Rockets putting in summer work

By Chris Siers ~ sports@t-g.com
Posted 7/21/22

On the heels of a successful 2021 campaign, Forrest coach Eli Stephenson and the Rockets have been hard at work in the summer preparing to take the next step in the program in 2022.Between work in …

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Rockets putting in summer work

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On the heels of a successful 2021 campaign, Forrest coach Eli Stephenson and the Rockets have been hard at work in the summer preparing to take the next step in the program in 2022.
Between work in the weight room and working on base fundamentals, the summer months have been productive for the boys in Chapel Hill.
“Summer has been awesome. Our kids are committed. We’ve got a good, hard-working group. They’ve hit the weight room hard. Right now, we’re working on scheme. We’ve got some very good leadership on this team,” Stephenson said.
With plenty of veteran leadership that helped guide the Rockets to a 9-4 overall record and a Class 2A state quarterfinal berth, Stephenson says the returning leadership consisting of Tayton Swift, Chris Davis, Riley Durbin and Tyler Ayers will help guide the upperclassmen, but the depth in the underclassmen will help pad the depth for the Rockets.
“We’ve got a big freshman group and our sophomore group has grown a little bit, too. Our juniors and seniors are steady. We’ve got a lot of old talent and young talent coming through the program. I’m very excited about what I see.”
“We’ve got a lot of leadership coming up, too. They push each other and they hold each other accountable,” he said.
Forrest pushed into the state quarterfinals a year ago, but came up short against Decatur County Riverside.
So far this summer, the focus has been hitting the weight room and working on basic fundamentals.
This week, the schools were allowed to begin practicing with pads.
With less than a month until the season kicks off, the Rockets only have a pair of scrimmages left on the summer slate—an August 1 scrimmage against Macon County and an August 5 scrimmage against Hickman County.
“Right now, we’re working on ourselves. We’re putting in scheme, working on fundamentals and trying to get our base identity in place. Our kids buy into what we do. They know how important the weight room was for us and they’ve knocked it out,” Stephenson said.
Forrest’s summer schedule has been morning practices with lifts before hitting the field.
“We practice in the mornings. We come in and get a lift, and get some fundamentals in and head out.
Forrest kicks off the 2022 season on August 19 against Eagleville.