By BRIAN FABRY
You can’t maintain Walter Rosher down.
Rosher, a senior operating again for Old Rochester, missed greater than half of the 2021 season with a damaged collarbone. Toss within the COVID-19 season, and Rosher has been battling uphill to be on the sector for the previous two years. But he made positive opponents, teammates and coaches knew he was again with a vengeance.
Last week, in his comeback recreation, Rosher rushed for 162 yards and 4 touchdowns on solely 20 carries in a 34-20 victory over Bishop Stang within the season opener for the Bulldogs.
“Pregame jitters for sure, but once I got in there on the first play, it all came back, it felt good to me and I picked up where I left off,” mentioned Rosher. “Each player on the team was pushing me but Jackson Martin, he’s a fullback with me and is a good friend of mine, he had a great attitude to get me back — we can make it a great season.”
In the months previous to the large highway triumph, Bulldogs head coach Bryce Guilbeault had a dialog with the senior captain and his household.
“I talked to his mom, his dad, and Walter and (Walter) was upset with the way the season ended. He was having a great year, but then the broken collarbone,” mentioned Guilbeault. “Once he was cleared to go, I told him he needed to hit the weight room to gain back what he lost. He is much stronger than he ever was and was maniacal about it all offseason.”
Rosher didn’t disappoint the teaching workers as he went from a sew beneath 180 kilos to 205 to begin his last 12 months on the gridiron.
“I would say it was rough and frustrating at times, especially not being able to play and be with my team,” mentioned Rosher. “I was always looking forward and putting in the work, trying to stay healthy, and make a good season out of this.”
Going again to the COVID-19 season, Rosher began off with an injured hamstring, however rattled off two glorious video games to carry the Bulldogs to the South Coast Conference championship recreation. The marketing campaign was solely six video games lengthy, however earlier than kickoff, the varsity rookie sophomore was identified with the virus and dominated out for the sport.
In 2021, Old Rochester received the SCC title and Rosher was in a position to contribute 900-plus yards on the bottom together with 9 touchdowns, however fell to the harm bug once more halfway to the title with harm to his collarbone.
“We had guys step up and it certainly helps the depth coming into the season, but Walter was only able to play like four games and losing him kind of changed things as the season went on,” mentioned Guilbeault.
Expectations are larger this season for Old Rochester after final season ended with a tricky 21-14 loss to Pentucket within the Div. 5 quarterfinals. Somerset Berkley shall be formidable for SCC supremacy this season.
“Looking forward to the season, great team, great set of guys. Big hopes as I think we can make it very far and the end goal is to win every game. That’s how I look at it,” mentioned Rosher. “But it’s game by game and we try not to look too far and focus on what is next for us.”
What is subsequent is one other highway journey in a nonleague recreation Friday evening in opposition to Dartmouth (1-1).
The sky’s the restrict for Rosher, and his head coach is aware of that is only the start.
“Walter was certainly frustrated with last season, but he is a competitor,” mentioned Guilbeault. “He always knew he would have his moment and we are excited to see it and I know he’s excited to show everyone he’s back.”
NAME: Walter Rosher
SCHOOL: Old Rochester Regional High School
AGE: 18 (Sept. 2)
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1, 205 kilos
POSITION: Running again; inside linebacker
NICKNAME: Wally
FAMILY: Dad (Walter Jr.), Mom (Cynthia); Siblings: Trinity, Corey Karlberg; Rachael Karlberg; Kayla Mellor; Kaitlyn Mellor.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Senior captain for this season; two-sport athlete, runs monitor within the spring.
FAVORITE PERSONAL MOMENT IN SPORTS: Celebrating a landing
FAVORITE COURSE IN SCHOOL: Architectural Design
LEAST FAVORITE COURSE IN SCHOOL: English
FAVORITE PIGOUT FOOD: Lasagna
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Peaky Blinders
FAVORITE MOVIE: I Am Legend
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Sleepy Hollow
FAVORITE VIDEO GAME: Call of Duty — Modern Warfare
FAVORITE SMARTPHONE APP: Spotify
FAVORITE TWITTER ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW: Old Rochester Football – @OldRochesterFB
FAVORITE PRO TEAM: New England Patriots
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Devin McCourty
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A GAME: Try to hydrate, are inclined to eat smaller meals, extra snacks, speak with coaches and gamers on recreation plan. Get right into a recreation mindset.
IF YOU COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD IT BE: Bill Belichick
CAREER AMBITIONS: College, would like to play soccer on the subsequent stage.
Source: www.bostonherald.com
