Tsunami welcome this terms Rookies
On Sunday the 2October the Brighton Tsunami heralded the beginning of their 2011-2012 campaign with their annual Rookie Day.
Having signed up over 300 enthusiastic freshmen at a variety of events across the campus, expectations were extremely high and this year’s rookie class did not disappoint. Both numbers and talent were in abundance as promising athletes emerged all over the field under the guidance of the strong returning class.
Experienced stand outs from highly regarded senior programmes including the London Blitz, Kent Exiles and Hampshire Thrashers were on show alongside an encouragingly athletic group of less experienced, but similarly hungry players who were experiencing their first taste of football. As the unseasonable October sun scorched down on the field, the players refused to let it sap their energy and maintained an exemplary level of participation and effort throughout the day. Veteran players were forced to break out their most convincing Adam Sandler impressions and turn water boy for the day to stave off the blazing heat.
New Tsunami Head Coach James Ormrod presided over the day and addressed the players afterwards describing the event as “the best run Rookie Day I’ve ever been a part of.” and re-iterating his lofty goals for the team this year. The squad as a whole were also formally introduced to their vastly expanded coaching staff for the season. Coach Ormrod has assembled the largest group of coaches that the Tsunami has ever had available to them, a formidable group of varying experience with an expanse of knowledge concerning all levels of the game.
After gaining their first post-season victory in what was their most successful season ever as a club in 2010-2011, the Tsunami will return a strong core of veterans on both sides of the ball including those sharpened by a summer competing at the highest level of play available in the UK representing London Warriors, Kent Exiles and Sussex Thunder among other teams.
Formidable defensive tackle Emeka Ezenwoye showed no signs of a hangover from last weekend’s Brit Bowl defeat with the Warriors, looking powerful and sharp as ever whilst demonstrating a block shedding and tackling drill. Whilst stalwart offensive line pairing Brad “Tebow” McManus and Luc Higham left many a rookie’s jaw on the floor by tossing the tackle bags around like toys in their run blocking demonstration.
Add to this already established nucleus the multitude of young, hungry talent on display at the Rookie Day and it’s easy to see why Brighton Tsunami are aiming to make this the best campaign in the club’s short history. With just 5 weeks until the Tsunami make their seemingly annual trek up to the University of East Anglia for a rematch of last season’s first round Challenge Cup victory over old foes the Pirates, the team seem raring to go when practice begins in earnest this Tuesday evening and the countdown to game time begins.
