URGENT UPDATE: The Garden City Trojans are poised to protect their remarkable 54-game win streak as they gear up for their highly anticipated opener against Long Beach on Saturday. This pivotal match marks the beginning of another quest for glory for head coach Dave Ettinger, who has led the team to an impressive 10 consecutive Nassau County titles and five straight Long Island championships.
As the Trojans prepare for the clash, Ettinger emphasizes the immense pressure resting on his players. “Winning never gets boring,” he declared while overseeing practice, highlighting the legacy they strive to uphold. With a record of 109 wins and 3 losses under his leadership, Ettinger acknowledges the weight of expectation from previous generations.
Senior left guard Zach Olson, committed to Harvard football, captures the team’s mindset: “Nobody expects to win. We just try to drill down… and keep the energy up.” This commitment is palpable as the Trojans have dedicated their summer to rigorous training, sacrificing vacation time to attend a football camp in Connecticut. The focus is clear: they owe it to their predecessors to give everything in practice.
The team’s culture revolves around unity, with senior Merit Ruckh stressing the importance of teamwork. “We owe it to the guys before us to give it everything in practice every single day,” he said. Ruckh embodies the hustle mentality that Ettinger instills, balancing roles as a running back, wide receiver, and defensive back.
As the season begins, all eyes are on senior kicker Christopher Desiderio, who set a personal goal to not miss a kick this year after missing two last season. “You work as hard as you can — together,” he shared, underscoring the drive that fuels the team’s aspirations.
Ettinger reflects on the lessons learned from their only three losses over the past decade, emphasizing the value of resilience. “Sometimes you learn more when you lose than you do when you win,” he noted, acknowledging how those experiences have shaped the Trojans into a more disciplined team.
As they prepare for Long Beach, the Trojans are aware of the challenges ahead. Having moved up from Conference III to the more competitive II, the stakes are higher. Ettinger describes Long Beach as “a tough opponent,” reinforcing the need for tactical focus.
“Our only focus right now is Long Beach on Saturday,” Ettinger stated firmly. The urgency is palpable as the Trojans aim to extend their historic win streak and send their seniors off as champions. Fans and supporters are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this crucial matchup, with the stakes never higher for this legendary program.
Stay tuned for live updates as the Garden City Trojans embark on their quest to maintain their dominance in high school football!
