by 
Superior Sun
The Panthers’ varsity football team took the field on Monday, August 4, for its first practice of the 2014 season. About 20 players turned out on day one for what figures to be an exciting season.
The first practice of the season consisted of the players being timed in the 40-yard dash and other conditioning tests.
“The kids have been working hard over the summer,” Panthers’ head coach Ryan Palmer told theSuperior Sun. “It’s good to see the times getting faster and the players getting stronger.”
The Panthers played a number of freshmen last year with the hopes those players would develop and return as sophomores bigger, stronger and faster.
“I’m happy with the way the kids returned and to see that growth,” Palmer said.
With a year of varsity experience and training under their belt, the youngsters appear all grown up and ready to battle in 2014.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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