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CLEAR Temp: 72 °F Wind: SW at 4 mph Thursday, October 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 26, 2003 Wing and a prayer Lineman John Wing has helped resurrect a St. Mary’s football program that appeared doomed three years ago By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune Three years ago, the St. Mary’s football program was at a crossroads. Coming off a season it was unable to complete because of a lack of healthy players, the Crusaders were on the verge of dropping football entirely. John Wing, James Kelly and Mike Rust came to the rescue, collecting 35 signatures of prospective athletes to keep the team alive come fall 2001. Advertisement Only 25 showed up to play when it came down to it, but the job was done — St. Mary’s football would play on. That victory probably outweighs the ones that Wing, Kelly and Rust — now senior co-captains — are leading their teammates to on a weekly basis. "I honestly thought people would all disperse and go to North (Medford) or South (Medford) or Crater, or whatever district they were in," Wing says. "I never could have seen the progress this team has made. The only word I can think of is blessed, to be able to be a part of this team after it’s turned the corner." The Crusaders went 7-2 last fall for their first winning season since 1994 and are off to a 3-0 start as they travel to Lakeview tonight. Wing, himself, has also come a long way. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound lineman has blossomed into a major-college prospect. Arizona State, Idaho and Dartmouth are among the programs showing interest. "At the end of my sophomore football season, (former head coach) Pete Zappas called in my mom and I and said I had Division I potential," Wing says. "My freshman year, I didn’t think I would ever play in college." Wing carried the prompting into the weight room, where he transformed his weight into muscle. "He was just about the same size in middle school," says Tim Pflug, who coached Wing then and is now the high school’s varsity head coach. "In fact, it was almost illegal. "But his weight has definitely changed. He’s a lot stronger now." By visiting 24 Hour Fitness four times a week, Wing has lifted his bench-press maximum to 370 pounds and squat high to 495. That strength — and size — is unparalleled when Class 2A St. Mary’s takes the field. "We played at Riddle, and when they announced the weights, everybody kind of gasped," Wing says. "I’ve never come up against anyone as big as me." A left tackle offensively, Wing joins right tackle Kelly (6-4, 250) to give junior fullback Keith Butts plenty of running room. Butts has compiled 515 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the Crusaders’ three victories. "I would attribute a lot of our success running the ball this year to physical superiority," says Butts, a load in his own right at 6-1, 210. "And we’re also throwing the ball (with quarterback Rust) more than previous years, which gives us a double threat." Wing lines up at tackle defensively and believes he may be a bit better on that side of the ball right now. "I definitely like defense more," says Wing, who boasts a 3.0 GPA and 1330 on the SAT. "I feel like I’ve had better defensive games so far." Tackle Kelly, middle linebacker Butts and free safety Rust are also standouts on a defense that already owns two shutouts. The sudden success of St. Mary’s, which is back in the Southern Cascade League this fall, has basked the team in a new light. "The attitude of the whole school has changed toward the football team," Butts says. The passion Wing and his fellow co-captains feel for their sport made it all possible. "When we lose, I cry; when we win, I shout for joy," he says. "I put my entire self into the game, and I love what I get out of it." Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times