A/W Titans Head Football Coach Tony Gripp joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the New Football Season

Annawan-Wethersfield Football Ready for Season Opener Against Elmwood-Brimfield The Annawan-Wethersfield Titans are set to open the 2026 high school football season Friday night, August 21st, and head coach Tony Gripp says his team is ready for the challenge. Gripp recently joined Ken Peel on Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss preparations for the upcoming season, the strengths of this year's team, and what fans can expect from the Flying Geese. The team began practice on August 5th, and Gripp says the players have made significant strides during the preseason. One of the biggest positives has been the commitment shown during the summer, with approximately 90 percent team attendance in the weight room. Gripp credits last year's senior class for helping establish the right culture and says that leadership has carried over to this year's players. "We didn't really skip a beat with the new guys coming up," Gripp said, noting the strong summer effort from the team. Building a More Complete Offense The A/W Titans have traditionally looked to establish the running game, but Gripp says one of the team's goals this season is to develop a more consistent passing attack. The team will continue to emphasize running the football while working on route execution, pass protection, and quarterback mechanics to make the passing game a more effective part of the offense. Several returning players are expected to play important roles this season, including offensive linemen Ryder Speck and Kayson Speck, all-conference defensive back Danny Heston, Treson Jape, and Cole Goodley. Gripp says the team has also improved in the speed at which players process plays and understand their assignments. The Importance of the Players Up Front While touchdowns and big plays often receive the most attention, Gripp says the Titans' coaching staff places a major emphasis on the work done by the offensive and defensive lines. He encourages fans to watch what happens up front during a big running play. "It’s really easy to watch the running back score a 70-yard touchdown," Gripp explained, "but I advise people to watch what happens up front for him to do that." Gripp says successful plays are often the result of five offensive linemen working together as one unit. A Unique Co-Op Program Annawan-Wethersfield's football program is entering approximately its 19th year as a co-op, something Gripp says makes the program unique. Despite declining enrollment in many schools, the Titans have 46 players in the program this season. Gripp credits the relationship between the two communities, along with the commitment of parents, students, and coaches, for helping the co-op remain successful. There are challenges, particularly when it comes to transportation and coordinating practices and activities between two schools. However, Gripp says the support from both school administrations and the communities has helped make the arrangement work. A Challenging Schedule The Flying Geese will face a demanding schedule right from the start. Elmwood-Brimfield is the season opener, followed by A-Town in Week 2 and Farmington in Week 3. Gripp says all three teams present significant challenges. He points to Elmwood-Brimfield's young team from last season, noting that the Trojans started six sophomores. A-Town returns several key skill players, including its quarterback, top receiver, and two starting backs. Farmington is also expected to be strong after reaching the quarterfinals last season. Gripp also expects teams such as Stark County, Princeville, and Rova to be improved this season based on the number of young players they had returning from last year's teams. "There's no room for growing pains for us," Gripp said when discussing the difficulty of the opening stretch. Community Support Matters Gripp also emphasized how important community support is to high school athletes. While coaches may be focused on the action during the game, players notice when family members, friends, and community supporters fill the stands. That support can provide an important boost for the players and help keep them motivated throughout the season. The Titans will begin their 2026 campaign Friday night, August 21st, at 7 PM at Wethersfield Memorial, where they will host Elmwood-Brimfield. Coach Tony Gripp and the Annawan-Wethersfield Flying Geese are ready to get the season underway, and fans will have their first opportunity Friday night to see how this year's team takes the field.