Cost-saving tips for your trade fair visit
WINDSOR, Vt. (WCAX) – The Windsor Yellow Jackets have been dominant over the past three seasons. The Jacks have won 31 of their last 32 games since the start of the 2021 season, avenging their only loss to rival Woodstock last fall in the title game and earning their third straight Division 3 victory. But this won’t just be another “run it back” season in Windsor. The Yellow Jackets lost 16 seniors from last year’s championship team, and guys like Corey Lockwood, Brady Olmstead and Brody Osgood aren’t easy to replace. Windsor also learned a few weeks ago that longtime head coach Greg Balch is stepping back into a consulting role due to conflicts with his day job and defensive coordinator Jamie Richardson is taking over head coaching duties. There’s a lot to figure out over the next two months, especially with one of the toughest schedules a D3 team could have, but the Jacks are confident their culture will put them in the running again at the end of the year. “We have a great coaching staff and Coach Balch has been instrumental in our success the last few years,” veteran lineman and linebacker Joey Gale said. “But our other coaches are going to step up and do a great job. We have defensive and offensive coordinators that have been a part of this program for so long that it’s just muscle memory for them. And even though Coach Balch has done a great job, he hasn’t left this program, he still helps us every day and does what he can to make us successful.” “Obviously we lost 16 experienced players, which impacts the numbers,” veteran running back and linebacker Justin Draper added. “But we have a lot of young guys out here. I don’t remember the exact number of freshmen and sophomores, but there are a lot. And yeah, it’s just a very young team. So we’re going to get all those young guys involved.” “Wins lead to wins,” Richardson said. “Wins lead to bigger programs, more numbers, and with numbers comes success. We have 36 kids this year, which is more than usual. Getting the kids out there is a lot easier when you’re winning. So it’s pretty successful that way and hopefully we can keep that tradition going.” Windsor hosts D2 team Fair Haven on Saturday for the season opener.