The Merkel Badgers are picked fifth in District 3-3A Div. I this year, but that doesn't bother them one bit.
In fact, they kind of like the idea of being underdogs.
The players say it fuels them to work even harder, and one part of the game they've really been focused on during the offseason, is improving their mental toughness.
The Badgers say, if their mentally tough, a lack of size and low ranking won't bother them at all.
Matthew Holmes said, "Mental toughness is, like I was saying, don't be scared. We definitely don't have size, all we have is speed, so now all we got to do is go ham, we got to go hard at it. We can't, like last year everyone was so scared because they were bigger than us. This year, we may be little, but we're coming at them."
Tatian Gonzalez said, "We like doubt. We like doubt, it kind of, it brings us up. It makes us mad for success, and that's what we want."
John Cornelius said, "I think our chemistry, our team chemistry, our unity is really good this year. Our attitudes are great. The kids are hungry. They're really ready to get out there and show what they can do."
The Badgers get to test their mental toughness on Friday night when they travel to Eastland to take on the eighteenth-ranked Mavericks.
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