2017 Football Preview

FOOTBALL TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN AREA HIGH SCHOOL

P R E VIE W

DETROIT LAKES LAKERS • FRAZEE HORNETS • LAKE PARK/AUDUBON RAIDERS HAWLEY NUGGETS • MAHNOMEN INDIANS • PERHAM YELLOWJACKETS PELICAN RAPIDS VIKINGS • NCE/ULEN-HITTERDAL TITANS • WAUBUN BOMBERS

2017

2

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hile Frazee has forfeited all eight regular season football games on paper, the overall mood of the team is up and the goal is to play as competitive a style of football as possible in a rebuilding situation that has not been uncommon around the area the past decade.

“The guys were just glad to have a decision,” head coach Jim Jacobson said. “With the rumors going around, it’s no secret that people had been talking about it and we heard from parents and kids all summer about what our options are.”

The Hornets’ staff and administration weighed options on playing a strict junior varsity schedule or finding a way to compete at the varsity level but the situation at hand is somewhere in the middle.

“We started out the season expecting to play Perham and as it became apparent that our numbers are not great and our kids are small, we made that decision to keep our kids safe,” said Jacobson.

Naturally, there were a few disappointed upperclassmen but the situation is understandable to current players in Frazee and teams

across the region that have suffered a similar plight, like Pelican Rapids, Park Christian and Bagley. All three programs have bounced back.

“The kids were happy to have a decision made and since we’ve gone out and had some of our better practices of the year,” Jacobson said. “We’re still playing football and preparing for games on Fridays, business as usual, just doing it this way allows us to dictate those terms if we get out of hand or have injuries.”

The Frazee coaching staff has done a solid job of keeping team morale up and are encouraged by the young group who has stuck through the transition and their willingness to buy into the future of the program.

“What we’re excited for is our freshmen and sophomores,” said Jacobson. “Our juniors are going to have their turn next year and they’re ready to go. Those younger kids have been buying into a speed and strength program and working hard in the offseason. The exciting part of this season is everyone will be back for next season.”

The lone senior, Tanner Tappe, has not put a helmet on this season dealing with injuries, so the remainder of the roster are underclassmen.

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“The chemistry is good and their attitude is good and they’re working hard,” Jacobson said.

This year’s modified schedule is a mismatch with each week a separate decision in discussion with opposing coaches. Frazee is giving teams the option to play the scheduled game; if not, Frazee’s staff wants to keep the junior varsity game on the schedule.

“It’s kind of a week by week, wait and see,” said Jacobson. “We want to get these freshman kids as many reps as possible in JV. That’s the toughest part right now, as coaches, the uncertainty and knowing what to prepare for. Our job, right now, is just keeping our kids focused on getting better and we’re going to play as best we can.”

Returning starters for Frazee include Joby Giefer at wide receiver, who also played defensively in the secondary and at linebacker. He could move up to a defensive end position.

Six-foot-three, 300-pounder Tony Malikowski anchors the line on both sides of the ball.

Gabe Drewes returns with some experience, but is nursing a couple nagging injuries to an ankle and his knee.

Cole Fleischer, a sophomore, has stepped in at quarterback after running

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junior varsity last year and getting a few varsity reps.

“He’s coming into his own and a good leader and doing some good things,” said Jacobson.

Frazee’s backfield has been ripe with experienced runners the past few years and is one place the Hornets need to rebuild.

“We’re running back by committee with not a lot of guys back at that position,” said Jacobson. “We have a lot of young guys we’re checking out and it’s really anybody’s game there.”

Working those younger kids, especially freshman, up to varsity game speed from junior high speed is a big piece and getting players to open up and play at full speed has been a tough transition.

“Our juniors and some of our sophomores have done a good job as being leaders,” Jacobson said.

This year’s senior class had small numbers, in terms of athletic participation, across the board in a number of activities, compounded by a number of football players who simply did not turn up at practice to start the year. Frazee currently has 33 players rostered from the freshman class on up. The Hornets fully expect to return to varsity action in 2018.

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2017

3

HORNET ROSTER # 1 4 5 9 10 15 18 20 22 27 28 31 32 33 40 41 51 52 54 55 56 58 59 60 64 65 68 71 72 77 78 81 89

Time out on the field Frazee to forfeit football season because of low roster numbers

BY CHRIS MURPHY cmurphy@forumcomm.com

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our games, but our goal is to play as much of a varsity game as we can Friday nights. We may be able to play four quarters of a varsity game against some teams and some teams maybe only one or two.”

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ast week, Frazee High School athletic director Nick Courneya, who used to coach varsity football, went out to football practice for the Hornets. He saw a sophomore quarterback handing the ball off and throwing to freshmen.

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, nine days before Frazee is supposed to host Perham to open the football season, the Hornets had a team meeting in which Courneya explained to them why the decision was made to forfeit this season.

“With low numbers of participants, especially in the upper grades, we are unable to put our players in a position to safely start and finish a varsity football game,” Courneya said. “The safety of our players and the future of the program is collectively the most important part of the 2017 campaign.”

Frazee currently has one senior, who is sidelined because of a knee injury. They have six juniors, two of whom can’t play due to eligibility issues because of open enrollment. The remaining 23 players are all freshmen and sophomores, only one who has regular varsity experience.

“We laid out to the team that we had 30 guys here and we’re proud of them, but we’re facing the fact we have a tough schedule, facing Perham and Barnesville to start

off,” Courneya said. “It’s not a good situation for us. We as coaches and myself as AD are making the recommendation to do that to help you guys to grow and mature into next year, so we’re more mature and physically ready to play a varsity schedule.”

Courneya said the Hornets will go through each week and work with opposing teams to play a game they feel is safe for the team, while at the same time providing experience for both teams.

“We communicated with several teams that have been in that situation and are working through it and still working through it,” Courneya said. “Out of fairness to a lot of schools, we looked to forfeit our schedule with the intent to work with each team on a week-to-week basis to alternate the game a little bit and provide a good opportunity and have fun and our imposing team can get varsity experience.”

Frazee has never won a state title and has one section championship in 1990. The Hornets are coming off a 1-8 season in which three losses came by a combined 10 points. They played in the Class 2A, Section 8 championship game in 2014, losing to Hawley and finishing 8-3.

Losing one senior to graduation, the hope is for Frazee varsity football to be back next season.

“We’ll be back. That was what we really wanted to lay out,” Courneya said. “Yes, we have forfeited

NAME Caleb DeGroat. . . . . . .

Colten Pausch. . . . . . .

Gabe Drewes . . . . . . . .

Cody Pausch. . . . . . . .

Cole Fleisher. . . . . . . . .

Brock Barlund. . . . . . .

Mason Newling. . . . . .

Broden Fleisher. . . . . .

Jack Hall. . . . . . . . . . . .

Brandon Nguyen. . . .

Steven Campbell. . . .

Micah Hanebuth. . . . .

Brandon Carpenter. .

Lewis Helmers. . . . . . .

Joby Giefer. . . . . . . . . .

Nate Hedlund. . . . . . . .

Howie Solem. . . . . . . .

Luke Tweeton. . . . . . .

Wes Kropuenske. . . . .

Ethan Wothe. . . . . . . .

Brock Riewer. . . . . . . .

Zach Johnson. . . . . . . .

Tanner Tappe . . . . . . .

Sam Winn. . . . . . . . . . .

Vincent Helmers. . . . .

Alex Hardy. . . . . . . . . .

Kaleb Beimert. . . . . . .

Tony Malikowski. . . . .

Austin Engel. . . . . . . . .

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Brett Graham. . . . . . . .

Tyler Ensrud. . . . . . . . .

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2017

4

Raiders return strong core on the line and in the backfield

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ead coach Brian Robertson has a solid mix of seven returning starters on offense and six on defense in his second year at helm of the Lake Park-Audubon Raiders football team.

“I’ve been telling those guys you have to use that experience for good,” he said.

Having that first year under the belts of the coaching staff and the players has led to a more efficient start to the season, as opposed to starting fresh in 2016.

“We’ve been able to implement some things quicker and we had a team camp this summer and minicamp, which helps,” said Robertson.

“Year two is just a smoother transition at the beginning.”

Robertson has plenty of experience back at the skill positions with a full backfield of seniors: Teddy Schauer at quarterback, Jack Osborne at fullback

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and Carter Raaen at running back.

Those three players, along with sophomore Ben Rabideaux will see the rock plenty of times in Robertson’s run first offensive scheme.

“We can’t just pound it at them, we’re going to have to find some other areas on offense,” said Robertson. “We try to run it, less variables, and if you get your running game going well, it opens up the passing game and play action.”

Key to the success will be the offensive line that has four returning starters in senior Eli Noel and a trio of juniors: Will Hannesson, Austin Stevens, and Nick Donovan.

Raaen is going to be a key on both sides of the ball as the leading rusher in 2016 and enterprising on the other side of the ball as the Raiders’ leading tackler.

Raaen was also named to the all-district team.

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“Year two is just a smoother transition at the beginning,” — head coach Brian Robertson.

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valuable defensive player last year,” Robertson said.

Raaen and Osborne return at the linebacker positions, Schauer started at a corner last year and the four lineman on offense will likely see plenty of minutes in the trenches on defense with a couple extras that will be in for substitutions.

“We’ve got five, six guys there that are not huge but they’re all big and strong enough to move people around hopefully that causes some tough situations for opposing offenses,” said Robertson.

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2017 Raiders something to build on and creating a winning culture begins with learning from tough losses and overcoming them.

“I wanted them to know we’re really not that far away from being successful,” said Robertson.

“We definitely competed.”

The team goal is more concentrated on each day in practice and each game Friday night more than what is the plan for the end of the year.

“Never want to put a ceiling on it but we want to be in the top half of the district and section, hopefully get a playoff win and stay healthy with a little luck,” said Robertson. “Really getting across to the guys that we want to compete.”

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dard for co-ops in January. Both schools full enrollment was counted prior to the change. Under the new rule, 100 percent of the largest school is counted and only half of the enrollment of any remaining schools in the co-op count.

“We had a couple teams change and had three schedules,” said Robertson.

The combination of AdaBorup and Norman County West and subsequent move to 11man provides a new face on the schedule in Ada for the regular season finale.

Robertson also has two new coaches on staff in Wayne Otto and Greg Olson, joining Alex Becher as assistants.

The Raiders opened the season early playing in Zero Week and lost a heartbreaker in the final minute at Warroad 7-6.

RAIDER ROSTER # 4 5 7 11 12 14 15 20 22 25 31 32 33 35 37 38 41 46 51 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 64 65 66 70 71 72 73 74 77 80 81 82 84 85 86 87

NAME Josh Rivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grant Pederson. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Teddy Schauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jordan Boe-Hopkins. . . . . . . . .

Marcus Dickelman-Stassen. .

Parker Christianson. . . . . . . . .

Ryan Voge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Carter Raaen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Zack Cole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacob Rosing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grant Briard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jack Osborne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jace Rosing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Alex Strehlow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Caleb Noel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ben Rabideaux. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Riley Carlson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Andrew Wetli. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ethen Rosing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Eli Noel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacob Beaudine-Schlick. . . . .

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Landon Bergren. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seth Felker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Simon Holm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jaiden Disse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Justin How. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Will Hannesson. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tyson Haugrud. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Michael Pederson. . . . . . . . . . . .

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/Middle River at home and Red Lake County at Fargodome in the regular season finale before falling to the eventual Section 6A champions Browerville/ Eagle Valley in the first round of the playoffs. That game was much closer than the 33-14 score showed on the scoreboard.

“We want to improve off of last year,” Robertson said. “From where we started to where we finished last year, even if the record doesn’t say so, we went to Browerville and were down 1914 with four minutes to go in the fourth quarter — we were playing them tough.”

The Raiders were tied at the half 6-6 in a game that was either team’s until the final stretch.

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2017

6

Nuggets aiming for return to section final

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

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rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

he Hawley football team was young but back in form last season after a rare sub .500 season in 2015 reaching the Section 8AA championship final.

The upstart Nuggets relied on youthful skill position players to reach the section final with big playoff wins over Frazee 4422 and Crookston 49-27 before falling 2414 to Barnesville at Fargodome.

“That one year of experience and the bitterness in their mouths about those losses should be motivation enough to get there,” head coach Peder Naatz said.

“We’ve also talked about the mindset and work ethic that you put forth is going to determine where these guys can go. I think we’re talented enough, but in order for that to happen you have to stay healthy and get a few breaks along the way, as well.”

A core group of five offensive players at key positions return to the starting lineup with potential to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

ter will lead the Nuggets under center.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior quarterback has the skills to run the ball himself and work the perimeter and up the hash marks in the passing game.

“He’s got all kinds of skill, but he’s really not aware of what he has yet,” said Naatz.

The backfield is composed of senior Donnie Loegering at tailback and junior Trayton Cossette.

“He was scary last year with his cut backs and instant speed,” Naatz said.

On the outside, juniors Chase Libak at flanker and Noah Glad at split end are expected to be the top receivers for Vetter. Fellow junior Jayden Carlisle gives the Nuggets three capable hands in the passing game and with Hawley’s versatile attack and varying formations, Naatz will certainly fling a tailback out on the wing and in the slot.

The Nuggets are also working with an advantage at tight end. Six-foot-three, 218-pound sophomore Matt Thompson, who started as a freshman in 2016, returns as a key blocking component to allow runners to get downhill to the edge and Thompson has plenty of time to become an effective target in the passing scheme.

“He’s bigger, stronger and everything you want a kid to be like that at tight end,” said Naatz. “He still has some work to do with his hands.”

Returning starters Sam Wamre, a senior center and right tackle Garner Moe, another senior, are going to anchor the offensive line.

The right side of the line will be tough to defend with the addition of senior 215-pounder Tyler Todd.

Todd moved from fullback and linebacker last season to the right guard position this preseason.

“The kind of kid he is, being a team

“Our main strength is going to be our skill kids coming back, initially ...”

— head coach Peder Naatz “Our main strength is going to be our skill kids coming back, initially,” Naatz said. “I think by the time we get two, three games in, our offensive line should have enough time to gel and get on track.

I’m really happy with the size the kids came back with and we look pretty good in practice.”

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2017 player and to make us better, he just stepped in and took it and he’s doing great,” said Naatz. “It took him one day to adjust emotionally and since then he’s been all in. He’s got really good football sense so it didn’t take him long to pick up the assignments.”

Todd is also a co-captain with Moe and the Nuggets may pick another one or two captains as preseason winds down.

The left side of the line is still in formation.

“We’ve got a lot of fill-ins going on,” said Naatz.

Junior Scott Kluck has put on 20-plus pounds and will likely start at left guard. Sophomore Justin Bentley is stepping in at left tackle.

Scheme-wise, opponents will see plenty of the Nugget’s shotgun set with motion and a number of formation varieties.

“The thing with us is we can run all of our running plays out of every set that we have,” said Naatz. “We’re a bread and butter running team and I’m excited to see what our passing game is going to turn into after having one season of that with all of these skill kids returning. They’ve all done that stuff as sophomores.

I’m excited to see how that is going to turn out.”

Defensively, Wamre and Moe will anchor the line at the tackle spots.

“We do have some quality kids who can back those guys up,” said Naatz.

Thompson returns at one defensive end.

“He’s got a ton of experience coming in as a sophomore,” Naatz said. “The other defensive end, we’re just going to have to work that out and find out who is going to step in and take over.”

Senior Parker Tjaden has the early nod at the other end position.

“He’s been working for a long time and hopefully,

the dues that he’s paid will pay off,” said Naatz.

Linebackers come back with experience in Todd and Vetter, along with Loegering on the outside in front of a salty secondary.

Hawley will be a favorite with Barnesville and Breckenridge in the eight-team Section 8AA. Earning the top seed will likely produce a first round playoff bye with Frazee forfeiting their regular season this year. That also creates a problem in week six when the Nuggets were scheduled to host the Hornets.

“We’re hoping to find somebody that has an open date so we can play,” said Naatz. “If not, then it could be to our advantage going down the backstretch of the season and having that week off.”

The Frazee game comes at an inopportune time the week prior to the big rematch in Barnesville, but like other coaches in the section, Naatz understands the current plight in Frazee.

“There are a couple different ways of looking at that,” said Naatz. “It’s unfortunate, because you never want to lose out on a varsity game and even more important than that is you hope it doesn’t decimate the program.”

The Nuggets face Breckenridge on the road the week prior, so without a week six game, Hawley will be playing their two biggest rivals on the road backto-back with the uncertain week in between.

“The general consensus is we want to get back into that section championship game, but in order to get there you’ve got to do the dirty work during the season and put your time in and be focused,” said Naatz.

“Hopefully, we can get Barnesville and Breckenridge.

If we can’t, we will need to restart in the playoffs.”

Hawley opens the season with Class 1A power Mahnomen Thursday, Aug. 31 at home.

7

NUGGETS ROSTER # 2 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 32 44 51 52 54 55 56 57 60 62 64 66 67 70 72 75 78 79 82 84 84 85 87

NAME Jayden Carlisle. . . . .

Gunnar Lawson . . . .

Noah Glad. . . . . . . . . .

Nathan Sperr. . . . . . .

Trayton Cossette. . .

Blake Tuckner. . . . . .

Carter Justesen. . . . .

Chase Libak. . . . . . . .

Karter Kopacek. . . . .

Cole Matson. . . . . . . .

Jacob Vetter. . . . . . . .

Garrett Peterson. . . .

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Cole Miliander. . . . . .

Ben Burkel. . . . . . . . . .

Cale Bickler . . . . . . . .

Brendan Flores. . . . .

Hunter Magnusson.

Donnie Loegering. . .

Derian Gerdes. . . . . .

Joey Stuhaug. . . . . . .

Parker Tjaden. . . . . .

Brayden Boe. . . . . . . .

Scott Kluck. . . . . . . . .

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Riley Burnside. . . . . .

Logan Reiland. . . . . .

Thomas Hines. . . . . .

Isaac Ames. . . . . . . . .

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2017

8

Indians vying for eighth consecutive section championship

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

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rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

alk in Mahnomen concerning football has little to do with the impending sports merger with Waubun beginning with this year’s winter season and is all about the usual task at hand.

“The kids haven’t even talked about it,” said head coach John Clark Jr. “Let’s

do our thing and we’re pretty focused on this year.”

The focus for the Indians is always getting to the state tournament. In 2016, Mahnomen captured their seventh consecutive Section 8A championship, piling on Polk County West 48-6 at Fargodome.

The lopsided victory gave plenty of Mahnomen’s younger players some key playoff experience on the big stage, and

the Indians have the firepower of offensive playmakers returning to lead this year’s team.

Junior Jon Starkey takes over at quarterback with Jeremy Londo back in front of him after starting at center his freshman season.

Starkey has been lined up at running back since his freshman season and took some snaps last year while Mahnomen dealt with injuries. Star-

key has been a playmaker since first seeing action and can score from anywhere on the field.

“He can run, throw and understands our offense, so we’re in good hands there,” said Clark. “We just need to keep him healthy.”

Junior speedster Izaiah Asher will be the feature back behind Starkey, and other key contributors competing for touches are junior Craige Brown,

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2017 sophomore Roy Bjorge and senior Dan Snetsinger.

“We’ve got some talented freshmen and sophomores we need to teach the position,” said Clark.

With Londo, seniors Nick Podlak and Chris Busche will anchor the key to Mahnomen’s successful run game on the offensive line and up front defensively.

“They’re just stud football players on both sides of the ball,” Clark said. “We’re going to rely on them and are starting an eighth grader and a sophomore.”

Justin Littlewolf has plenty of size for an eighth-grader, and will get a baptism by fire seeing varsity action from the get-go with sophomore Chris Podlak joining him on the line.

“A lot of coaching and teaching here early on to try to get these young guys up to speed,” Clark said.

Playing with youthful players is nothing new to Mahnomen, who played their first game of 2016 with 18 players, including six eighth-graders. This year’s team has 31 players on the roster, including eight juniors and only three seniors.

Those upperclassmen and standout young players will play Ironman football with many players going both ways, making

injury prevention a key element in the level of success to be attained this year.

The senior trio of Snetsinger, Podlak and Busche will be monumental in leading the defensive unit.

“We only have three seniors but they’re very good football players,” Clark said.

Starkey and Asher’s combined speed will be back in the secondary to clean up at the second level.

“Then it’s just plugging in some of those younger players, coaching them up and getting them up to speed as fast as we can,” Clark said.

Polk County West should be the main rival in the section, and the remaining six teams in 8A have all seen improvement from last year, according to Clark.

“With our numbers and depth, we’re one injury away from disaster this year,” he said. “Nothing is taken for granted. I like our kids’ attitude; you don’t have to talk about goals with these guys. The goal is to be there at the end.”

The Mahnomen path begins with a stout test on the road at Class 2A Hawley on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m., renewing an old rivalry with the Nuggets.

“I’m really looking forward to that; I’m a big believer in finding out where you stand early, what

9

you need to work on, and they’re going to be a good team, and we had a good rivalry back in the day,” said Clark.

The two teams last met in the opening game of the 2010 season at Mahnomen with the Indians winning big 30-6.

“The coaching staffs have very much respect for each other, and we’re looking forward to getting off on the right foot with a difficult game,” Clark said.

Mahnomen had a 50-game, regular season winning streak snapped on the road at Pillager to start last year and bounced back in a big way from that loss, winning 10 straight games before being knocked out of the state quarterfinals by Browerville/Eagle Valley 40-28 at Bemidji State University.

“Sometimes a loss early is the best thing for your kids,” Clark said. “A little humble pie, and we’ve got to work a little harder. It’s not won or lost week one. The key is to build to week nine, 10, 11 — that’s when we’ve got to be good.”

After Hawley, Mahnomen faces a second new opponent this season against Walker-Hackensack-Akeley in the home opener Friday, Sept. 8. The Nuggets and Wolves replace Pillager and New York Mills on the schedule.

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2017

10

Returning linemen key to Titans’ success

T

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

he Norman County East/UlenHitterdal Titans return a full complement of linemen on both sides of the ball who will be key in helping establish new players filling

roles of graduates who vacated most of the skilled positions.

“Our quarterback knows the game and he’s just been waiting for his turn,” Titans’ head coach Dustin Flaten said.

“He understands the game.”

Six-foot-three junior Tate Maesse gets the nod under cen-

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fullback Sam Bates.

“We’ve got a running back that’s probably not going to drop off,” Flaten said. “He probably runs with more power than Brady.”

That back is senior Kyle Syverson, who takes over at tailback in the heavy run game style of the Titans.

Bates and Sirjord were a strong onetwo punch last season, while Braseth was able to get outside. However, opponents will see more than the usual smash mouth football from Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal in 2017.

“That’s kind of what we’ve always tried to do,” said Flaten.

Maesse’s height and throwing ability will bring the receiving corps more to the front of the attack than in years past.

“We can spread out a little bit; we’ve got good tight ends and receivers,” said Flaten. “We just have to have more balance this year with our run/pass attack.

We need to balance it out to save ourselves a bit.”

One nice thing Titan skill players will have is a balanced and experienced group of men up front on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Isaac Stene is a 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior who both Maesse and Syverson will run behind.

Should the skill players get up to speed quickly, the Titans will definitely be in the mix at the top of Section 6 with Waubun and Nevis.

Laporte, Rothsay and Win-E-Mac round out the six-team section field.

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“There’s a chance if we can stay healthy and just improve; that’s the deal ...”

— head coach Dustin Flaten “There’s a chance if we can stay healthy and just improve; that’s the deal,” Flaten said. “We’ve got good experience with juniors and seniors and we have three or four sophomores that are going to be pushing for some time too.”

Ada-Borup combined with former rivals Norman County West and moved up to 11-man football. AdaBorup and NCW’s merger cut the section field from eight teams to the current six.

“We want to be playing in that section championship, as always, and play our best ball at the end of the year to give ourselves a chance to get to that state tournament,” said Flaten. “The last few years, it’s been really good football around here with Waubun having their great tradition, and us here, Nevis and AdaBorup,” Flaten said.

Nevis knocked the Titans out by one score, 22-15, in the Section 6 semifinals before giving up a late, fourth quarter lead in the finals to back-to-back champs Waubun.

With Mahnomen and Waubun set to merge in 2018, the Titans are going to be one of the few remaining 9-man teams in a region that used to house plenty of competition.

“Then we just throw in all those teams at the top of the state,” Flaten said. “When you play Kittson County Central, Stephen-Argyles and the Clearbrook-Gonvicks, every team is going to be champing at the bit and it’s going to be competitive football. That’s what makes good teams great, when they can get better each day and get by those adversities with the close games. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

The Titans face four different opponents this season. Stephen-Argyle, Cass Lake-Bena, Ada-Borup and Norman County West are off the schedule replaced by Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Nevis, Northern Freeze and Goodridge/Grygla.

NCE/UH opens with back-to-back home games against Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (Aug. 31) and Clearbrook-Gonvick (Sept. 8), before the first road game of the year at Win-E-Mac in week three.

The middle of the season will be a stiff test facing Waubun at home, KCC in Hallock and traveling to Nevis, before finishing up with Northern Freeze at home and at G/G in Grygla.

NCE/UH last won the section championship and made a state appearance in 2014, so the current group has been around what it takes to win.

Watch for the Titans to be highly competitive in both the district and section this season.

TITANS ROSTER # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 20 22 23 24 26 28 30 33 34 36 38 48 50 55 68 70 79 86 90 99

NAME Tate Maesse. . . . . . . . .

Chase Green. . . . . . . . .

Isaac Habedank. . . . .

Austin Aranda. . . . . . .

Gavin Jacobson. . . . . .

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11

2017

12

Injuries hampering preseason workouts of Waubun Bombers

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

nly one team statewide has tripped up the Waubun Bombers the past two seasons with the two lone defeats in 25 games coming at the hands of the Grand Meadow Superlarks in the state semifinals.

Grand Meadow captured its 50th consecutive victory and a fourth consecutive Class 9-Man football championship last season in a 41-21 victory over Cleveland/Immanuel Lutheran in the Prep Bowl finals.

The 50 straight wins is third all time behind only Stephen-Argyle’s 76 (2003-08) and Minneapolis Washburn’s 60 (1966-73).

The Superlarks upended Waubun 35-0 in the semis at U.S. Bank Stadium last year and 35-20 at St. Cloud State University in 2015.

Half of the Bombers’ 2017 regular season schedule is different than last year.

Gone are Kittson County Central (83), Ada-Borup (7-3), Norman County West (2-7) and Clearbrook-Gonvick (55) with a combined record of 22-18.

On the schedule are Northern Freeze (1-8) in the opener Thursday, Aug. 31, Goodridge/Grygla (3-6) week two and a big rematch in week three with Nevis (10-1).

Waubun and Nevis did not meet in the 2016 regular season, but the one loss for the Tigers came at Fargodome in the section finals, where Waubun scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase a 28-12 deficit in the final six minutes of play.

The fourth new team on the docket

is the regular season finale at WarrenAlvarado-Oslo (5-5). All four new teams combined to go 19-18 last season.

Bomber opponents will enjoy the absence of quarterback Peyton Syverson as he begins the fall season at Minnesota State University Moorhead. The only hitch is his replacement is younger brother Parker.

Peyton eclipsed 3,000 yards rushing and scored 76 career touchdowns, a whopping 70 of those coming the past two seasons. He was named allstate with teammates and fellow graduated seniors Sam Rothschadl, Mason Bartos and Hunter Cukla. Bartos accumulated 2,000 yards rushing in his career. All four players leave double duty holes as they were all stars on both sides of the ball.

In total, a senior group that played together since childhood put up an incredible three-year span with a record of 32-3.

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Syverson was the District 9 West Most Valuable Player and Head Coach Paul Clark was named the district’s Coach of the Year.

Parker Syverson and Treston Spalla both earned All-District awards for play in their sophomore seasons and lead a talented group in this year’s junior class.

Spalla returns at tight end on offense and will move to a linebacker position defensively after playing defensive end last season.

“He’s as solid as they come and he’s one of those kids where you tell him once, as a freshman, and you don’t have to worry about him for four years. He’s nice to have,” Clark said. “You can plug him into any spot and he’ll be one of the best in the district.”

Parker Syverson will present plenty of problems for opposing defenses.

“They’re different players, but we’re doing a lot of the same things,”

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Clark said. “Parker’s got a little different skill set here and there. Peyton was just a lot quicker and Parker is a little bigger. It takes him an extra step to get going, but once he’s going you aren’t going to catch him.”

Syverson went down at the end of practice Tuesday, Aug. 22 during a conditioning drill with what appeared to be nothing more than a rolled ankle.

“Our season just kind of flashed before our eyes there,” said Clark.

That’s because nagging injuries of a strange variety have been popping up in Waubun practices during the opening 10 days.

“It’s goofy injuries,” Clark said. “Conditioning and stepping wrong, spraining an MCL, a hamstring pull, and we just had a kid roll his ankle in a conditioning drill and had a broken ankle in a non-contact drill. It’s been goofy, unlucky injuries so far.”

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2017

13

according to Clark.

Behind Syverson, Tanner Lefebvre and Jayden Heisler are scheduled to appear at fullback. Sophomore Ethan Lefebvre has had a strong camp. At wing, Dion Bower and Trayvis Zima are expected to contribute right off the bat.

Junior center Jeffrey Cukla and fellow junior John Clark return on the line and will be valuable pieces on both sides of the ball, anchoring the run game and blowing up opponents’ blocking schemes on defense.

“We’re going to play good, hard-nosed football and, hopefully, be disciplined and let our athletes get in the open space,” Clark said.

The Bombers have only three seniors on the team, led by Dion Bowers.

“Dion is a lot more committed, realizing it’s his last year,” said Clark. “He plays pretty physical and he’s not afraid to stick his nose in there.”

The Bombers have high expectations of themselves and, after dropping only three games in three years, this year’s team has big shoes to fill in what could be the final season of 9-man football in Waubun.

“It’s a double-edged sword because the expectations are super high, but it’s a totally different team, different opponents, it’s a totally different year, but our expectations are always to be in the top half of the district, top half of the section and hopefully, compete for the section championship. That’s not going to change this year,” said Clark.

The impending merge of all athletics with Mahnomen by the 2018 school year, which would bump Waubun up to Class 1A in football, has received plenty of attention, including an online petition against the change which has 161 signatures.

“Our focus is the 2017 Bombers and that’s it,” said Clark. “We can’t control next year and we can’t control anything but ourselves and that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

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2017

14

Unfinished business for Yellowjackets football F

The Perham Yellowjackets football team feels it has a bit of unfinished business after finishing the 2016 season with a 6-4 record and falling in the Section 8AAA semifinals to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

The Yellowjackets found themselves on the wrong side of a few close games that they feel they should have won in 2016, including losses to Hawley, Detroit Lakes and that playoff loss

to the Rebels. The Yellowjackets return a strong contingent of players on both sides of the ball, including University of Minnesota Golden Gophers recruit, Logan Richter.

Head coach Kyle Knutson said the program grew, but those losses didn’t sit well with the team.

“It’s been a good couple of days. The kids are working really hard,” Knutson said. “They have some unfinished business they feel from last year, so they are pretty focused.”

The Yellowjackets appear to be

strong on the offensive side of the ball, lead by quarterback Jenson Beachy.

Beachy passed for 1,041 yards with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. He rushed for 441 yards as well with five touchdowns.

However, the Yellowjackets will look to fill the void left by running back Jack DeConcini. DeConcini punished defenders to the tune of 803 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. He added two receiving touchdowns as well.

“The offensive side looks really good.

We have a lot of personnel back and we

have some new faces that have come out that are looking really good,” Knutson said. “Overall, our numbers are up, which is exciting. We have some size and experience (on the line). We are working on our depth right now, but we are getting there.”

Defense will be the key again for the Yellowjackets. They held their opponents to 20.2 points per game, while allowing 2,674 yards of total offense in 2016. They are coming off a strong showing at camp at Bemidji State University as well.

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2017 “We had a nice showing up there and that was without about five starters on defense,” Knutson said.

“We put those kids back in the mix, it will be exciting to watch what we can do defensively.”

The Yellowjackets remain in the Midwest District Red Division, but this year’s schedule features a couple of changes. Gone are games against Hawley and Roseau and in are matchups with Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

“It’s a tough schedule for us,” Knutson said. “We roll with Detroit Lakes in Week 2. They are always competitive with us and that game can go one way or another.

We would like to bring that paddle back to Perham this year.”

YELLOWJACKETS ROSTER # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 15 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 31 33 34 35 40 41 42 44 45 46 50 51 52 55 57 58 59 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 74 75 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

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18

Caulfield Studios

Laker football opponents in for DL’s culture shock

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

B

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

eing part of a high school football team from coaches to the players has taken on a reflection of the college game where team culture is as important as X’s and O’s,

or speed and strength. In fact, having a superior culture program and team unity is as important in getting the upper hand on opponents.

“I think so,” Detroit Lakes head coach Josh Omang. “Some people think it’s a joke, like the P.J. Fleck stuff, but I love that stuff. Even if you went to any company,

the good ones do things differently than coaching staff, this change has been a other places. They focus on qualities of team-wide adaptation from the head character that they want and so we do a coach on down. lot of that. We start out every day with a “Either you can be mad at it or you message that has to do with our culture can embrace it and figure out a way to for half an hour. It’s just as important as get them going,” said Omang. “Coach lifting and we use that every day and in Pederson has helped a lot with that.” practice. The system works; we just need The culture aspect is complementguys on the mission and that’s what we’re ed by the speed and strength program working on right now.” that players bought into over the sumInstilling culture is the new advan- mer and while the team will take the tage and Omang is setting up to trans- field with an upgrade on the mental aslate that to the sideline. Coaching and pect, the Lakers will also show an uprelating to players has seen a dramat- grade on the gridiron in terms of overic shift in the past few decades with all team strength. old school tactics morphing into a new “We’re lucky that we have a good style of leadership training in line with program and it’s affordable,” Omang game instruction and moving away said. “We have a good time in the from a more heavy-handed approach weight room and we’ve had a good of the 20th century. summer. We’re a lot different, physiAn example showed up in a pre- cally, than we were.” practice moment while players arrivTeams have just a few weeks to get ing early got a dose of television time up to game-ready speed and that inwith “A Football Life,” the story about volves getting over bumps in the road the life of legendary coach Vince Lombardi, that just happened to be televised that morning.

“The players were talking about how Lombardi would blow a gasket and throw chalk and swear and stuff and that was his style,” said Omang. “I’m not sure that style works anymore. Not to say, we don’t get wild, but there’s a time - that can’t be who you are all Arvig® will donate $1.00 each month to the the time. People don’t local school of your choice at no cost to you. learn like that anymore.

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2017 on both sides of the ball and finetuning everything down to special teams.

“We talk a lot about training ugly,” Omang said. “I’m not going to blow a gasket at everything that goes wrong. We’re going to teach and have our perfect play periods and high-pressure field goals for conditioning. If everything is not perfect and we’re making mistakes; we’re all in it together and we have to realize that we have to fix it.”

Omang also takes a different stride on team goals and the mission of the team. The Lakers’ mission is beyond focusing on a state championship or getting over the hump in Section 8-4A against the Rocori Spartans.

“Our mission is not that,” Omang said. “Teach more than football, create a football family, prepare kids for their future and uphold the tradition. That’s the vision. The part for the kids is the mission part. That’s what we’re trying to do every day: be the best person you can be academically, football-wise and we’re doing it for Laker football. We’re not doing it for me, or your dad, and I said that at our youth meetings this year. It’s dysfunctional when we expect people to do stuff but we don’t let them have expectations of us either. We want guys doing stuff right in math because if you do that, that’s who you are.

You can’t just do it between three and six o’clock. If we take care of that and get to the best level we can be we’re going to be fine in any game.”

Omang has employed the younger group by adding the freshman class to the practice routine to get those kids in line with the program during individual periods and separate to work on their team aspect.

“Now that we have it all on board the ninth grade is doing the same thing,” Omang said.

“We can plug them in with our perfect plays and they can run the plays.”

The 2017 varsity team is packed with seniors at skill positions.

Senior Jackson Haire returns under center at quarterback leading the Laker varsity offense.

“He’s bigger and better,” said Omang.

Last year, both Haire and Josh Bettcher took snaps with the top offensive unit. This year, Bettcher, a junior, is in an emergency quarterback position as Omang is taking advantage of Bettcher’s athletic skill set to use him in various positions offensively.

“He’s a perimeter guy and a hell of an athlete,” said Omang. “We’ll be different like that.”

Seniors Ben Nordmark and Cameron Erb will start in the backfield behind Haire. Nordmark was slowed by a high ankle sprain late in the season at Pequot Lakes last year, but enters his final season in pursuit of the school’s all-time, career rushing record.

Nordmark is fifth overall with 2,672 yards on 411 carries. He is 1,261 yards behind leader Corey Brogren’s (1996-98) 3,933 rushing yards. Michael Herzog (2010-13) is second overall with 3,155. Nordmark needs just 483 yards to take over the second spot. Mark Leslie (1983-85) is third with

2,948 yards and Todd Steinmetz (1994-96) owns the fourth spot with 2,809.

Omang played and blocked for Brogren and has talked with Nordmark about the record.

“Here’s a chance to be a part of history,” said Omang.

Erb makes for a nice one-two punch with DL’s big man.

“He’s our super back,” Omang said of Erb. “Sometimes he’ll be in the backfield and sometimes out on the perimeter.”

Having two proficient backs is a Laker tradition and this year’s tandem is reminiscent of past rushing partnerships like Chris Fossen and Jay Grasto (1986-88) and speedsters Tim Serviss and Garrett Raboin (2001-02), along with Herzog and Jarret Nosal (2010-13), all top 25 rushers all-time in Laker history.

Rich Borstad (1950-53) is the lone Laker who ran prior to Leslie in 1983 still in the top 10 with 2,278 career yards.

Not to be forgotten, Tristen Rader had a big impact rushing last season, as well. As the season wound down and DL returned runners from injury last year, the Lakers had a four-man team that effectively moved the ball.

Some sophomores will also see time in the Laker backfield this year. Gabe Hanninen is one of the strongest guys in the program and will earn his share of carries, along with Isaiah Thompson and Jackson Fields.

Bettcher joins Tanner Doppler as main targets for Haire in the passing game, which has proven to be a necessity to advance in the playoffs as DL’s run game has been consistently targeted defensively, especially by Rocori.

“Like last year, we’re not going to be afraid to throw when we have to and it really takes a year to just get that mentality that we can do that and make plays in it,” said Omang. “We’ve made a major stride in that area. One of the things, after last year, there were too many teams that put nine, 10 up front and dared us to throw and we couldn’t always make plays in the passing game. We can’t keep doing that same thing because the result is going to be the same.

We talk about it; we’ve scored exactly zero points in the past two years against Rocori in the playoffs. They’re running a 1965, 5-3, five down linemen and loading the box. We’re making upgrades.”

The Spartans have eliminated the Lakers three straight seasons in the playoffs. While the scheduling appears to be a strategic move from both coaching staffs, neither the coaches or administrators have much of a bearing on scheduling since the Minnesota State High School League moved to district football in 2016. Teams are allowed one crossover game between districts per season.

“It’s actually good for us in the QRF and everything,” said Omang.

“You want to schedule the best competition you can get because it makes you better. We’ll be excited to play, but we also know that one game isn’t going to define what’s going to happen in the end. It’s a good measuring stick.”

The Lakers had formerly played East Central District’s Little Falls in the crossover game. Rocori plays in the North Central District,

while the Lakers reside in the Midwest District.

“We’re not Rocori; we’re the Lakers and we have a hell of a tradition,” said Omang. “I don’t worry about them because we’re going to be fine. We were fine against them last year, we just couldn’t finish the job.”

Last year’s Laker defense was young in the secondary but that group got up to speed quickly under coach Mike Labine and will round out a strong core on the other side of the ball. Junior Tristan Wimmer had a breakout season at linebacker, along with fellow junior Ben Boomgarden, and DL’s tradition of defensive strength will return up front led by senior Jay Nielsen.

In lieu of captains, the Lakers will employ a Unity Council again this season. The team will be voting for new members to replace graduated seniors during the first fortnight of practice and have players represented from each grade in the leadership group.

One change in the coaching staff is Rob Nielsen leaving after accepting the activities director position. He will be replaced by Steve Zamzo, head coach of the threetime defending gymnastics state champions, one of the most successful programs in the past decade at DLHS, along with the girls golf program.

“I love the connections with the other programs; we can learn from those guys,” said Omang. “Even if you aren’t an expert in football, you’re an expert in getting kids to do something good. We like that.”

The Lakers will get their first taste of preseason competition outside practice with the annual home scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. against Section 8-5A schools Moorhead and Bemidji.

The regular season begins with three Friday games against big game rivals Rocori at Mollberg Field Sept. 1 in the opener, at Perham Sept. 8 and home against Fergus Falls Sept. 15.

“It’s good to have to perform right out of the gates,” said Omang.

The schedule rotates home and away games each week with a trip to Park Rapids in week four, followed by home against Pequot Lakes, and a trip to Glyndon where the D-G-F Rebels always come to play. The season wraps up with a home game against East Grand Forks Friday, Oct. 13 and a return trip to Thief River Falls Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the finale.

Gone from the schedule are Little Falls and Roseau in lieu of Rocori and D-G-F. The Lakers last played Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton in 2014. The last regular season with Rocori was in 2005.

Detroit Lakes was 7-2 last year in Omang’s debut at the helm.

The two losses came week three at Fergus Falls in a game that turnovers doomed the Lakers 12-6 and the 17-0 playoff loss at home to Rocori.

@DLAKESSPORTS

19

LAKERS ROSTER # 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 37 38 40 44 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 70 71 72 73 75 76 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 87

NAME Jackson Haire. . . . . . . . . . .

Ethan Schweigart . . . . . . .

Logan Pratt. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cameron Erb. . . . . . . . . . . .

Noah Johnson. . . . . . . . . . .

Tanner Doppler. . . . . . . . . .

Jacob Bettcher. . . . . . . . . . .

Jaeger Gulseth. . . . . . . . . . .

Reed Mace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tristan Rader. . . . . . . . . . . .

Reed Reller. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Stearns. . . . . . . .

Alex Bren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Max Gunderson. . . . . . . . . .

Gabriel Hanninen. . . . . . . .

William Green. . . . . . . . . . .

Brady Morris . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jordan Weets. . . . . . . . . . . .

Connor Froke. . . . . . . . . . . .

Isaiah Thompson. . . . . . . .

Benjamin Nordmark. . . . .

Isaac Eggebraaten. . . . . . .

Dylan Maneval . . . . . . . . . .

Sullivan Wood. . . . . . . . . . .

Jackson Rhodes . . . . . . . . .

Zachary Brandt. . . . . . . . . .

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Cameron Gilbertson. . . . .

Jackson Fields. . . . . . . . . . .

Brett Wawers. . . . . . . . . . . .

Reece Skarie. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jay Nielsen. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reiley Draack. . . . . . . . . . . .

Brennen Sather. . . . . . . . . .

Benjamin Boomgaarden.

Cole Bryant. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Caleb Tangen. . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacob Hanson. . . . . . . . . . .

Brock Harrier. . . . . . . . . . . .

Noah Olds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hunter Cheska. . . . . . . . . . .

Donte Greene. . . . . . . . . . . .

Hayden Lacher. . . . . . . . . .

Tanner Alger. . . . . . . . . . . .

Henry Vogt. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dawson Winter. . . . . . . . . .

Riley Johnson-Mason. . . .

Lane Moe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tristan Kroulik. . . . . . . . . .

Jordan Skadsem. . . . . . . . .

Charles Barnett. . . . . . . . . .

Connor Walsh. . . . . . . . . . .

Seth Renney. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bailey Dahring. . . . . . . . . . .

Tristan Wimmer. . . . . . . . .

Jacob Kerzman. . . . . . . . . .

Eli Brooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Braden Heinecke. . . . . . . .

Terron Gettel. . . . . . . . . . . .

Hank Komrosky. . . . . . . . .

Drew Schwan. . . . . . . . . . . .

Noah Steffl. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tate Kerzman. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

POS GRADE . QB 12 WR 12 .WR 12 . TB 12 WR 10 . FS 12 . . S 11 WR 12 . TB 10 . DT 12 WR 11 WR 11 WR 10 . QB 10 . TB 10 WR 11 . TB 11 WR 10 WR 12 . TB 10 . HB 12 WR 12 WR 10 WR 11 . TB 10 WR 12 WR 11 WR 10 WR 10 .WR 10 . TE 11 . TE 12 . DE 10 . OL 11 . OL 12 . DL 12 . OL 11 . OL 11 . OL 11 . OL 10 . OL 10 . OL 12 . OL 10 . OL 11 . OL 10 . DL 12 . OL 10 . OL 10 . OL 11 . OL 11 . OL 12 . OL 12 . OL 10 . OL 10 . OL 11 . OL 10 . OL 10 . OL 10 . OL 12 . OL 12 . DE 12 WR 12 WR 11 WR 10 WR 10 . TE 11 WR 10

2017

20

2

QB/S

JACKSON

HAIRE Where Performance Counts!

2 Miles West of Detroit Lakes on Hwy. 10 1-800-774-2628

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM

Available Rentals at the Marina

• KAYAKS • CANOES Lakes • DECK• PONTOONS BOATS • SKI BOATS • FISHING BOATS Area Fun • PADDLE BOATS • WAVERUNNERS

www.jkmarine.com

4

3

5

WR/CB

WR/CB

SCHWEIGART

001342796r1

New Construction & Remodeling

001455764r2

ESTABLISHED 1955

N

www.agcountry.com

NO

• Residential •Commercial • Cottages • Cabinets 847-7603

Perry Nodsle

1473 Legion Road • Detroit Lakes • Res. 218-847-8347 • Lic. #1834

8

7

CAMERON

support@stevessanitation.com www.stevessanitation.com

JACOB

826 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-844-4221 • www.dlccc.org

11

001474637r1

12

WR/CB

TRISTEN

MACE

RADER Mai & Hoa Ngo

DL 3.458x.1.5.indd 1

Find us in the Washington Square Mall

Don’t Forget Our 20 Course Sunday Buffet Serving 11AM-8PM

808 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN

4/7/14 11:14 AM

SEPTIC TANK PUMPING

Portable Toilets

(218) 847-2177

001589723r1

Rental & Service • Delivery & Pickup

Travis Wilke - Owner

218-847-4321

MN State Certified • Licensed & Bonded 21370 N.W. Pickerel Lake Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-7517

WR/S

WR/S

REED

001353842r1

• LAKE HOMES • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • FARMS Line Thawing • Rotor Rooter • Camera

ART ANDERSON’S

14

13

RB/DL

Detroit Lakes • 847-9292 800-908-BANK (2265) • Bremer.com Member FDIC

GULSETH

001365800r1

001626166r1

Colin Buschette

JAEGER

BETTCHER 001474697r1

DOPPLER

218-847-8982

WR/CB

Commercial • Residential • Industrial On-Site Mobile Welding • Repair Welding

218-841-4737

DETROIT LAKES, MN 001474773r1

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

10

WR/S

TANNER

ERB

Brian Andring

(218) 346-4834 140 6th Avenue NE Perham, MN 56573

9

WR/FS

WR/S

JOHNSON

D005263247

Over 50 Years in the Lakes Area

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647

NOAH

HANNINEN

PRATT E CONSTRUCTI O D SL

WR/FS

GABRIEL

LOGAN

Detroit Lakes, MN

6

RB/S

ETHAN

001374930r1

REED

RELLER Mai & Hoa Ngo

Find us in the Washington Square Mall

Don’t Forget Our 20 Course Sunday Buffet Serving 11AM-8PM

BENJAMIN

STEARNS 826 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-844-4221 • www.dlccc.org

808 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN (218) 847-2177

001589723r1

001474637r1

2017

21

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM 18

QB/FS

ALEX

MAX

BREN

19

RB/CB

RB/LB

WILLIAM

GUNDERSON

GREEN

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

001474690r1

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

20

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

001345408r1

21

WR/CB

001626164r1

613 HWY. 10 E � 218-847-4771 1583 HWY. 10 W � 218-847-9700 (Inside Walmart) MidwestBank.net

Travis Wilke, Owner

24

Good Luck Lakers!

America's Propane Company

26

WR/CB

DYLAN

EGGEBRAATEN

MANEVAL

Auto Sales 839 Hwy. 10 E. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

www.gjerdeauto.com Bus. 218-847-5757

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

27

28 RB/S

JACKSON

RHODES 001474609r1

001374888r1

Gjerde 001409887r2

218-847-1133 • 1-888-757-1133

The most reliable, the safest and the most responsive propane company.

24 hour Customer Care and Payment Plans Available

WOOD

Owner

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

1602 Dan Street, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

SULLIVAN

Paul Gjerde

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

BENJAMIN

NORDMARK

WR/FS

WR/CB

ISAAC

RB/DL

THOMPSON

001626872r1

218-850-9944

23

ISAIAH

FROKE

Dumpsters are also available. Call for rates and information.

218-847-8982

RB/CB

We want your trash!

Give us a call today, we CAN SAVE YOU MONEY on your garbage service.

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

001474680r1

CONNOR

WEETS • Locally Owned & Operated • Residential & Commercial Service • Recycling Services Offered

DETROIT LAKES, MN 001474773r1

MORRIS

22

WR/CB

JORDAN

Brian Andring

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

BRADY

001409887r2

16

WR/FS

001626153r1

15

SUSPENDED ACOUSTICAL CEILING CONTRACTOR

1378 Egret Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN

218-847-8976 • 218-849-9942

“For Your Family’s Comfort”

218-847-7542

Detroit Lakes, MN

Nick@gpmh.biz

001611154r1

2017

22

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM 30

WR/CB

ZACHARY

33

31

WR/S

WR/CB

WR/CB

FABYON

BRANDT

ADAM

GREER

JANKE’S SEW & VAC

HOLT

Detroit Lakes, MN

847-4175

Miele and American Made Simplicity Vacuums

www.agcountry.com

001626162r1

37

38

WR/CB

847-9092

826 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-844-4221 • www.dlccc.org

Brian Andring DETROIT LAKES, MN 001474637r1

001474773r1

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

218-847-8982

51

50

PRINCIPLE Making a Difference One Person at a Time

JACKSON

GILBERTSON

FIELDS China Buffet 317 EAST FRAZEE STREET • DETROIT LAKES 218-847-2222

America's Propane Company 1602 Dan Street, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

218-847-1133 • 1-888-757-1133

The most reliable, the safest and the most responsive propane company.

24 hour Customer Care and Payment Plans Available

10 AM TO 10 PM • SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH COUPON

mortgage group inc.

218-844-7466

001474668r1

53 OL/DL

REILEY

DRAACK

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900 001474670r1

LUNCH BUFFET - $4.99 WITH COUPON DINNER BUFFET - $6.99 BEVERAGES INCLUDED

NIELSEN

nmls #194185

001373811r1

RB/DL

JAY

SKARIE

WAWERS

44

OL/DL

REECE

BRETT

001474670r1

001474682r1

52

OL/DL

OL/DL

nmls #194185

CAMERON

COALWELL

mortgage group inc.

218-844-7466

TE/DL

DYLAN

MAI

Making a Difference One Person at a Time

40

TE/DL

MARTIN

PRINCIPLE

Groceries • Gas • Bait • Beer Richwood, MN 56577 001342796r1

We sell the best and service the rest!

SCHONS

Richwood Store

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647

607 Washington Ave • Detroit Lakes

WESLEY

001626153r1

29

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

001345408r1

DL 3.458x.1.5.indd 1

Detroit Lakes • 847-9292 800-908-BANK (2265) • Bremer.com Member FDIC 001353842r1

4/7/14 11:14 AM

2017

23

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM 56

OL/LB

BENJAMIN

BRENNEN

License #BC002500

www.foltzbuildings.com SERVING MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS.

58

Auto Sales 839 Hwy. 10 E. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

www.gjerdeauto.com Bus. 218-847-5757

59

OL/DL

Dr. Sara Skadsem

OR

800-862-6954

61

OL/DL

OL/DL

NOAH

HARRIER

001409887r2

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

62

HUNTER

OLDS

CHESKA Commercial • Residential • Industrial On-Site Mobile Welding • Repair Welding

Terry Mackner

Colin Buschette

LAKES AREA

218-849-3052

001626165r1

63

OL/DL

DONTE

65

OL/DL

OL/DL

HAYDEN

GREEN

TANNER

LACHER

A

ALGER

ERNEST C. NDERSON GRAVEL

WASHED SAND • AGGREGATES BASE GRAVEL • BLACK DIRT SAND &GRAVEL

847-4614

28741 Co. Hwy. 26 DETROIT LAKES 001626163r1

218-841-4737

001474680r1

64

OL/DL

001474697r1

www.agcountry.com

001474699r1

MACKNER EXCAVATION AND DEMOLITION "GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647

1225 Washington Ave. • Detroit Lakes • www.weumchiro.com

BROCK

HANSON

Detroit Lakes, MN

Improving the Quality of Life for Over 30 Years

218-847-9235

60

OL/DL

JACOB

— NEW PATIENTS WELCOME — • Gentle Methods • Most Insurance Accepted Chiropractic Care For All Ages

Dr. Ryan Weum 001374888r1

001374693r1

800-255-9981

TANGEN

WEUM CHIROPRACTIC

Paul Gjerde

Gjerde

CALEB

BRYANT

Owner

• Engineered, Designed Post Frame Buildings • Completely Erected With Warranty • Crews with over 30 years experience • Machine & Boat Storage • Garages • Shops • Commercial • Models Open 7 Days A Week

OL/DL

COLE

BOOMGAARDEN

SATHER

57

OL/DL

001626166r1

OL/DL

001342796r1

55

54

Mai & Hoa Ngo

Find us in the Washington Square Mall

Don’t Forget Our 20 Course Sunday Buffet Serving 11AM-8PM

808 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN (218) 847-2177

001589723r1

HENRY

VOGT Kristine M. Riewer, DDS Donald L. Steinmetz, DDS Ryan R. Manke, DDS

701 Hwy 10 E Detroit Lakes, MN (218) 847-9214 "New Patients Welcome" 001373567r1

2017

24

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM 67

68

OL/DL

DAWSON

RILEY JOHNSON-

WINTER

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

Travis Wilke, Owner

Dumpsters are also available. Call for rates and information.

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

72

73

OL/DL

JORDAN

SKADSEM

Dr. Sara Skadsem

OR

847-9092

800-862-6954

1225 Washington Ave. • Detroit Lakes • www.weumchiro.com 001474699r1

BAILEY

DAHRING

218-847-7391

78

OL/LB

OL/DL

RENNEY

Hwy. 59 North/Old Pit Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56502-0002 001474682r1

77

76

• WHOLESALE & DO-IT-YOURSELF LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS • SITEWORK CONSTRUCTION • DEMOLITION/ROLL-OFF BOX SERVICE • LANDSCAPE SUPPLY & DELIVERY • STORMWATER PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION

Groceries • Gas • Bait • Beer Richwood, MN 56577

Improving the Quality of Life for Over 30 Years

218-847-9235

SETH

WALSH

Richwood Store

— NEW PATIENTS WELCOME — • Gentle Methods • Most Insurance Accepted Chiropractic Care For All Ages

Dr. Ryan Weum

OL/DL

CONNER

BARNETT

WEUM CHIROPRACTIC

75

OL/DL

CHARLES

80

OL/DL

TRISTAN

WIMMER

TE/DL

JACOB

ELI

KERZMAN

BROOKS

D005263247

PRINCIPLE

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

140 6th Avenue NE Perham, MN 56573

support@stevessanitation.com www.stevessanitation.com

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

001345408r1

Making a Difference One Person at a Time

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

001409887r2

(218) 346-4834

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

001373811r1

OL/DL

KROULIK

001409887r2

Give us a call today, we CAN SAVE YOU MONEY on your garbage service.

218-850-9944

71

MOE 001626164r1

• Locally Owned & Operated • Residential & Commercial Service • Recycling Services Offered

218-847-7542

001611154r1

TRISTAN

We want your trash!

“For Your Family’s Comfort”

Nick@gpmh.biz

OL/DL

LANE

NASON

Detroit Lakes, MN

70

OL/DL

001409887r2

OL/DL

001383012r1

66

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

mortgage group inc.

nmls #194185

218-844-7466 001474670r1

81

82

WR/CB

83

WR/FS

BRADEN

TERRON

HEINECKE • LAKE HOMES • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • FARMS Line Thawing • Rotor Rooter • Camera

ART ANDERSON’S

SEPTIC TANK PUMPING

001365800r1

Portable Toilets

Rental & Service • Delivery & Pickup

Brian Andring

Travis Wilke - Owner

218-847-4321

DETROIT LAKES, MN 001474773r1

85

WR/S

HANK

GETTEL

MN State Certified • Licensed & Bonded 21370 N.W. Pickerel Lake Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-7517

84

WR/CB

DREW

KOMROSKY

SCHWAN

JANKE’S SEW & VAC

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

Where Performance Counts!

2 Miles West of Detroit Lakes on Hwy. 10 1-800-774-2628

607 Washington Ave • Detroit Lakes

Available Rentals at the Marina

847-4175

• KAYAKS • CANOES Lakes • DECK• PONTOONS BOATS • SKI BOATS • FISHING BOATS Area Fun • PADDLE BOATS • WAVERUNNERS

We sell the best and service the rest!

218-847-8982

www.jkmarine.com

Miele and American Made Simplicity Vacuums 001626162r1

001374930r1

87

OL/DL

WR/S

NOAH

TATE

STEFFL

KERZMAN

www.foltzbuildings.com SERVING MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS.

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

2

3

QB/RB

9TH GRADE

4

QB

QB

PARKER

CADE

DAVIS

MATT

RIEWER

TOBKIN • WHOLESALE & DO-IT-YOURSELF LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS • SITEWORK CONSTRUCTION • DEMOLITION/ROLL-OFF BOX SERVICE • LANDSCAPE SUPPLY & DELIVERY • STORMWATER PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION

Kristine M. Riewer, DDS Donald L. Steinmetz, DDS Ryan R. Manke, DDS

701 Hwy 10 E Detroit Lakes, MN (218) 847-9214

Detroit Lakes • 847-9292 800-908-BANK (2265) • Bremer.com Member FDIC

10

QB

4/7/14 11:14 AM

QB

JAMES

TAYLOR

JACK

HINES

Detroit Lakes, MN

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647 218-844-9109

www.mannfinancialmn.com

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

001626161r1

218-847-8976 • 218-849-9942

FB

ULLYOTT

001474609r1

1378 Egret Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN

15

BRODE

HENDERSON

SUSPENDED ACOUSTICAL CEILING CONTRACTOR

11 RB

BLAINE

218-847-7391

001373567r1

www.agcountry.com

001342796r1

6

DL 3.458x.1.5.indd 1

Hwy. 59 North/Old Pit Road Detroit Lakes, MN 56502-0002

"New Patients Welcome" 001353842r1

001383012r1

800-255-9981

001409887r2

• Engineered, Designed Post Frame Buildings • Completely Erected With Warranty • Crews with over 30 years experience • Machine & Boat Storage • Garages • Shops • Commercial • Models Open 7 Days A Week

001374693r1

License #BC002500

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

001345408r1

2017

26

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM

LANDON

PERKINS

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

001345408r1

28

10 AM TO 10 PM • SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITH COUPON

LAKES AREA

218-849-3052

DETROIT LAKES, MN

Making a Difference One Person at a Time

52

mortgage group inc.

nmls #194185

218-844-7466 001474670r1

613 HWY. 10 E � 218-847-4771 1583 HWY. 10 W � 218-847-9700 (Inside Walmart) MidwestBank.net

GREEN Over 50 Years in the Lakes Area

Good Luck Lakers!

D NO

DYLAN

SCHMOLL

001626161r1

"GOOD LUCK LAKERS"

001409887r2

218-844-9109

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

Perry Nodsle

ESTABLISHED 1955

• Residential •Commercial • Cottages • Cabinets 847-7603

OL

826 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-844-4221 • www.dlccc.org

www.mannfinancialmn.com

New Construction & Remodeling

CONSTRUCT IO

58

OL

NELSON

SLE

1473 Legion Road • Detroit Lakes • Res. 218-847-8347 • Lic. #1834

57

GARRETT

MANN

JAKE

SKAALAND

OL

NOLAN

RB

BLAKE

56

OL

38

WR

PRINCIPLE

218-847-8982

001626163r1

37

PRATT

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

001474668r1

847-4614

28741 Co. Hwy. 26 DETROIT LAKES

N

Brian Andring

BEVERAGES INCLUDED

RYAN

JORGENSON

WASHED SAND • AGGREGATES BASE GRAVEL • BLACK DIRT SAND &GRAVEL

LUNCH BUFFET - $4.99 WITH COUPON DINNER BUFFET - $6.99

001626165r1

WR

HUNTER

A

ERNEST C. NDERSON GRAVEL

317 EAST FRAZEE STREET • DETROIT LAKES 218-847-2222

35

RB

OLSON

China Buffet

Terry Mackner

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

COLBY

KALINA

MACKNER EXCAVATION AND DEMOLITION

• Commercial • Residential • Farm • Industrial

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

RB

JAKE

MACKNER

LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED

27

WR/RB

001455764r2

CLAY

001474773r1

25

WR

001474637r1

ANDREW

KULIK Detroit Lakes, MN

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647 www.agcountry.com

001342796r1

20

RB

001626872r1

17

2017

27

2017 FOOTBALL TEAM 59

64

OL

65

OL

ANDREAS

JAYLEE

BARNETT

66

OL

OL

WILLIAM

BRANDT

THAD

LEMKE

SCHLAUDERAFF 001474609r1

P.O. BOX 1467 • DETROIT LAKES, MN 56502 • TOLL FREE 1-800-522-8326 • www.teamlab.net

67

71

OL

ZACH

ANDREW

Available Rentals at the Marina

001374930r1

82

Brian Andring DETROIT LAKES, MN 001474773r1

MIKE

Detroit Lakes, MN

218-847-1645 or 800-224-1647

218-847-8982

87

WR

TREVOR

SPLONSKOWSKI

www.agcountry.com

88

WR

CALEB

SCHWAN

LOGAN

LUND

Carpet UpholsteryCleaning Fire • Water Restoration Commercial Residential

WR

LUCAS

FB

FRIENDSHUH

84

WR

001345408r1

81

001474690r1

2 Miles West of Detroit Lakes on Hwy. 10 1-800-774-2628

Toll Free: 888-856-5676 Mahnomen: 218-936-5220

SERVING THE LAKES AREA

OL

Where Performance Counts!

www.jkmarine.com

Cell: 218-849-5564 Office: 218-847-9900

218-847-8976 • 218-849-9942

ANNETTE

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2017

28

Experienced Vikings looking to complete program turnaround

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

T

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

he Pelican Rapids Vikings are coming off a winless campaign but have been slowly rebuilding the program the past two years and look to find success and the win column this coming season with plenty of experienced players back hungry to complete the turnaround.

“We’ve got to find a win somewhere,” Vikings’ head coach Dave Haugen said.

“You can’t get the second or third until you get the first one and that’s real cliche, but we’re hungry and anxious.

We have some tough opponents right away but we’re not conceding anything to them either. There’s good opponents the whole way through when you look at that schedule.”

One potential gap in the schedule is week three at Frazee after the Hornets announced they will be forfeiting all eight regular season games this season due to a lack of upperclassmen. The Vikings are well aware of what makes that situation possible after having to forfeit an openinground playoff football game.

“We can relate; if there is one team, one coaching staff that can understand what they’re going through, it’s us, probably better than anyone right now,” Haugen said. “Park Christian, I guess, would be in that situation.”

Bagley also forfeited a playoff game in 2009 and Park Christian cancelled a season after two games in 2016.

“It’s disappointing for everybody involved,” said Haugen. “I know Frazee didn’t want to get to that point and have it happen but you have to watch out for your kids and give them a good experience as it goes through. Disappointing from our selfish perspective, but definitely understand what they’re doing and why they did that.”

The Vikings have rebounded as far as participation numbers and had over 40 players at practice. Frazee has the underclassmen numbers to rebound and have announced they will

be back in 2018.

“You can survive the drought, “ said Haugen. “You can survive one year, or two if they’re offset, but two in a row is kind of the kiss of death like that.

It becomes your sophomores playing too much.”

While Pelican was still rebuilding last season going 0-9, the reward for those players putting in the time is a solid chance to be competitive this year and bring back some of that Viking moxy.

“We only had three seniors a year ago so we’re littered with starters the whole way through,” said Haugen. “Our strength is going to be experience and the guys have gone through it before and know what to expect.”

The offensive line has come along nicely in the 10 days of practice and Pelican Rapids has a number of skill position players ready to make their mark.

“I think we’re developing a good balance between the run and the pass here, so far,” said Haugen. “If we can establish that and maintain it, I don’t know if we’re good enough in either phase to become one dimensional. I like the balance that we’re getting established.”

Under center is returning starter and senior Oakley Kress, who has a big playmaker in senior split end Jacob Gottenborg.

Gottenborg made a number of impressive, receiving plays during practice Wednesday, Aug. 23 and will be a big focus of teams defending the Vikings’ passing game.

“He’s running routes real well for us and he had a couple of really good off-seasons ...”

— head coach Dave Haugen “He’s running routes real well for us and he had a couple of really good offseasons,” Haugen said. “We’re real happy with what he’s done there and we’re seeing it carry over to the practice field this week.”

Senior speedster Carlan Haugrud will be the feature back with senior Josh

2017 Nehk starting at fullback.

“Carlan has great speed and he was a state track meet competitor last spring,” Haugen said. “If he gets that step on people there will be very few who can run him down.”

Nehk adds the blocking dimension to complement the line that Haugen hopes to use to spring both players into open space.

“He’s what you want your fullback to be,” said Haugen. “In a very positive way, he’s mean. He likes to hit people and get after it. He’s going to be hungry for a big senior year himself. We like what he can bring at that fullback spot and has decent speed so when you do give him the ball he’s going to be capable of getting some yards.”

The main upgrade on the offensive line is not one or two stars, but a group that has matured and are ready to be the force that gets the Vikings into the end zone.

“We’ve got five guys who are all bigger than they were a year ago,” said Haugen. “I think, per man, we’re 20 pounds heavier than we were a year ago. When we get off the bus we look a lot more like a varsity football team and that wasn’t the case the last two years. We’re starting to look the part and we’re hoping that carries over to playing the part.”

Many of the offensive players will see plenty of time going both ways. Kress will be at free safety, Nehk and senior Carson Haugrud, a guard, will be at the linebacker spots.

“Those two guys can hopefully anchor the defense for us,” said Haugen.

The early season schedule will provide a stiff test with the opener at Pillager. The Huskies are coming off an 11-1 season and are the defending Section 6AA champions. Week two brings another stout section rival in Breckenridge. The Cowboys were 6-4 last season.

A victory will be huge for the Vikings, who will get one in week three with the forfeit by Frazee.

Pelican Rapids has lost 18 consecutive games dating back to a 27-20 road playoff victory in Breckenridge on Oct. 21, 2014.

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2017

30

Two regional football teams testing out new helmet technology

BY TOM MILLER

F

Forum News Service

ootball teams at every level are starting practice this month and the topic of the sport’s ties to brain injuries is a more prevalent subject than ever before.

For the first time in this region, two area high school football teams are using new technology to combat those safety concerns.

Stephen-Argyle and ClearbrookGonvick — Minnesota Section 8 9-man programs — are entering their first season using Riddell InSite helmets, which feature a five-zone sensor in the liner of the helmet that measures a hit’s impact severity and communicates statistics to a handheld monitor.

If a hit’s impact surpasses a preset threshold, an alert can be sent to the monitor for the coaching staff or athletic trainer to initiate sideline protocol of a possible head injury.

The monitor can also later be plugged into a computer to generate detailed reports.

Stephen-Argyle is starting with seven of the helmets and Clearbrook-Gonvick has one.

Riddell said about 100 colleges and 600 high school programs nationwide have used the InSite technology.

In Minnesota, 11 high school programs and four colleges are using InSite, including Moorhead, Breckenridge, Perham and Hawley.

Mayville State is the only school in North Dakota that has any InSite helmets, according to Riddell.

Helmets can be a tough cost for

schools to absorb, which is one reason teams have a limited number of the helmets with InSite technology. StephenArgyle and Clearbrook-Gonvick hope to phase them in over time.

The InSite monitor can be retrofitted into an existing helmet for about $100, according to a Riddell spokesman, but “pricing can depend on a lot of different factors.”

Riddell is the primary helmet of most prep and college programs.

The company says more than 90 percent of college football players wear a Riddell helmet.

Stephen-Argyle coach Ethan Marquis said practice habits aimed at reducing contact have helped player safety and the new helmet technology is another positive step.

“I don’t think anything is a cure-all, but it’s a way to gather more data,” Marquis said. “Of course, there’s a heightened awareness about head injuries, there’s no secret about that.

“Our (school) board is very supportive and so is the community. It’s something our AD took the lead on and said it’s something we’d like to try. We’ll see what we can gather from it. This will help to provide more data — objective, reliable data — that a trained professional can add to their evaluation.”

Clearbrook-Gonvick is testing the waters with a single helmet, with hopes of adding more in the future.

“It’s too important not to take serious,” Clearbrook-Gonvick coach Casey Kroulik said. “I’m excited to have the technology to see what’s ac-

tually happening. More information is good. If it goes well, hopefully we’ll be able to find more funds for additional helmets as well.

“Sometimes you have to go by what the kid is telling you. Sometimes you’ll have a kid tell you he’s fine to keep playing. This is a good direction to better handle things.”

Kroulik plans to use his first helmet on a linebacker who has had migraines that weren’t tied to football.

“We had been a little afraid of trying to differentiate between his regular migraine and a football hit,” Kroulik said.

Perham has used the technology for the past two years. The Yellowjackets, who play in the larger Class AAA level, have about 25 of the InSite helmets.

Kyle Knutson is in his third year as head coach and 12th year with Perham overall.

“We’re headed down the right path as far as safety goes,” he said. “I stress with my parents that we’re putting on helmets that they’re using on Sunday afternoons. We’re making football a safer game.

“First and foremost, it’s for the safety of our players above all. And in recent light of all the negative exposure the sport has got over the last three or four years — which has trickled down from the NFL — it’s nice to be able to let parents know that it’s the best equipment available.”

Knutson said his program would like to continue to add InSite helmets every year.

“In a perfect world, any kid ninth grade through 12th is wearing them,” he said.

Minnesota High Schools make commitment to transform the “Win-at-all-Costs” sports culture

E

BY MSHSL

ighty Minnesota high school athletic administrators have made a year-long commitment to address the specific needs of today’s youth as part of a collaborative partnership with the Minnesota State High School League, the InSideOut Initiative and the Super Bowl LII Host Committee Legacy Fund.

The kickoff for the training — Why We Play InSideOut Team — begins Wednesday, Aug. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, and is the first phase of a year-long commitment being made by the partners to educate school athletic administrators on skill development to implement the initiative with leaders, coaches and students in their communities. In this first phase of training, the group will meet from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“For sports to provide students with a place to belong, moral character development, and accountability to established expectations, our culture must move beyond defining the value of sports by the scoreboard and create space in the culture for a higher purpose,” said MSHSL Associate Director Jody Redman, and co-founder of

the InSideOut Initiative. “It is one that guides school communities into reframing the purpose of sports and that focuses on the development of the social and emotional well-being of every student-athlete.”

The MSHSL will provide athletic administrators with training and curriculum, developed by the InSideOut Initiative, for coaches during the 2017-18 school year and for students participating in those school communities during the 2018-19 school year.

“We know sports engage more people in a shared experience than any other cultural activity, organization or religion—and we have the opportunity through Super Bowl LII to make a tremendous impact this year,” said Dana Nelson, Vice President of the Minneso-

ta Super Bowl Host Committee. “We’re honored to partner with the MSHSL and InSideOut Initiative to support the kickoff of this important year-long educational opportunity to improve the sports experience for students — and proud of our home state of Minnesota for championing the movement.”

One of the areas of concentration will be on the mental health crisis that faces today’s youth.

In the book Hardwired to Connect, a commissioned-study by a panel of leading doctors, research scientists and youth service professionals, describes for the nation new strategies to reduce the currently high numbers of U.S. children who are suffering from mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, and thoughts of suicide.

Findings of the study identified a lack of connectedness as the root of this significant issue. The commission defined three fundamental needs of every child: The need to belong and be affirmed of inherent value and worth, the need for moral character development and a belief system, and the need to be a part of an authentic community that holds individuals accountable to a set of defined expectations.

The study states, “enduring attach-

ments to other people for moral development is the best way to ensure a child’s healthy development.” School athletic programs are one of the potential solutions that meet these fundamental needs if the adults who provide them are intentional about this significant role.

Why We Play, developed in 2012 by the Minnesota State High School League, is a statewide program created to reclaim the educational purpose of sports. The Why We Play curriculum was founded on the philosophy and four questions contained in Joe Ehrmann’s book InSideOut Coaching; How Sports Transforms Lives. In 2015, a partnership was formed between Joe Ehrmann and Jody Redman and the InSideOut Initiative was launched.

The InSideOut Initiative is funded by the National Football League Foundation, and catalyzes partnerships with educational leaders, state athletic associations and local NFL teams to address the brokenness of the sports culture, and engages stakeholders in strategic conversations to re-define the role of interscholastic sports in the lives of students and communities. The InSideOut Initiative is currently engaged with 12 NFL markets in nine states.

2017

31

Speed and Strength program benefiting Laker athletes year round

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

F

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Detroit Lakes middle school and high school athletes are putting aside what could be a leisurely summer to become more explosive athletically as part of the Laker Speed and Strength program sponsored by the Laker Sports Boosters.

While kids could be out on the pontoon and having fun, instead, they are concentrating on getting stronger and quicker to prepare for the upcoming school year.

“This is so much more worth it than that,” incoming senior Jake Kerzman said. “You have to put in the time.”

The program has seen an uptick in attendance, as well.

“Last year was good and this year we have even more,” Athletic Trainer Tom Truedson said. “It’s been a successful program and a lot of kids have reaped the benefits of it. Classmates see that and they want to be successful too.

They get in here and encourage each other to get in and it’s all about building that culture.”

Students participate in 75-minute sessions while the weight room is open from Monday through Friday. Sessions are held at 7, 8 and 9 a.m.

The sessions are broken up, including sessions dedicated to just girls and another for just middle schoolers, to avoid the busy run during the early morning sessions.

Middle schoolers get a basic introduction to lifting and spotting.

For them to get a handle on that stuff early is key,” said Truedson. “For females, specifically, we try to do a lot of jump training. That’s an emphasis, for sure. We really work on avoiding the knee collapsing inside. It’s all about technique and really having them learn to jump and land properly to avoid injury. It’s a constant reminder for them so it’s ingrained.”

The program is run by Truedson, and five coaches: Josh Omang, Reed Hefta, Josh Bettcher, Mark Whiting and

Mike Labine, each bringing a specific training concentration that melds together nicely as a unit.

“From my standpoint, injury prevention is number one,” said Truedson. “We’ve incorporated a lot of things

letes concentrate more on sportsspecific lifts.

In-season, workouts are matched with the type of skills worked on in practice.

“In track, the workouts match what we do on the track that day,” said Labine.

“If I’m doing a speed workout we’re going to come in here and work on speed lifts. Same with slow-recovery workouts and lifts.”

A typical summer workout begins with a dynamic warm up with a speed and agility component and sprinting before athletes get into lifting. Lifting begins with total body and power movements early on before working into strength exercises.

The staff also incorporates new technology to their own benefit as well as the student-athletes.

Thanks to a donation from the Laker Sports Boosters, coaches and kids have streamlined workouts using a software program called PLT4M (Platform) that tracks workouts, allows coaches to plan and design workouts and provides video instruction on proper lifting techniques.

Each athlete has a profile and via their phones have workout plans ready to go that were created by the coaches.

“Strength conditioning is changing,” said Mike Labine.

“You can’t just do the same exercises over and over. You plateau. We’re trying to train our kids to be speed, power and explosive athletes.”

PLT4M has helped formulate that process and has sped up the manner of doing so.

The software includes a team leaderboard and a national leaderboard which creates a friendly competition for the athletes. On the admin

“From my standpoint, injury prevention is number one...”

— Tom Truedson like ACL injury prevention and stressing technique and doing things right.”

Recovering from injuries is also part of the program. Kerzman tore the labrum in his shoulder and needed reconstructive surgery.

“The strength coaches here are so great and Tom does a great job to get me back to normal strength,” he said.

“The weight room helps in so many different ways. You have to be very competitive in the weight room to succeed.”

Kerzman’s thought process is one shared by the staff.

“The weight room develops the confidence in kids to be good and gives them that mental part too,” Omang said. “It’s harder to quit when you put in so much time.”

Two examples of how the coaches integrate their own knowledge are Labine is certified in strength and conditioning, while Omang has a USA weightlifting background.

“He’s very good with the technical standpoints on a lot of lifts,” said Truedson. “Having him has been a great addition.”

The emphasis of the program less about conditioning; it’s about speed and power and transitioning, change of direction - getting upfield and upcourt and being able to react.

The summer program is different than during the season when ath-

side, coaches can run reports that are team-specific, which includes attendance, scheduling, and access to their individual workouts.

The software will also transition to the school year for Omang’s weightlifting classes that are part of the curriculum, not just for kids involved in sports.

Omang praised the level of commitment from the school board to the booster club in allowing Speed and Strength to be a progressive opportunity for kids.

“It helps all the programs, not just football,” he said. “The one thing I like about what we have going here, when I was a strength coach in the Cities, we didn’t have the buy-in or the resources like we have here.”

All lifters are welcome for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday programs at 7, 8, and 9 a.m. Girls have two dedicated sessions at 8 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Middle school athletes have the weight room to themselves at 9 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Cost for each athlete to participate in the program is $50. More information is available at the program’s Twitter page @dlspeedstrength.

2017

32

Proud Supporter of Our Athletes

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