By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

Coach Watt Parker brought two members of the 2015 HHS Huskies Football team and his own innate sense of humor and coaching philosophy to last week’s Kiwanis Club.

He introduced Brett Granger, No. 6, a senior who will play linebacker and tight end. Granger said he has played football since third grade and lived in Helena since fifth grade.

Granger’s future aspiration is to be a coach or trainer, and he has already been accepted at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Wearing No. 3, Phildon Dublin, wide receiver and safety, said soccer is also big in his family, so those skills serve him well. Dublin plans to further his education majoring in engineering.

“The best part of playing football is the camaraderie between team members,” both players agreed. “Your teammates are there for you––when you’re down or when you are celebrating together in victory.”

Coach Parker shared his own history, beginning with growing up the youngest in a disciplined environment.

His father, a former Marine, passed away during his senior year in high school. From this time, he took on the role of family patriarch.

Now in his 24^th year of coaching and teaching, “and counseling, administrating, or cutting the grass on the field,” he told of doing whatever was needed as one of three initial hires preparing to open the new HHS last year.

Parker emphasized that the mission of his sports program is to “develop the person in spirit, mind and body.”

“Your heart controls who you are. It is not about how many games we win—sure, we want to bring home trophies, but it’s about loving your sport, loving your teammates and maintaining an attitude of excellence. Work and fun are not on the opposite end of the spectrum.”

Coach Parker speaks highly of additions to his coaching staff. Mike Morgan is defensive coordinator. Additionally, head track coach Jon Ray Russell works with the running backs and Cliff Naron, girls soccer coach, works with the kickers.

The month of July was devoted to weight training and with the experience of returning players, Parker says he expects the program to see an overall caliber of improvement.