Taylor and Tyler Pineda are brothers as well as teammates and the current Winder-Barrow High School seniors will now have the chance to help build a collegiate football program from the ground up.
The Pinedas signed with Reinhardt College in Waleska last week. The Eagles will field a team for the first time in 2013 and the Pineda twins will be in on the ground floor of the new program.
“This is a great opportunity for them to extend their playing days,” WBHS coach David Wagner said. “As a player, you just want that chance to go on and keep playing. Reinhardt will allow them the chance to continue their athletic and academic careers.”
Both players were voted team captains for the Bulldoggs.
“That tells you about their work ethic on and off the field,” Wagner said.
The fact that the Pinedas have decided to continue their post high school studies and athletic careers together didn’t come as much of a surprise to Wagner.
“Wherever you see one, you see the other,” Wagner said. “That’s the way they are. Obviously, they are brothers and twins but they are also best friends.”
On the field, Tyler Pineda recorded 37.5 tackles in 2011 with 5.5 sacks. Taylor Pineda missed several games this past fall due to injury but has been cleared to play again.
At the next level, the brothers will likely be looked upon to play at defensive end or linebacker.
“I think both will be looked at defensively,” Wagner said. “I spoke with their head coach and that’s where they are looking at using them.”
Taylor and Tyler’s father, Antonio, accompanied them to last week’s signing.
For Wagner, knowing his standout athletes will have the opportunity to continue playing the sport they love is a big deal.
“It’s always a dream to get to play at the next level,” Wagner said. “I’m thrilled they will have that opportunity.”
Reinhardt University has recently been accepted as a football-playing member of the Mid-South Conference.
Reinhardt begins intercollegiate competition in football during the 2013 season and becomes an official associate member of the MSC on July 1, 2013.
Danny Cronic, a long-time successful high school football coach in Georgia, is the first head coach in Reinhardt history.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him with comments at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
