Morley Stanwood

First-year Mohawk football coach looks to continue winning legacy into new decade

By Joe Judd udd@pionee g oup.com

MORLEY — A brand new era of Mohawk football is just a few short weeks away from officially kicking off.

Last season marked the end of the Clark Huntey-era as head coach of the Mohawks.

In Huntey’s place steps Art Campione, who most recently was the defensive coordinator for Central Montcalm, where he currently teaches physical education and social studies.

“At Morley Stanwood, the expectations do not change; we expect to make the playoffs and win the league title each year,” Campione said. “The pieces are in place, the work has been put in, and we will go as far as our senior class takes us.”

In 2019, Morley Stanwood’s boys went 6-4 overall and finished with a 4-0 record inside of the Central State Activities Association Silver Confer

Art Campione talks with his Morley Stanwood players during a summer practice. (Pioneer

photo/John Raffel)

ence, earning them the top spot.

Campione said the CSAA Silver is balanced and said he thinks anyone can take the top spot.

“Our team has put a lot of work into this offseason and that work will allow us to challenge for a league title,” Campione said.

Even with the added difficulty and constant presence of COVID-19 lurking in the back of everyone’s minds all summer, Campione said he’s been happy with the turnout he’s seen at summer practices and workouts so far.

The first-year MS coach said he thought his team has dealt with the inevitable fairly well and has stayed motivated in the meantime.

“While this summer has had its own unique set of circumstances, our team has handled them very well, and I look forward to watching their hard work pay off this season,” Campione said. “Many of our kids studied film on their own.”

Morley Stanwood’s senior class this year will consist of offensive linemen Aaron Garrow, Isaiah Duran and Saige Irwin, whose duties will be to protect quarterback Ryland Nelson and facilitate the running game.

Senior tight end Carter Veldkamp is expected to play a big role for the Mohawks this season as well, along with senior defenders Keagan Riggs, Andrew VanLangen, Connor Tronsen and Logan Eckert.

As it stands, the 2020 edition of the Mohawk football team will welcome Central Montcalm to town to begin the regular season on Aug. 27.

Mohawk volleyball squad has confidence entering new season

By Joe Judd udd@pionee g oup.com

MORLEY — After a season of continued success in 2019, Morley Stanwood’s volleyball team is looking to replicate it once again in 2020, even though it will be no ordinary campaign.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during the spring that closed schools, preemptively ended the winter sports postseason and canceled the spring season before it could even begin, the Mohawks, like everyone else, will be heading into untreaded waters.

Still, head coach Robin Kozuch and her players are optimistic and ready to finally get back into the gym, after months of relative uncertainty.

“We are working very hard at the moment on trying to figure out the best way to hold tryouts outdoors,” Kozuch said. “We have been doing some beach workouts and drills over the past two months or so, but beach play and hard court are two very different animals.”

MS took home both a conference and a district title last season, and have since graduated Jaidyn Schmitt, Breanna Berry, and Ryleigh Newton — all of which played a key role in the many Mohawk triumphs in ‘19.

Berry was a four-year starter on varsity and Schmitt spent three years on the Morley Stanwood varsity squad.

“They were selfless and truly wanted what was best for the team,” Kozuch said. “They were such great leaders and so very positive.”

Looking ahead to the task at hand, Kozuch’s team will also return a fair amount of talent from last year’s team, such as: Braelyn Berry, Brooke Brauher, Landrie LaPreze, Madison Garbow, Emilee Cornell, Grace Timmers, and Isabel Devereaux.

Berry and Brauher have both recently earned All-State honors.

Kozuch said she expects all of the above to be essential to the Mohawk effort on the court this season, especially when considering the overall strength of the opponents they will soon be facing.

Both Hesperia and White Cloud are expected to give MS a run for its money down the stretch.

“We will have to play our best game against them to defend our title another year,” Kozuch said.

As far as the season goes,

Brooke Brauher serves for Morley Stanwood during the 2019 season.

(Pioneer file photo)

Kozuch said she expects it to be a long year for her team if the regular season ends up not coming to fruition.

“I am excited to get this thing going,” Kozuch said. “I truly hope we get to play this year.”

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