To say that the Troy High School varsity football team has had a good season would be, to many in town, a gross understatement. Just ask head coach Matt Burgbacher. Troy Rotarians had many questions for the man in the red jersey as he recapped the successful regular season during the club’s November 8th meeting.

Now finishing up his second year as the team’s leader, “Coach B” came to the school after several seasons at Fort Loramie. Finishing 2-8 in 2015 did not make the players, or Coach B, happy. The 2016 season has been a different story with the Trojans finishing atop the GWOC North Division after they successfully hosted Anderson at Troy Memorial Stadium on November 4th, winning the matchup 41-35. Their next opponent is Miamisburg, the only team to defeat Troy in the regular season this year. What a difference a year has made for the team and its coaching staff.

Rotarians wanted to know how Coach B and the players made such a dramatic turnaround? Burgbacher shared that he’d incorporated a focus on leadership that was not part of the 2015 playbook. It’s a three-prong philosophy of hard work, a belief in yourself, and trust in your teammates, and it has been a key factor that propelled the Trojans into the Regional Finals. This philosophy has influenced the team all year long, as evidenced by their 10-1 (5-0) conference record. Coach B and the Trojans take this focus into their next game against Northmont High School on Friday, November 11. For more information, visit www.troy.k12.oh.us/Athletics.

Troy Rotarians and the Troy Rotary Foundation support several community projects annually. During the 2015-16 Rotary year, over $23,000 in scholarships and community aid was distributed from the fund, including support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, Rotary’s annual Shoe Project, academic and community service scholarships, and sponsorships to summer camps at Brukner Nature Center and WACO Air Museum. The Troy Rotary Club is a member-involved, goal-oriented service club focused on socio/economic issues that have an impact both locally and internationally. Follow their activities on Facebook at Troy Rotary Club. To learn more about Rotary and membership, please visit www.troyohiorotary.org.