Football season has finally arrived at Westside and so has junior varsity’s head coach, Jack Sortino. Sortino used to teach at Westside middle school and at the end of the day, head to Westside High School to coach. Sortino’s transferring to the high school had to do with reasons both on and off the field.

“I’ve always wanted to teach an older age group and a little bit higher content in math, and there was an opportunity at the high school and I took it,” Sortino said. “I like it so far…football was part of the reason. It’s nice to have the same [players] in the same building and be able to see them in the classroom and out of the classroom.”

While switching schools was convenient and rewarding for Sortino, he mostly did it for his team.

“I think being able to see the athletes in the hallway and classroom helps develop relationships further,” Sortino said.

Sortino’s presence in the hallways and in class seems to be rubbing off on his players. One of the players coached by Sortino is lineman Adam Miller.

“I think Sortino coming to the High School will have a positive effect on the team because he likes his schedule and he has more free time,” Miller said. “He’s fun and he brings a good energy to the team, I think it’s going to go good, I think we can go undefeated this season.”