When teams line up on the football field in Bentonville, big things are expected.

Now big things are expected on two different fields in the city.

Bentonville West officially began their football program this week as they took to the practice field for spring drills at Tiger Stadium. The Wolverines won't be able to make the move to their own facilities until this summer but that isn't keeping them from putting in work.

"We're going to compete just like every one else," Bentonville West junior Michael Toney said. "It doesn't matter if we're going to be juniors, without seniors, we're going to be doing what everyone else is."

"It's definitely been a challenge but it's been enjoyable to watch the enthusiasm grow and the team spirit grow into something that last April that wasn't quite the way it is right now," Bentonville West coach Bryan Pratt said.

The Wolverines might be getting a new stadium and new equipment but Pratt is also installing new expectations for the first year program.

"We're going to be the first graduating class and that's going to be awesome," junior Sebastian Canigla said. "We get to see what we can do with this new coach and new team."

"You have to work to win and take care of the little things," Pratt said. "We try to build our program on discipline and doing the little things right and if you do the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves."

Bentonville West kicks off the 2016 season at Pryor, Okla. but before the Wolverines can start building their own tradition, Pratt knows there will be bumps along the way.

"A lot of these guys have won a lot of football games and we expect to win. We know it's going to be tough and be challenging and we're going to have to have some breaks come our way but we're pushing to try to win every one of them. We'll just see what happens."


