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Summer conditioning has wrapped up at Memorial, but there is little time for rest.

The Vipers football team reports for practice in just two weeks and isn’t planning on wasting any time.

“We didn’t have the season we would have liked to have last year,” Memorial head coach Mickey Finley said, “so this year we’re looking to get this thing turned around. It’s important to get off to a good start and in the right direction.”

Memorial is coming off a 2-8 season and begins conditioning on Aug. 11 with contact beginning on Aug. 15. The Vipers scrimmage on Aug. 22 at Corpus Christi Calallen.

Memorial opened its weight room to any athlete to workout throughout the summer, and saw many of it’s football players show up day after day. For the Vipers to improve upon their record, Finley said staying in shape in the summer months was important.

“We felt good about the ones that showed up,” Finley said. “They all worked hard, but then again, you’re always worried about the ones that didn’t show up. You hope the kids are on a yearlong strength program that they keep up during the summer. Keeping their momentum going is important.”

Along with the conditioning programs, Finley said many of his players attended skills camps throughout the summer.

“We had quite a few of our kids go to the camps,” he said. “We really encourage it, but it’s not so much for their skills as it is for them to give the colleges to look at the kids. Colleges look at the camps as a recruiting tool but the kids are honing their skills too.”

Memorial is in it’s second year under the direction of Finley who said the Vipers will continue to grow under his system.

“It’s hard to put in a complete system in one year,” he said. “We’re still getting the kids used to it. Luckily in the spring we were able to work on it. After having spring training the kids know what we’re trying to get accomplished. Hopefully now we can just get ready for the first ball game.”

Memorial is playing in a reconstructed District 27-5A this season. Converse Judson, Converse Wagner and South San Antonio join the district, while Corpus Christi Carroll and King remain. San Antonio East Central and Highlands are also still in 27-5A, while San Antonio Southwest and Corpus Christi Ray left the district. Judson lost 13-10 in the Class 5A, Division I state championship game to Euless Trinity last season.

The Vipers open district play at home against Carroll on Sept. 26.

Wes Bloomquist is a sports writer at the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6509 or wbloomquist@vicad.com.