Italy Gladiators on an even keel with competition

The Ellis County Press

Newly appointed Head Coach Craig Bales is excited about his high school football team.

Bales comes to the Gladiators from Winters, 40 miles south of Abilene. In his last season there, his team was 7-4 on the season making the play-offs the last two years.

Joining Coach Bales as defensive coordinator for the Gladiators is his long-time friend Coach Sollers, who spent last season with the Ferris Yellow Jackets.

After a 5-5 season last year in 2A, the Gladiators have made the move to 1A. Coach Bales sees the move helpful in competing on an even keel with the other teams. Even though "compet-ition’s still competition," the move means Italy will compete with other schools that have about the same number of players as itself. Although Bales concedes that there may be teams with a little more height than his Gladiators, he doubts any one can match his team in sheer speed.

It’s too early for key players to be named, but nonetheless, Italy is focused on a District Championship and a bid for the play-offs. The Gladiators begin their season on the road at Maypearl on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.