Our guest for this week’s ITG Next Florida “4 Questions with the Coach” spotlight is Western head football coach Adam Ratkevich. Coach Ratkevich and his Wildcats will be one of the team’s taking part in this year’s South Florida high school football showcase event, the Broward County High School National Football Showcase, which will feature some of the state’s best programs taking on top football programs from around the country August 24-26.
We are featuring each of the teams participating in this event, including this week’s 4 Questions with the Coach segment, where we talk with Western’s Ratkevich. (His team’s opponent, Milton High School, and their head coach Ben Reaves, are featured in this week’s ITG Next Georgia 4 Questions with the Coach interview.)
Of course, there’s a lot more going on with the Wildcats and coach Ratkevich, so let’s learn more about the Western football team, the offseason, and his outlook on the 2023 season.
Q. Coach Ratkevich, thanks for joining us. As I mentioned, you guys will take on Milton in the Broward County High School Football Showcase. I’m sure you and your team are excited to be a part of this event.
A. We are absolutely fired up about the opportunity to play in this outstanding event against one of the most respected football teams in the state of Georgia. I can’t thank Kevin Perry enough for putting this outstanding event together, the best in Broward against the best in the nation. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?
Q. What about the rest of the schedule? Who are some of the high-profile matchups to look for on the 2023 Western High football schedule?
A. We will line up against two other nationally ranked opponents this season – St. Thomas Aquinas on September 4 and American Heritage on October 6 – along with perennial playoff powers Miramar and Plantation, so we do have a high-profile, action-packed schedule this season.
Q. What can you tell us about your team’s performance and the work you guys have put in this offseason? Are you pleased with where you are?
A. The offseason has been outstanding. We eat weights in Davie, and our strength coach, Jeremey Herring, is second to none. We hired a new defensive coordinator, John Cassaro, and I could not be happier with how the defense looked this spring. Spring was also a madhouse when it can to college recruiting, with so many college coaches coming through our building. It seemed like every day more offers were dropping. We currently have 15 players with scholarship offers.
Q. In an earlier conversation I had with you about your team, where the program has been, and where you are trying to take it, you said you want your Wildcats to take that next step, from winning the district to being the team to win the region, and then state. Where do you think your Western football team is right now in that process?
A. We have an outstanding football team, but at the end of the day it’s important that we do not lose our identity as an underdog and a blue-collar football team. Culture matters, and we do things a certain type of way here in Davie, so I will leave the predictions to the reporters and just say that on the right night we believe we can play with anyone.
