NPH CIS Team Preview: Western Mustangs

 

 

Overall	Pct.	Conf.	Pct.	Streak	Home	Away	Neutral
3-18	.143	3-18	.143	Lost 1	2-10	1-8	0-0

Head coach: Brad Campbell

Assistant coaches: John Curcio, Kevin Barnes

2012-2013 record: 3-18 (OUA)

Key players: Quinn Henderson, Peter Scholtes, Greg Morrow

Incoming players:

• Marcus Calloo
• Rayshane Case
• Matt McDonald
• Cam Morris
• Eric McDonald (Transfer/Guelph)
• Adam Djukic

Departures: Ryan Higgins, Charlie Drouin, Jacob Hutchcroft, Jermaine Bernard

 

The Western Mustangs have built a powerful reputation in the OUA on the gridiron. Last season was the first time in six seasons that they failed to qualify for the Yates Cup, losing in the semi-finals.

The major success on the football field however hasn’t carried over to the hardwood. The Mustangs are coming off one of their worst seasons ever posting a total of just three wins.

Heading into the 2013-14-campaign, coach Brad Campbell and his coaching staff did not stand pat, as they will welcome six new Mustangs into the fold to try and get back to respectability.

Many coaches with a young team like to recruit winners, and coach Campbell has grabbed two of the country’s biggest winners from a season ago in Marcus Calloo and Rayshane Case. Both Calloo and Case are coming off OFSAA championship seasons in their respected divisions and will look to make an impact as freshmen this season for the Mustangs.

“When you can have the kind of season you did last year you have quite a few major needs,” acknowledges Campbell. “One of those was definitely at the point guard position, and just overall some guards that can make plays, pass the ball and get other people shots.”

Calloo who was the maestro of a talented Catholic Central squad may be one of the best incoming freshman point guards in the country, a talent coach Campbell is happy to have at his disposal.

“He’s obviously a winner out of high school and takes his game seriously.” Campbell told NPH. “And we expect big things out of him this season.”

Calloo, Case and the six incoming players will join a Western team that was already young. Only two of Western’s players a season ago were upper classmen, and both Quinn Henderson and Peter Scholtes were just in their third year.

As Henderson and Scholtes move into their fourth season, they’ll be called upon once again to lead a group of young raw talent.

“Quinn (Henderson) was our captain last year, and he was in London this entire off-season. He really helped to rally our guys and we had a good compliment of people in town during the season. A lot of our guys put in some tremendous work this offseason.”

Among those who were working out and developing, was Greg Morrow who with his grit and determination will be looked at as one of the team’s natural leaders heading into his third year.

Despite the teams youth, Campbell and the coaching staff have no fear in allowing the newbies to play major minutes in big games. The key for the Mustangs to move forward and get back to the playoffs is the development of their young talent, and Campbell is aware of that.

“This last year and this year we’re really going to make an investment in our young players, and hope that develops them and makes us a lot stronger in the future,” said Campbell.” At the same point, some of our young guys with the current team that we have could be the best option. So we’re going to continue to throw the best players out there, no matter what year they’re in.”

Every coach is confident at this time of the year, with a fresh start and the same opportunity to compete. Then we play the games and truly find out who’s who.

Looking at the Western Mustangs on paper you see a young team coming off a dismal season. To many, the Mustangs won’t be on the radar in the OUA, but that doesn’t change coach Campbell’s goals for his team.

“I don’t know that there’s a specific number of wins that we’ve got as a goal, but our goal is definitely to get into the playoffs. We need to get into the playoffs, and we need to get this young group some playoff experience.”