The Bedford Kicking Mules are under new leadership as former Woodhaven Warriors Head Coach David Mifsud has taken over after a year that saw them make the playoffs and reach their district finals.
“It is not something I can compare,” Mifsud said when talking about how the two schools compare when he took over each team. He said, “When I first took over at Woodhaven, I was hired in the middle of June and didn’t really get to know the players or earn their trust before the season began,” but it’s a different story at Bedford. “We have been in the weight room together since February; I have seen them compete in their winter and spring sports, and we have had a great summer together,” according to Mifsud.
In his first year as head coach, he brings in plenty of returners from a team that made the playoffs a year ago. The Kicking Mules have 11 returning starters with six back on offense and five back on defense.
Leading the way for returners on offense will be junior Quarterback Luke Whetstone. Whetstone was a big factor in the team’s playoff win over Allen Park last season, finishing that game with 218 rushing yards and five touchdowns. “Athletic, smart with not only the ability to throw, but also a dual threat to run the ball,” is how his new coach described him. With a new head coach in place, Whetstone said the offseason went great. “Everything is going smoother, and I believe our team is physically in better shape and mentally tougher than we were at any point last year,” he went on to say.
Outside of Whetstone on offense, he will be joined by senior offensive lineman Waylon Napier, senior tight end Masyn Moran, and junior wide receiver Jaxon Lestock.
Napier will anchor the veteran offensive line for the team. That veteran offensive line will be key to their success as they look to be a more balanced offense this season
On defense, they return their leading tackler in senior linebacker Everett Wingate. He had over 100 tackles last season for the Kicking Mules, and as Mifsud put it, he’s still developing. While Wingate is the main attraction on defense, they will also see junior Nolan Gambino and senior Connor Wallace round out the linebacker core, with Masyn Moran versatile enough to play either with the linebackers or up front on the defensive line. Jaxon Lestock and Keagen Dixon return in the defensive backfield as ballhawks for the Kicking Mules.
This year and the future for the Kicking Mules is strong according to Mifsud. “We have a strong group of seniors; there are plenty of juniors and sophomores who will be starters and contributing throughout the season,” he said. “There is a solid and competitive JV team, and also a very big group of incoming 9th graders on the Freshmen team,” Mifsud said about the outlook after this season.
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