Wolves invite two to training camp
Quarterback James Yaitanes and defensive lineman Shane Rogers have each earned an invitation to the Manchester Wolves training camp in two weeks to compete for a spot on the final roster of the arenafootball2 league team.
Yaitanes and Rogers were among those who participated in the team's open tryouts last Saturday.
Rogers, who played his collegiate football at Husson College in Bangor, Maine, had worked out previously for National Football League and Canadian Football League scouts but had never participated in a tryout.
"I am definitely looking forward to this opportunity," Rogers said. "Who wouldn't want to live their dream? I can't pass this up."
Yaitanes impressed in the first tryout in January and was asked to come back for the second. Manchester coach Danton Barto liked enough of what he saw to bring Yaitanes into camp to compete against returning starter James Pinkney and the other quarterbacks. Training camp opens March 7.
"I tried out for the Wolves back in 2004 and made it to the last cut," said Yaitanes, who played at Bridgewater State College. "But I was only 18 and the coaches then told me to get older and more experienced. Now I'm here and I can't wait to come back in two weeks. I'm loving this and am pretty excited."
Barto said he was pleased with the tryouts.
"There were a lot of good football players who participated in the tryouts," he said. "Saturday's tryout was one of the best we've had since I've been here. The talent level was higher than it has been. I always like to have talent at every position coming into camp and competing. There is a lot of reason for optimism going into training camp."
The Wolves open the af2 season on March 27 on the road against division rival Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton.
