With the Taco Shack bowl on the horizon, the Trojans are in full swing as they get ready to begin what could be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory for the Anderson faithful. After moving to a new district, the Trojans are expected to compete for the playoffs. This sentiment rang true in speaking with the eight players named captains for the 2024 season, as all of them have lofty goals and expectations for their team this fall.
On the defensive side of the football, seniors Gage Webb, Colin Haines, and junior Liam McMillan were named captains, while Ed Small, Max Gerlich, Tristan Waidelich, Zayden Sharp, and Jayden will wear the honorary “C”s for the offense. We spoke to 6 of the 8 captains to get their thoughts on the upcoming year.
Webb, the middle linebacker, told me that the defense is “working hard and pushing each other” and that they are “ready to prove some people wrong” this season. Having not made in the playoffs in several years, the Trojans will certainly have to fight through some external doubt if they’re going to remain mentally strong this season, so seeing signs of that strength early is only an encouraging sight for fans.
Top defensive back Colin Haines’s goal for this year is to “win a playoff game, something that hasn’t been done in a very long time” at Anderson. He believes that the Trojans “have the personnel to do it” and that “a ton of work has been done to get [the team] to this point”. The defense clearly has high hopes for Anderson and truly believes in their coaching staff and the players alongside them, something vital to a successful unit.
McMillan is the only junior captain of the eight and being a captain as a junior “means a lot [to him], especially with the group of guys on this team.” He added that he “will not take [his captainship] lightly” and that he’s “very excited for the season and to prove everyone wrong”. Despite being the youngest member of the group, McMillan is seen as a leader by both his coaches and peers and is as disruptive of a player as the defense has. He’s expected to play multiple positions this fall and should be a huge difference-maker for Hatcher and the Trojans.
Wideout Tristan Waidelich was straight and to the point with his intentions this year, telling me that his “goal this season is to elevate [his] team, set the standard, and leave it all on the field”. His connection with quarterback Max Gerlich is fantastic and will be vital to the success of the offense this fall. Look for Waidelich to have his best year yet despite a crowded receiving room with tons of talent.
Fellow receiver Zayden Sharp is fresh off an Air Force commitment and told me that being a captain is a “huge achievement for” him, and his goal is to “be a leader to the team [he’s] worked so hard with” much like the captains that came before him. Sharp is a small, fast wideout that excels at catching the deep ball. He’ll work behind opponents’ secondaries and is a big play threat every time he steps on the field.
Jayden Evans plays on the offensive line and is the leader of the trenches for this year’s team. He feels that the most important thing for him leading the o-line is “trusting [his] teammates to do their own job[s]”. He spoke highly of the chemistry of the group and believes that this could be a much-improved unit from a year ago.
The final two captains are quarterback Max Gerlich and receiver Ed Small. The pair are arguably the most important players to the success of the team this fall, and the Trojans can only go as far as they take them. Small is a TCU commit and is a scoring threat every time he touches the ball be it on a return, screen, deep route, or end around. Gerlich is a strong-armed gunslinger who will be trusted to push the ball down the field and will be relied on to command an offense that needs to score early and often.
Overall, there’s an exciting season ahead for Trojan players and fans alike. As always, stay updated on GoTrojansGo for all the latest news and updates surrounding your Anderson Trojans.
What a great article, Jack. You covered the unique talents and spirit of this group incredibly well. This will be a keepsake, thanks to your efforts! Let’s go Trojans!