Coach's Corner February 2026

⭐The #ROAD26 season officially begins on August 17, 2026 for the FRESH, JV & VARSITY teams!⭐ This is the earliest the Section and State have released it. It's good to know for those who plan ahead for vacations, etc...The Fall 2026 schedule will be released later than in years past as NYS Superintendents have been granted extra time to put together plans for districts that need to combine teams, etc...I am hearing April as a target date.

This time of year the non public schools lobby hard recruiting local 8th grade players. I understand this is a family decision and have heard some families have been contacted. My goal, always, is to keep 100% of the middle school (and HS for that matter) Quakers in our program. WE WANT YOU! If you want to discuss why OPHS and the Quakers Football program is right for you please reach out to me.

Strength training remains a core belief of the Quakers Football program. Strength, agility and explosiveness will forever give football players an advantage. We support multi-sport athletes and individual position specific training but nothing replaces strength training in this sport. This is why we organize a multi phased strength program. Phase #1 ran December through January and had 50+ athletes working to be the best versions of themselves. To see 7th graders through 12th graders grind together and represent the program is awesome to see.

💪We trust the expertise of STA, they push and support our guys and forge relationships with our guys as well.💪 Phase #2 runs February through March every M and T from 7:15pm-8:15pm. They are intentionally scheduled early in the week for guys to pick up a third or fourth training day on their own. It is also intentionally at 7:15pm to accommodate multi sport athletes schedules.

🚨Here is the link for those interested in registering for Phase #2: https://opschools.revtrak.net/

STA is currently working with a pre NFL Draft group including athletes from the NCAA Champion Indiana Hoosiers. Check out this video, I thought you'd enjoy it if you have an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/p/DUGtvfugS1F/. These are the same coaches working with your sons in preparation for their seasons! That's incredible!

Current Senior and Class of 2026 Offensive Tackle #55 Spencer Balland has recently committed to Grove City College! Grove City is an exceptional football program and learning institution. The football program finished 10th in both DIII National Polls this past season. This is quite the accomplishment but no surprise. Spencer took care of his family, academics and football work and was heavily recruited. He had his pick of many places to play and study and found his future home. Congrats #55, honor the past and attack your future in your new colors!

For some, the possibility of playing NCAA Football is a goal! The Quakers have a Prospect List for those who may be interested. Here are the details:

🏈Contact Coach Cieslik with your interest.

🏈Set up a meeting with player, parent(s) and Coach Cieslik. We can meet at a coffee place, MS or HS at anytime that works for all. Meetings are about 90-minutes long.

🏈The goal is to educate the player and parent(s) on the process of becoming an NCAA prospect and options for the future!

🏈These meetings are recommended to begin as early as a player's FRESH year.

Contact Coach Cieslik for additional information!

Some of you attended the VARSITY End of Season Banquet and heard this information already but it bears repeating. In early October every district participates in BEDS day where each district counts their students in grades 9-11. This becomes each schools BEDS number. Each sport has cut off numbers for what classification it plays in. The current cut-off numbers for football are 1025+ in AA, 1024-651 in A, 650-402 in B, 401-273 in C and 272-0 in D. (Each sport is different too-FYI)

The Quakers have forever been a AA team in WNY's largest classification playing Bennett, Hutch Tech, Niagara Falls, Lancaster, Lockport and Jamestown and two non league contests. For the first time the Quakers are an A school for football next Fall! I have met with district administration and we will hover around the cut-off in future years (in the past four seasons we have been within 20 students from the cut off number each year, and the smallest AA team).

Our new opponents are Clarence, Frontier, Williamsville North, Kenmore West, Sweet Home, West Seneca West and Niagara Wheatfield. The division allows for one non league game as well to total eight games. You'll recognize other once AA schools in A just like OP.

As I've always said we will play any public school, anywhere and anytime as long as we are together. We will also respect everybody and fear nobody on our schedule! We are excited for the upcoming season for sure.

Thanks for looking @OPQuakersFB!

Once there are future newsletters!