By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  West Salem sophomore Kaden Martirano has put in the work going into his sophomore year of football as the underclassmen Quarterback is one of the several new faces that the Titans are expecting to step in and contribute this Fall.

After seeing some action as a freshman behind recently-graduated Brooks Ferguson and a lot of action on Junior Varsity as a frosh,  Martirano saw his potential while gaining the confidence that he needed going into Summer and now going into practice this week.  Working with Joe Mohr at Mohr Performance, Martirano was able to improve on being more explosive with his hips, get more velocity off the ball along with arm strength going into his sophomore season.

“I felt like I have more confidence going into the Summer and getting ready for the season.  Getting those reps knowing  what I’m capable of and knowing what I can build off of.  Brooks and I were more like a brotherly-type, I felt like he was my big brother and we really fed off of each other in practice and in games,” Martirano said of last season in preparation for this season.  “It’s helped a lot.  Just from last year, just from JV to Varsity I think it helped just knowing the speed.  Also just fine-tuning the little things  here and there to make me the best possible Quarterback that I can be.”

Despite being a young team entering this year, Martirano is confident that they’ll be prepared for the jamboree at Sheldon High School on August 26 and their first game of the season September 2 at Sherwood High School.  Taking it one-day-at-a-time over the Summer as they wrapped up the first of two practices that they had Tuesday.

“It’ll be big.  We’re starting off on the bottom, but we’re building up each day in preparation for our first game and we’ll get there,” Martirano said. 

The Titans first home game will be September 9 against Lake Oswego, a 7:15pm start.

As for the go-pro that Martirano was supporting on his helmet, it was a new thing that West Salem was trying out for Tuesday morning’s practice.  Something that Martirano was kind of excited to see in action as he isn’t nervous about it being on his helmet.

“No, not at all,” Martirano laughed.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald