By Tom Quinn, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Marlborough High School (MHS) senior Willy Cowdrey said the team’s Aug. 21 football practice started out rough, with the team messing up assignments and communication. It didn’t get any easier when a group of soldiers from the U.S. Marine Corps showed up and took over practice.
“We didn’t think they were coming because it took a while, and then they came and we were just like, ‘damn,’” Cowdrey said.
Marines leading a group of high-schoolers through an hour of drills so grueling that many ended up puking in bushes may seem like an unusual occurrence, but the exercise is an annual event. Cowdrey and the other upperclassmen have been around long enough to remember when Massachusetts state troopers used to lead a similar practice. Last year Coach Sean Mahoney started bringing in Marines instead.
“We probably have one or two players per year who graduate and end up in the Marines, so we we’ve gotten to know the recruiters,” Mahoney said. “We told them about what the state troopers did and we thought the Marines would be a nice changeup.”
“Nice changeup” might be understating what sergeant Adam Harris and his group of active-duty soldiers did to whip the MHS football team into shape. The Marines ran the team through a series of drills ranging from standard sprints and pushups to more elaborate exercises, such as running while carrying a fellow player or crawling through a tunnel formed by a group of teammates. All the while, players were expected to address their temporary coaches as “sir” or “ma’am,” and failure to do so was not treated lightly.
“It was high intensity, you’ve got to be mentally tough to do it,” Cowdrey said.
He had the mental fortitude to make it through the mini boot camp, and not just because he went through it last year.
“His mental and physical toughness is among the best we’ve had in 10 years,” Mahoney said.
Even so, Marines operate at a higher level of intensity than the average high school workout, and Cowdrey, a three-year starter for Marlborough, had to vomit by the side of the field more than once before immediately returning to practice.
“I just push myself to the limit,” he said.
Mahoney agreed that the vomiting going on during practice was not a sign of players being out of shape, especially in Cowdrey’s case.
“He’s physically gifted, but he’s worked hard to enhance that,” Mahoney said. “He’s a big weight room kid, he’s always working, and his example has spread to the rest of the team.”
Getting in shape is especially important for Cowdrey because he is one of the few MHS players who play both sides of the field. He stars as the team’s running back (getting to the 1,000-yard mark last year) and as a free safety on defense (tallying the second most tackles on the team last year). Cowdrey didn’t hesitate when choosing which role was his favorite.
“Definitely running back,” he said. “I like touching the ball.”
Any football player would probably say they like getting touches. Where Cowdrey differs from the average high school student is in his absolute dedication to the sport. He declined to name any hobbies or passions besides football.
“This is what I dedicate myself to. In the offseason I lift; I work out all the time,” he said. “It’s just football, football, football.”
Mahoney said that although Cowdrey is one of the team’s leaders, his leadership style is more subdued than, for example, a shouting drill sergeant.
“He’s a throwback kid because he doesn’t talk a lot about anything, he just goes and plays hard all the time,” he said. “He’s a leader by example. A quiet leader, but the boys have great respect for him.”
If he feels any pressure, Cowdrey doesn’t show it. In fact, he seemed more focused on team success than personal glory. The Marines would approve, since the main focus of their exercises was teamwork. Individual drills were rare – most exercises involved multiple players working together and depending on each other. Mahoney and Cowdrey both thought the practice was beneficial, and both said they expect MHS to do well this season.
“We’re going to be a tough team to beat,” Cowdrey said. “And me, I’m just doing what’s good for the team.”