Wesleyan set to defend Class A title

By MICHAEL CARVELL

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The “Cinderella” word doesn’t seem to bother Wesleyan’s football players and coach.

Hyosub Shin , hshin@ajc.com Wesleyan RB Kyle Karempelis led the team in rushing during the 2008 championship season.

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The small but scrappy private school in Norcross had a seemingly improbable story in last year’s state playoffs. Wesleyan pulled off playoff upsets over traditional powerhouses to win the Class A championship.

Wesleyan, which returns 14 of 22 starters, is poised to threaten again for the title.

“I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that still think we’re a Cinderella team or program ... I hope so,” Wesleyan coach Franklin Pridgen said. “I’m sure they think we’ll fall back to earth this season. If so, then that will work to our advantage.

“If you’re a Cinderella story, then other teams will overlook you. I’m afraid that’s not going to happen this year because there are too many people gunning for us.”

Here are a few things to know about Wesleyan:

● Rocketing Q Rating: The championship has done wonders for Wesleyan’s confidence, community support and name recognition. Unlike past years, this summer when the players strutted around places such as Gwinnett Place mall with the big “W” on their T-shirts, more people knew they were in the presence of the reigning state champions.

“There’s a great buzz about Wesleyan,” Pridgen said. “Applications to the school have increased. The rosters for our sub-varsity football teams have swelled. There are people talking about Wesleyan football, perhaps some never before now, as a direct result of last year’s success.”

● Fun with No. 1: Instead of feeling pressure, Wesleyan appears to be having fun with the lofty expectations for this season. “We laugh and joke about being ranked so high this year,” quarterback Conor Welton said. “Our approach is the same as last year, taking it one game at a time.”

Said Pridgen, “If we win the state championship again, so be it. If we win the region, that would be great. However, our only goal is to be at our best each Friday.”

● More than talent: Wesleyan can hold its own with overall talent within the region, but Pridgen said the Wolves were the underdogs in last year’s final three playoff games against Miller County, Lincoln County and Emanuel County Institute. “How do we [compensate]? Our players are incredibly disciplined and incredibly smart. Those are the things that helped us to be successful.”

Wesleyan is not loaded with big-time college prospects, like many of the other defending championship teams. The Wolves last had a player sign with a major college in 2001.

“We pride ourselves on playing together as a team and not as a bunch of individuals,” linebacker Bobby Fulton said.