a hotel. We do some games. We eat together and just try to build bonds and relationships between each other.”

The camp also provides many benefits on the football field. Rickard noted their offense is able to compete against defenses that do not know their terminology. It also gives them a good idea of what is working right now and what they need to improve going forward. 

“When we come back in July and we have camp, we know those points that we need to work on,” Rickard said. “And we have a good idea going into fall personnel wise who is excelling. Who maybe we need to change positions. What particular schemes need more work. And it’s just a good little barometer as we get ready for the season in the fall.”

After participating in the Sullivan camp, the Wildcats will be off until the week of July 10. They will compete in the 7-on-7 and big man challenge at North Point High School July 12. They will hold their July high school camp July 17-19. 

“We want to continue to get good at our base stuff,” Rickard said. “Add a little bit more and once we start in August, have everything in. Have a good idea again personnel where we want to put people. And just kind of know what are we going to hang our hat on offense and defense so that going into the season, we can really focus on those things and make adaptations off of it. “