WOODBURY- Junior varsity, a high school level designed to prepare the next generation of school athletes. For JV players, this level is a training ground learning plays, building new skills, or  a place for coaches to teach how to be a leader to the younger players on the team. Successful programs do all this in hopes that they will get new leaders to ensure success for the future. 

Jonathan Cheung, a senior in his 4th year of the Chiefs football program, understands the value of junior varsity. 

“It really came down to the amount of reps in the game in practice,” Cheung said, “going against competition in a game that was not as good as the competition at practice allowed me to focus on my technique on the field.”

Cheung, now a key contributor at the varsity level, played a vital role against Kaynor Tech in their 43-12 win to close out September. 

For others, JV is a confidence builder, letting them practice skills with multiple repetitions allowing them to perfect their game, this is especially true for starting tight end and linebacker Sean Crawford. 

“[JV] helped me by making me more comfortable in a real game but without the pressure of playing varsity,” Crawford said. “So when I went up to varsity I was more ready and focused because it’s the same game I have always played just at the varsity level.”

JV has an anticipated game this Saturday October 4th vs Wolcott.

Although JV may be viewed as novice level talent, it gives younger players chances to display talent and allows them to practice; then giving them a chance to prepare for the varsity gridiron.