First Tryout A Success: Preparing for Another Championship
By Cassie KIckert
Although
the National Championship bowl game against the North Texas Longhorns
is fast approaching, the Pioneers took time away from preparation to
look for new talent for their 2013 season – and what they hope will be
more championships to come.
In particular, the Pioneers looked to
add to their 2012 league-leading offense as most of the would-be
Pioneers were offensive players.
Carlos Concepcion, a running
back and friend of All-Star defensive back Lionel Lamarre and receiver
Delane Woods, was one player hoping to make the 2013 Pioneers squad.
Lamarre, Woods and Concepcion play basketball together often.
In
addition to football and basketball, Concepcion enjoys playing
racquetball in his free time. He played for the Menomonie Thunderhawks
last season, who the Pioneers beat 58-0 in St. Paul.
He hopes to play professionally one day but added that playing for the Pioneers would be a “good start with a good team”.
Another
position the Pioneers are always looking for more talent at is
receiver. There were plenty to choose from at Saturday’s tryout.
One
impressive hopeful is Davarus Branigan. Branigan has three years of
experience playing semi-pro football in the Quad Cities. He played for
the Quad City Stallions for two years until the team was unable to
finish the 2011 season. He then joined the Quad City Raiders.
Chris Molitor was another receiver at Saturday’s tryout. Molitor said his goal is to “help the team win in any way I can.”
He
is not new to football, however. He played arena football for one
season in 2007 for the Sioux Falls Storm of the Indoor Football league
Molitor
is a Lakeville, Minn. native. He works as a strength and conditioning
coach for the Minnesota Swarm, Minnesota’s professional lacrosse team.
He also owns a sports performance business for training athletes.
Receiver/Quarterback
Cleveland McCoy has been an excellent addition to the Pioneers in their
preparations for the USA Bowl in Daytona Beach and is also hoping to
make an impact for the Pioneers in 2013. He is travelling with the team
to Florida for the National Championship.
His past football
experience includes training camps with the Green Bay Packers and
Detroit Lions. In addition, he played professionally for the Canadian
Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He recently moved to Minnesota from South Carolina and is the recreation coordinator at the Hubert Humphrey Job Corps Center.
While
the Pioneers will be the first semi-pro team he has played for, he says
that the organization is great and “has a pro atmosphere.”
The
next Pioneers tryout is February 17th from 12pm to 2pm at Bethel
University’s Sports and Recreations Center. Registration starts at
11:30.
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