UPDATE: The pressure is mounting as the Garden City Trojans prepare to defend their incredible 54-game win streak in the season opener against Long Beach on September 9, 2023. With a decade-long legacy of success, including ten consecutive Nassau County titles and five straight Long Island championships, head coach Dave Ettinger knows all eyes will be on his team.
Ettinger, who boasts a remarkable record of 109-3 in his tenure, expressed the weight of expectation on his players. “Winning never gets boring,” he stated, acknowledging the challenge of living up to the accomplishments of previous teams. “It’s a lot of pressure… but they give us every ounce of effort throughout the entire season.”
This year, the Trojans have a lot at stake. Senior left guard Zach Olson, bound for Harvard, emphasized the importance of maintaining high energy levels. “Nobody expects to win,” he said, adding that another championship ring would be the perfect sendoff as they aim to continue the team’s legacy.
To prepare, the players sacrificed summer vacation days for a sleepaway football camp in Connecticut and commit to team dinners twice a week during the season. Senior Merit Ruckh, who plays multiple positions, highlighted their dedication. “We owe it to the guys before us to give it everything in practice every single day,” he said, embodying the team’s hustle culture.
The Trojans are not just focused on winning; they are determined to improve. Senior kicker Christopher Desiderio set a personal goal to not miss any kicks this season after missing two last year. “When you get here, you work as hard as you can — together,” he affirmed, emphasizing the team’s unity as they face external and internal pressures.
Ettinger remains grateful for the talented squad he leads, attributing their success to preparation and attention to detail. “We have a system, and it’s been working, so we stick to it,” he noted.
However, the road ahead is challenging. The Trojans are moving from Conference III to the larger Conference II, which presents new competitors and heightened stakes. Ettinger described Long Beach as a “tough opponent,” and the team is taking a focused approach, concentrating solely on the upcoming game rather than future glory.
“Our only focus right now is Long Beach on Saturday,” Ettinger stressed. “We’re just trying to prepare as hard as we can to send the seniors off as winners.”
As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the Garden City Trojans stand on the brink of history, ready to face the pressure of maintaining their legacy. Fans and supporters eagerly await the outcome as this storied program aims to build on its remarkable success.
