Preparing for Blitz in 15 Days: Edgewood Committed to 'Maintaining the Line'
The Edgewood Crusaders are gearing up for their 2025 season, with a focus on mental toughness and team unity as they embark on their inaugural varsity season. The team is building around key returnees and prioritising offseason bonding activities to foster camaraderie and skill development.
The Crusaders will compete in Class 2A, District 5, with a schedule featuring four non-district opponents followed by five consecutive district seeding games that will be crucial for playoff qualification. Head coach Tim Odom emphasises mental toughness, aiming to ensure opponents will "know they've played us by the end of the year," reflecting a focus on resilience and competitive identity.
Offseason bonding efforts are highlighted by events such as the 2025 Crusader Youth Football Camp held in July at Edgewood High School. Young athletes participated in drills and teamwork exercises, fostering early community and football culture immersion under Crusader coaches and guest athletes.
The team benefits from returnees who have varsity game experience and are expected to lead the squad, helping new and younger players learn roles and build chemistry ahead of the critical district games. The theme of "holding the rope" likely symbolises maintaining focus, unity, and steady effort throughout the challenging season as they establish the program's varsity tradition.
The Crusaders will open their season on August 22 against New Berlin Eisenhower at Monona Grove High School. Despite concluding their 2024 season with a 4-6 overall record and a loss in Level 1 of the WIAA's to Aquinas, the team fielded a roster full of very young players. The 2025 season is an opportunity for the Crusaders to build on their experience and make a strong start in their new division.
Coach Odom and the Crusaders are confident that their focus on team bonding and mental toughness will serve them well in the upcoming season. With a solid roster and a clear vision, the Edgewood Crusaders are ready to "hold the rope" and take on the challenges that lie ahead.
- The Edgewood Crusaders, while preparing for their inaugural varsity season in Class 2A, District 5, are scheduled to play an array of sports including football, where they will be competing against both American Football and NCAA Football teams.
- Head coach Tim Odom has emphasized the importance of maintaining a tough mental fortitude not only in football, but also in American Football and NCAA Football, as he encourages his team to demonstrate resilience and competitive spirit throughout their 2025 season.
