It’s hard-nosed football or nothing for Logan Wing of the Athol High School football team. The senior only plays football for the Red Raiders.
“It’s my favorite sport. I started playing in seventh grade,” Wing said. “I used to do track, but it’s not my thing. I love football because of the constant work you have to do.”
Wing, a son to a military father, moved here from Germany when he was a baby. The moves all around the country saw him play his first snaps in Gardner, before arriving in Athol to play for the Red Raiders.
Wing plays right tackle on offense, and mixes it up on the interior of the defensive line but a recent position change had him excited.
When starter Manny O’Lari went down with an injury against Easthampton, Wing moved to middle linebacker and thrived.
Wing enjoyed the aggressive nature of the position, attacking ball carriers without having to fight through a block.
“Just trying to go though the line,” Wing said. “Just keep working to push through and find the weakness and make the tackle.”
Wing has played with more confidence during his senior season.
“Logan is a kid who has always doubted himself,” Athol coach Bill LaRose said. “I think this season Logan has discovered that he can play this game and he can play this game with anybody.”
After jumping into the linebacker role, Wing attacked ball-carriers with feverish ferocity, making multiple tackles during the first series of plays.
“It was a joy to watch last week,” LaRose said. “A position that he’s never played. His sheer will to make tackle was a joy to watch. I love the kid to death. Logan is a kid that you cannot help but like. He comes to practice everyday and has a positive attitude.”
Wing relished the opportunity, and would do anything asked of him for the benefit of the team.
“I did my job,” Wing said.
Almost every single Athol player plays both ways with the team’s low numbers. The Red Raiders usually suit up around 14 players per game. A recent rash of injuries led to a forfeit of tonight’s game against Frontier Regional.
“It’s hard work but we need to get through it,” Wing said. “We are a team right now. We are a family. This is the most tight-knit group I have had. We constantly have to rely on each other.”
Although the Red Raiders haven’t played a close game this season, it hasn’t taken away from the joy of playing the game for Wing.
“Right now at this point, we are having fun,” Wing said. “We can’t do much with 12 or 13 kids a game. We are the doing the best we can. We just don’t have enough people to keep what we are doing going.”
When playing the defensive line, Wing loves to attack in run-blocking schemes and the reason is simple.
“Because I can charge someone,” Wing said.
After the forfeit tonight against the Red Hawks, Athol will tackle the non-playoff portion of its schedule before the Thanksgiving match up with crosstown rival Mahar Regional.
