WMHS Highlanders’ Football Training Camp underway

The West Milford High School football program began its training camp on Monday.

It’s the first official step in the team’s preparations for the upcoming season after opening last season by winning three of the first four games.

The team finished with a record of 5-5, which was enough to qualify for the postseason.

West Milford hadn’t finished with five wins since 2009.

Now, the Highlanders will look to both returning players and newcomers to fill the shoes of last year’s talented senior class.

Four of five linemen on both offense and defense are among the returning players.

This will be Stephen Maslanek’s second season as head coach of the team after replacing Donald Dougherty in January.

Maslenek has been an educator and science teacher at the high school for the last 13 years and had been an assistant football coach since 2004.

He served as the team’s defensive coordinator since 2008 before being named head coach.

The Highlanders are set to have a scrimmage at River Dell High School on Aug. 23 followed by two more scrimmages.

The season officially begins on Sept. 6 when the team is scheduled to travel to Indian Hills, where it will try to get its first win against the Braves.

The Highlanders’ home opener will come the following week when the squad is scheduled to play Vernon Township High School.