The football team participated in the Laney 7v7 Passing Tournament, that was held on Saturday June 7. The Piedmont football team took first place and 12 varsity players and two coaches will be advancing to a championship tournament in Indianapolis July 13-16.

Sophomore Mason Willrich will be playing linebacker on varsity this upcoming season. Willrich said that they had to beat teams who were ranked highly above the Piedmont football team.

“I’m going because it sounds like an amazing opportunity and a lot of fun,” Willrich said.

Junior Cole Gruendl plays quarterback for the Highlanders and is also looking forward to the trip to play in Indianapolis.

“[The trip will] help me connect with receivers and know who the starting receivers [are]and [we’ll] make big plays,” Gruendl said.

Willrich said he imagines there will be a large amount of other high school teams there from all over the country.

“My goals for the tournament are to do my best and make Piedmont proud,” Willrich said.

Junior Fiachra Collins plays linebacker and fullback on the varsity football team and also thinks this tournament will help the team.

“[I want] to do as best as I can and help my team succeed,” Collins said. “It will help me mentally and physically.]

Willrich said that by going to Indianapolis it will help the team in the fall when the season starts.

“Going to Indianapolis will help us in the regular season by boosting our confidence and knowing that we have already achieved a lot,” Willrich said.

Gruendl said that at the Laney tournament the Highlanders beat Steller prep, Hayward, James Logan and Tennyson and he hopes the team will have a successful season in the Fall after attending this tournament.

“[I want to] play well and get to the championship,” Gruendl said.

Willrich said that the 12 players who will be going on the trip were chosen based of of who starts and who was free when the trip was happening.