From zero wins to league champions

Sometimes a little bit of change is all we need to turn things around.

The varsity football team at Mariposa County High School has gone from not winning many games in several years to becoming Southern League champs this year.

So what changed?

Chase Pometta took over the football program three seasons ago and has completely revamped the program.

Chase and wife Kady grew up in Newman and went to Orestimba High School together.

After closing his gym and transitioning to teaching, the couple moved from Hilmar to Mariposa to teach and spend more time with family while raising their kids here.

“My wife and I had been talking about it and she said ‘Let’s go,’” Chase explained.

“We knew it was going to be an adventure.”

Mariposa

While Kady began teaching at Mariposa Elementary School, Chase stepped into his teaching position at MCHS as well as head coach of the football program.

“Let’s just say we had to get things on track in a lot of ways,” Chase explained.

“We had to get shoulder pads, helmets and all of those kinds of things. We didn’t have enough equipment for everybody.”

After figuring out the equipment as well as the coaching staff, the group started to talk about the program and what the goals are.

“We stressed from day one, culture over everything,” Chase said.

“Winning would be a byproduct of the culture that we create.”

Changing the culture of any organization comes with growing pains and tough lessons.

“When kids break rules the consequences apply to everybody,” he explained.

“After we got rolling, the kids were all on board. Everything is black and white. We had to implement everything and now the rest is easy. With the group of coaches we had it wasn’t a problem at all.”

First season

After moving, starting a new job and implementing so many changes, the kids are what makes everything worth it, even when the team went 0-10 overall during Chase’s first season as head coach.

“I saw the way the kids were buying into what we were doing,” Chase explained.

“I always remember after game 10 (last game), players wanted to meet on Monday to watch film on Le Grand. The team had just gone through a losing season and they still didn’t want it to end.”

The team was young and motivated for the next year.

“It was really cool to see and I was confident in what we were doing,” he said.

“Was it hard? Yes, but the kids made it easy because they were benefiting from what we were doing.”

Second season and the first win

The Grizzlies were already showing improvement during their second season with Chase in charge.

After an absolute showdown with Yosemite High School in Oakhurst, the Grizzlies were in the lead for the majority of the game but lost in the final minutes by only two points.

Frustration was visible but the players held their heads high and kept going. After two more losses with close scores, the team hosted their first home game of the season at the Gold Bowl against the Sierra Chieftains.

After 13 losses since stepping into the role of head coach, the Grizzlies got their first win and a shutout at that (40-0), with Chase in the driver’s seat.

“That was huge for these kids. It was a long time coming but it didn’t surprise me though,” Chase explained.

In several games the Grizzlies were within a score of winning.

“I knew these kids had it in them. That’s when the realization happened within them,” Chase explained.

“They were trusting the process and knew what they were capable of. It was so exciting.”

The way they played that night was the expectation for every night.

“We expect that every single night,” he continued.

“These guys are capable of beating any team they go up against.”

The team finished the second season with Chase coaching with an overall record of 3-7.

Southern League Champs

Just as the season began the year before, the Grizzlies faced off with Yosemite in Oakhurst, but this time the results were different.

MCHS set the bar for the season with a win of 42-40.

“It was cool that first game because I could see they felt it,” Chase said.

“They knew this is our time.”

After taking things one game at a time and sticking to the plan, the Grizzlies created many special moments including an absolute nail-biter win over Denair on Alumni Night/ Homecoming at the Gold Bowl.

After facing only one loss (Stone Ridge Christian) during the season, the Grizzlies finished with an overall record of 9-1 and are Southern League champs for the first time since 2014.

“It’s what I’ve seen this whole time in this group,” Chase said.

“This group won that game and a lot of games in the weight room.”

Hard work pays off

While coaching at MCHS, Chase helped to implement weight training workouts for the offseason, not just for football players but all MCHS athletes.

“When I got here we had one kid in the school who could bench 225. We have 30 kids on this football team who can do that now,” he explained.

“We had one kid who could squat 270 and now we have 30 kids who can squat 300 or more.”

After believing in the process and sticking with it, the results are more than showing.

“I knew what was going to happen, it was just so great they have all stuck with it,” Chase said.

“Now they get to enjoy it.” the hard work and effort, everyone in the program knows they can’t do it alone.

“The coaching staff has been phenomenal,” Chase said.

“Most of them have been here with me since day one. I’ve watched us as staff learn together and dive into it together. It’s been extremely meaningful.”

The understanding of the game and how the group approaches teaching the players is at a high level.

“From the players to the coaches, the understanding is showing,” he said.

“It’s all about these kids and the experience they’re having right now. It’s something they’re never going to forget and I’m glad I get to be a part of it.”

(See game preview on page B-1.)