Conley Publishing - Special Sections
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HAMILTON/PALMYRA-EAGLE/ST. JOHN'S NORTHWESTERN The FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE 12 • PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 By Mark Hutchinson Freeman Staff TOWN OF LISBON — Physical strength and exemplary leadership are usually prerequisites for a foot- ball team seeking to reach the upper tier of its conference. Hamilton appears to have both of those components in place as it looks to improve upon its 3-6 overall record and 3-4 Greater Metro Conference finish of 2015. "I felt we made a lot progress in the weight room in the off season," for- mer Hamilton standout John Dama- to said as he began his 13th season as coach. "I felt our seniors did an out- standing job leading by example." Damato was also impressed with what his veteran players accom- plished off the field. "Evan Laskowski, Ryan Hubbell, Joey Bolda, Cal Dassow and Cole Roepke have all continued to show great strengths in their leadership abilities and we are hopeful others will follow. "They have organized a variety of team functions and have organized a team car wash for Sussex outreach. The team raised and donated $738 to this organization. "This was a very admirable ges- ture, and I could not be more proud of a group of young men." Dassow (6-foot-7, 310 pounds), a sec- ond team All-Greater Metro Confer- ence and All-Region selection at offensive tackle last season, is among five returning starters to the Hamil- ton offense. The others are Laskowski (6-2, 245) at center, senior Tom Endries (6-2, 230) at guard, senior Jordan Smith (6- 0, 188) at quarterback and junior Ty Olejnik (6-3, 195) at wide receiver. Smith completed 45 of 97 passes for 605 yards and rushed 40 times for 128 yards and two scores last season. Back as starters on the Chargers defensive unit are seniors Roepke (6- 1, 250) and Alex Manojlovis (6-0, 277) on the line and Hubbell (5-10, 209) and Bolda (6-0, 217) at linebacker. Hubbell made 56 tackles and received all-conference honorable mention in 2015. Damato likes the cornerstones of Hamilton's interior lines. "Our offensive line returns three with extensive experience," the coach said. "We return four out of seven on the front half of our defense — two linemen and two line- backers." Hamilton's 2016 graduation losses included Sam Herriges, who rushed 163 times for a team-best 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns; Mikey Bruch, who carried 73 times for 434 yards and five TDs; and Cole Ander- son, who caught a team-high 17 pass- es for 271 yards and a score. Among the top defenders who graduated were Travis Janus, a first team All-GMC defensive back; Ty Botsford, a second team all-confer- ence linebacker who made a team- high 71 tackles; and lineman Antho- ny Gatzow, a second team All-GMC choice. The lineup vacancies created by their departures have made for some competitive early practices. "Both our offensive and defensive backfields will be competing for a wide-open race at all positions," Damato said. Several players have made strong impressions on Damato with their performance in practice. "Offensive guard Mason Snell, defensive back Will Geels, running back Nick Mirasola, defensive line- man Ryan Filo and tight end Brad Purko continue to show great prom- ise at their respective positions," Damato said. Brookfield Central went 7-0 to claim the GMC championship last season, finishing a game ahead of city rival Brookfield East. Marquette finished third at 5-2, and Damato expects the Lancers, Spartans and Hilltoppers to be formidable again. "I do not know each team so it's dif- ficult for me to make a prediction," Damato said. "However, I would assume that Brookfield Central, Brookfield East, Marquette and Menomonee Falls will be in the upper half of the conference. "It is our goal to work our way into that top half at season's end." The Chargers will kick off their season with a nonconference game at 7 p.m. Froday at South Milwaukee. They will open conference competi- tion against Marquette at Hart Park at 7 p.m. Sept. 2. Email: mhutchinson@conleynet.com Chargers return five on offense Hamilton veterans lead on, off field PALMYRA — The Palmyra- Eagle football team is hoping a new conference can bring better results in 2016. The Panthers went 0-6 in Rock Valley-South play and finished the season 1-8 overall last year. P-E and Parkview have left the Rock Valley-South to join the Trailways-Large Conference and replace Deerfield and Lour- des Academy. After two weeks of nonconference games, the Pan- thers host Dodgeland in their first conference game Sept. 2. Senior quarterback Simon Carpenter returns for the Pan- thers. He threw for 711 yards and seven touchdowns and was the team's second leading rush- er with 311 yards and two more touchdowns. Carpenter was also the team's second leading tackler with 82 total tackles as a defensive back. Carpenter made first team all-conference on defense. Carpenter's favorite target is also back. Senior wide receiver Brady Olson led the team with 28 catches for 562 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Carson Poulson should also be making a lot of plays on both sides of the ball. Poulson — a wide receiver and defen- sive back — made 56 tackles and had eight catches for 33 yards and a touchdown. He received all-conference honorable men- tion last year. The running game might struggle a little early. William Sallis, lost to graduation, was the team's leading rusher last season with 420 yards. He was also the the team's third leading pass catcher and fifth leading tackler. The Panthers' defense also has to replace a lot. Tony Ollis, who led the team with 85 tackles last year, and defensive lineman Dylan Stehno, who was first team all-conference, both gradu- ated. P-E also must replace Mason Roscizewski, who was a first team all-conference kicker and second team all-conference defensive back. — Freeman Staff Carpenter returns as two-way player P-E joins new conference Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Hamilton High School football players scrimmage during practice. 2016 Schedule (all games 7 p.m.) Aug. 19: at South Milwaukee Aug. 26: at Cedarburg Sept. 2: at Marquette (at Hart Park) Sept. 9: Wauwatosa East Sept. 16: at Menomonee Falls Sept. 23: West Allis Hale Sept. 30: at Brookfield Central Oct. 7: West Allis Central Oct. 13: at Brookfield East Hamilton Coach: John Damato, 13th season 2015: 3-6 overall, 3-4 Greater Metro Con- ference Key returning players: senior OT Cal Dassow, senior OG Tom Endries, senior C Evan Laskowski, senior QB Jordan Smith, junior WR Ty Olejnik, senior DL Cole Roepke, senior DL Alex Manojlovis, senior LB Ryan Hubbell, senior LB Joey Bolda Promising newcomers: senior OG Mason Snell, junior DB Will Geels DB, junior RB Nick Mirasola, junior DL Ryan Filo, senior TE Brad Purko Key graduation losses: LB Ty Botsford (HM all-state), RB Sam Herriges (second- team all-conference), RB/DB Travis Janus (first-team all-conference), DL Anthony Gatzow (second-team all-conference), RB/DB Mikey Bruch (HM all-conference) Palmyra-Eagle Coach: Shawn Ford 2015: 1-8 overall, 0-6 Rock Valley- South Key returning players: senior QB/DB Simon Carpenter; senior WR/DB Brady Olson; senior WR/DB Carson Poulson Key graduation losses: William Sallis; Tony Ollis; Dylan Stehno; Mason Roscizewski 2016 Schedule (all games 7 p.m.) Aug. 19: at Martin Luther Aug. 26: Milwaukee Bay View Sept. 2: Dodgeland Sept. 9: at Horicon/Hustisford Sept. 16: Pardeeville Sept. 23: at Cuba City Sept. 30: at Markesan Oct. 7: Parkview Oct. 16: Mont./Princeton/Green Lake DELAFIELD — If the St. John's Northwestern football team is going to improve on its 2-7 record from last year, the Lancers will lean on some expe- rienced players returning despite listing just 16 players on their varsity roster. Seniors Traevion Donley (5- foot-11, 140 pounds) and Matt Grotkiewicz (6-0, 250) are in their fourth year on varsity, while junior John McCummond (6-2, 155) has been on varsity for three years. Junior quarter- back Denzel Legree-Simmons (5-8, 145) is back behind center. Grotkiewicz, who's started the past four years, will return to the offensive and defensive line. Also returning to the offensive line are McCummond and junior Ray Christensen (5- 11, 200). Coach Tim Vice said his team lost a lot of players on the line from last year. Legree-Simmons split the quarterback duties last year, but looks to be the starter after Cody Goggins graduated. Legree-Simmons threw for 235 yards and a touchdown in eight games. Also returning to the backfield is senior running back and defensive back Nigel Matthews (6-2, 160). Vice has high hopes for some new players and most are at the List only 16 players on roster Experience returns for SJNMA See SJNMA, PAGE 13