Wilson set for final year at Glendale

Chris Wilson literally never left the field for the greater part of his first two seasons as a varsity football player at Glendale Area High School.

The 5-9, 215-pound Wilson, who will be a three-year starter at center and defensive end this fall for the Vikings, also played the drum in the school band at halftime of the games during his sophomore year and part of his junior year.

"It just became too much last year and I decided to focus on football 100 percent,'' Wilson said. "I was on the field with the band doing a marching halftime show, and it was definitely challenging to go from a fast, intense first half of football to slowing down tempos at halftime, to going back to another half of football without really taking much of a break.''

Wilson is looking forward to being part of a veteran Glendale team this year that has most of its starters returning on both sides of the ball after finishing 6-4 last year and losing to Northern Cambria in the first round of the District 6-A playoffs.

"We're really just trying to build upon last year,'' said Wilson, who also plays varsity basketball at Glendale. "We have almost our whole defense back, and we're really strong there. We have most of our starters back on the offensive side of the ball as well.''

The table is set for a good season for first-year Glendale coach Matt Irvine, 23, who spent last season as an assistant offensive and defensive line coach with the Vikings.

"I'm excited about this year,'' Irvine said. "A winning season would be good, and with the kids I've got coming back this year, it's possible - as long as they do their jobs and I do mine.''

In Wilson - who aspires to go on to college and become a pre-med major - Irvine has a veteran player who pays attention to detail.

"He watches game film a lot, he studies the other team, and on the field, he's got very good feet, he's quick, he's strong, and he's a tough competitor,'' Irvine said. "He's a very hard worker who is the type of player that any coach would want.''

Wilson wants the Glendale squad to have a great season this year.

"We have high expectations for each other, and we're pushing each other to reach our full potential this year,'' Wilson said.