Pine River

from 2020 Pioneer Football & Volleyball Preview

Ferris State University

Pine River football team locked and loaded for new year

By Joe Judd udd@pionee g oup.com

LEROY — It is almost football season in Buck country, and Pine River’s team is in search of a few more wins to add to the ledger this time around.

Coached by Terry Martin, Pine River is ready to get back out on the field, after quite an unorthodox offseason.

“We are going to be young overall, but I really like our team energy and think we are going to be competitive in the Highland race this season,” Martin said.

Martin added the Highland Conference will be strong once again in 2020, with the likes of McBain and Beal City. He said he didn't see that much of a spread between the teams and at the top and bottom of the conference.

LEROY — Last season, the Pine River volleyball team created a bond and overall team chemistry that coach Jana Dennis said “...was such a blessing.”

This time around, the Buck ladies are hoping to continue what they started a season ago.

With the offseason graduating departures of Sophie Johnson, Cayla Trowbridge, and Parker Moores, Dennis said there will be a few holes that will soon need to be filled.

“We expect our team to pick up where we left off last year,” Dennis said. “We have numerous returners from last year’s team, so that will be helpful.”

Emma Whitley, Lorean

Coach Terry Martin hopes to have a strong football season at Pine River. (Pioneer file photo)

A season ago, the Bucks finished up their campaign at 3-6 (2-5) overall, and wound up in the bottom third of the Highland Conference standings.

Martin said his team started the 2019 season strong, but a few key injuries led to some struggles down the stretch.

This time around, Martin Yeomans, Lillian Johnson, and Avery Sumpter all were key components to last year’s team that Dennis believes will each be an asset in 2020.

On top of that, there will be a few new faces in the gym this time around.

“There are also quite a few newcomers to varsity who we feel will produce nicely this year and help us achieve our expectations,” Dennis said. “The nice thing is we have a very versatile team.”

Dennis said she felt her team has more useful weapons on the offensive side of the ball, while the PR defense continues to come into its own as well.

The biggest obstacle moving forward before a ball is officially served is figuring out who will take over the primary and his Bucks have their sights set on postseason football.

“Our commitment level has been great this offseason and we have a good group of kids that love playing the game of football together,” Martin said.

Even with all of the COVID-19-related questions, guidelines, frustration and setting duties for the Bucks, in addition to building up a strong setter-hitter chemistry.

PR has had to do this in some unorthodox ways thus far — outside of the gymnasium.

“Even though grass is definitely not the same as a real volleyball court, we are getting a lot of good work done,” Dennis said.

As far as COVID-19 and the problems it has caused prep sports across the state and nation are concerned, Dennis said there are only so many things she and her staff can do.

Like all coaches in all sports, Dennis has been made to improvise her team’s pre-season training and workout schedule.

“So much of our time has uncertainty, Martin said his players will remain focused on working on what they can control.

At the same time, he acknowledged that player safety this season is at an all-time high, not just because of the pandemic, but because of the lack of training his team has

(Pioneer file photo)

been spent conditioning,” Dennis said. “We have become more drill-focused the last couple of weeks. At first, everyone was upset, because we weren’t allowed in our gym, but now been permitted to engage in this summer.

“It is a part of the season we all have to deal with,” Martin said. “Our kids have had very little access to any resistance training and to football equipment, which makes me nervous for injury.”

Returning to the Bucks this season and expected to make a key impact on the field will be seniors Taylor Helmboldt, Elijah Carper, Parker DeBoard and Zach Lemmon.

Juniors Noah Ruppert, Ben Lockhart, Jaiden Podbilski, Cody Rives, Hunter Varney, Kyle Hayden, and Cameron Helmboldt are also expected to see plenty of time on the gridiron this fall.

Pine River is scheduled to kick off its regular season at home against Shelby on Aug.