The Comeback Kids

New Hartford has built a winning tradition over the past seven years, making four section finals and two state finals. But the 2011 team is young, case in point they only have three seniors. Today the Spartans welcomed the four and one Carthage Comets.

            Coming into the 2011 season Head Coach Mike Fredsell's New Hartford Spartans were littered with underclassmen and only three seniors. But Coach Fredsell knew the proper remedy for that combination. "Just a lot of hard work, two hour practices six days a week. Getting them to do the same drills over and over and over again. We do the same drills in the youth as we do in varsity; basically the kids know what they have to do when they get to this level."

            The Spartans started the season two and three and welcoming a tough team in Carthage had the possibility for disaster. "The biggest thing is we wanted them to understand that were with them no matter what through thick and thin. We've got a very young team this year, only three seniors, I have four freshman on the team but tonight is an end result of all the hard work they put in so far and I'm hoping that were gonna turn the corner. "

            Senior Luke Bogar knew how to step up and teach the younger players. "You've got to step up, you've got to be the leader on the team, and you've got to direct everybody, show them what to do. They do something wrong, you've got to keep their head up." It's only fitting that in overtime of a crucial game that a senior step up and lead the Spartans to victory. "Cameron Miller takes the ball plays it to me, I just keep my head up, nothing really, just get it to my right foot and let it rip!" With that overtime win New Hartford moves to three and three. The next two games are at home for the Spartans and Coach Fredsell believes this was the game that could change their season.