Burgemeir named Coach of the Year for second year

    For the second consecutive season, Pendleton County Wildcats Head Coach has won District Coach of the Year. This award was an unprecedented triumph for not only Burgemeir, but also the coaching staff as a whole.
    “As I told the team and coaching staff last week, my name may be on the plaque, but the award goes to the whole team and program in general,” said Burgemeir. “The Coach of the Year is voted on by the head coaches in the district, so I think this really speaks to the amount of respect our district competitors have for Pendleton County Football.”
    The Wildcats coaching staff incorporated proper COVID-19 protocol into their practices immediately to save their season before it even began. Masks were to be worn by the coaches and temperature checks administered to players and coaches. Being able to adjust not only on the field, but off it is a hallmark of good coaches. With a global pandemic raging on throughout the county, the Wildcats were able to implement proper COVID-19 safety measures, go through offseason weight training and practices, and still find a way to win one more regular season district game than they did the year prior.
    Leadership on the 2020 team does not just come from the top. This season the Wildcats had another group of strong seniors with proper intangibles.
    “Our seven seniors had to deal with something that no other senior class has ever been through,” said Burgemeir. “It would have been easy for them to complain, make excuses, and sidestep some leadership responsibilities. But they did the opposite and stepped up their leadership efforts even more. Their dedication, commitment, work ethic, and positive attitude was just as valuable as their on-field talents and was a huge part of our success this year. I’m very proud of these young men and they still have big things ahead of them!”
    The 2020 season should be remembered by anyone who cares about Wildcat football as the catalyst season for the program. Even with players graduating, it’s hard to see how the program doesn’t improve next season given all the adversity it waded through.