More than football for the Arrows in Merom

MEROM, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Sullivan Golden Arrows are hoping their special Merom Camp pays big dividends once the high school football season begins.

“It’s awesome being out here with everybody. Making memories that you will remember forever,” says senior Laytin Huff

There’s not many teams that celebrate being back to football quite like the Golden Arrows. Sullivan players set their calendars every year for a special camp down in Merom.

Senior John Taft says, “It’s great. A lot of our kids are getting close together. I love it. I love to be here. I love the coaches. I love everybody here.”

Senior D.J. Gaines says,” This camp is very special and it helps us bond together and get really close as a family.”

Carson Granby says, “It means everything honestly. There’s nothing better than being out here with my guys. (I) Love everybody out here. It’s a real good experience and not many teams get to do this so.”

These players spent three of the hottest days of the year working on becoming a family first.

Laytin says,”You are just together so much. The whole time you are together. There’s not a time when you aren’t together. A lot of memories and friendships you wouldn’t have without this camp.”

Head Coach Mike Caton says, “It started probably over a decade ago with Coach Olson and got followed on with Coach Powell then down to me and we just carried on that tradition. It’s a good time for these guys to get together and put some good work in. They spend so much time together off the field, in the dorms, we eat together, it’s a true bonding thing for everybody out here.”

A bonding experience that includes bragging rights off the field in a good, old fashioned Xbox showdown. However, it’s not the touchdowns that Coach Caton wants these guys to take away from camp.

Mike says,” Teach them things that’s going to help them once they graduate from Sullivan High school. Whether they go on to play football, they go on to college or they go to the Union or other jobs. If they can take one aspect of what we do here that’s going to help them along the way then we’ve done something for them.”

Carson says, “They all say when you turn old you are going to look back and these are going to be the best times of your life so.”

The Arrows open the season against North Knox on August 23rd.

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