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LAKE COUNTRY LUTHERAN/MENOMONEE FALLS The FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 • 13 By Mark Hutchinson Freeman Staff MENOMONEE FALLS — The sec- ond time around has been a smooth ride so far. Dan Lutz guided the Menomonee Falls football team to a 3-6 overall record and a 3-4 Greater Metro Con- ference mark in his first season as head coach last fall. Lutz was greeted by the familiar faces of 27 returning lettermen when the Indians lined up for their first 2016 practice. "Having a full season as a head coach at Menomonee Falls under my belt has helped me immensely," Lutz said. "I know what to expect and am very much at ease. "Everyone on the staff knows their roles, and we are really teaching this year. It also helps that I have an enjoy- able group of players and coaches to work with." Falls' veteran nucleus features four returning starters on both offense and defense. The offensive returnees are senior lineman Matt Henningsen (6-foot-5, 270 pounds), senior lineman Najhee Purdy (5-10, 210), senior running back Patrick Doyle (5-10, 160) and senior quarterback Arick Gleissner (6-0, 165). Henningsen was a first team All- GMC selection last season. Doyle rushed 28 times for 97 yards and three touchdowns, while Gleissner, who started the last two games of 2015, completed 14 of 34 passes for 200 yards and a score. Gleissner succeeded 2016 graduate Bryce McMurtry, who connected on 52 of 94 throws for 657 yards and six touchdowns and carried 79 times for 424 yards and three TDs. Falls' returning defensive starters are Henningsen and seniors Brandon Schaefer (6-3, 205) and Josh Lamp (6-3, 200) on the line and senior Konnor Leiske (6-2, 180) at linebacker. The remaining lettermen back are junior kicker/running back Curtis Flannick, senior running back Cole Mir, senior wide receivers Josh McMahon, Mike Marron and Jack Scrobel, senior defensive backs Logan Heckman and Kevin Staron, senior defensive back/wide receivers Kris Walker and Cameron Jemison, senior linebackers Luke Sutton, Brian O'Connell and Donald Eruchalu, jun- ior defensive back/kicker Michael Burgoyne, junior linebackers Danny Howard and Ryan Spalding, senior defensive lineman Pat Wolfram, jun- ior offensive lineman Mason Mack and senior offensive linemen Charlie Schild, Noah Bougie and Caleb Smith. "We have had a good offseason," Lutz said. "Matt Henningsen and Brandon Schaefer are our team cap- tains. Both have been good leaders and ensured team unity." Lutz likes the way the Indians have embraced their mantra. "Our team's strength is its 'tough- ness matters' mentality," Lutz said. "I believe we'll be better in the trenches this year." Email: mhutchinson@conleynet.com Henningsen to play key role Lutz has 27 familiar faces back in second year St. John's Northwestern Coach: Tim Vice 2015: 2-7 overall, 1-6 Midwest Class conference Key returning players: junior OL/DL/LB Ray Christensen, senior WR/DB Traevion Donley; senior OL/DL Matt Grotkiewicz; junior QB Denzel Legree-Simmons; senior RB/DB Nigel Matthews; junior OL/LB/DB John McCummond Promising newcomers: senior OL/DL/LB Sawyer Cartwright; freshman WR/DB D'Andre Curtis; senior RB/LB/DB Tyrese Seefeldt; freshman RB/DB/LB DiKim Teel; freshman RB/DB/LB Tsion Vaughn Key graduation losses: Cody Goggins, Paul Basile, Stelio Pana- giotaros, senior Henry Schreuer, senior Ray Wiedemann From Page 12 skill positions. Senior run- ning back and linebacker Tyrese Seefeldt, freshman running back and defensive back DiKim Teel (6-2, 170), freshman running back and defensive back and Tsion Vaughn (6-0, 160) and fresh- man wide receiver and defensive back D'Andre Cur- tis (6-2, 175) look to make an impact in their first year on varsity. Senior Sawyer Cartwright (5-8, 216) will add some depth to both the offen- sive and defensive line in his first year on varsity. "We hope to improve from how we performed in 2015," Vice said. "There are some familiar and new faces here. There is a good mixture of players at all levels. We intend to improve and work hard every day. Our players will play football the right way and play hard to the end." — Freeman Staff SJNMA 2016 Schedule Aug. 19: at Shoreland Lutheran, 7 p.m. Aug. 26: Milwaukee South Divi- sion, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 2: Kenosha Christian Life, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: at University School of Milwaukee, 7 p.m. Sept. 16: Lake Country Luther- an, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23: at Brookfield Acade- my, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: at St. Francis, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: HOPE Christian, 2 p.m. Oct. 14: Living Word Lutheran, 4 p.m By Jeff Hagenau Freeman Correspondent HARTLAND — Faith, family and football. Over the course of the past 12 years, that combination has paid huge divi- dends for the Lake Country Lutheran football program. With a strong belief in the system and commitment to delivering a dis- ciplined effort year-in and year-out, the Lightning have faithfully execut- ed the game plan and demonstrated that they are a legitimate power- house. That winning tradition continued last season as Lake Country Luther- an went undefeated with a 7-0 record and won the Midwest Classic Confer- ence championship — capturing the conference title for the second straight year and for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. The Lightning, who finished 9-2 overall, advanced to the playoffs for the eighth consecutive time (winning in the first round for the seventh straight season) before suffering a 16- 13 overtime loss to Cambridge in a WIAA Division 6 second-round game. For Lake Country coach Greg Brazgel, the team's success has cen- tered around a steady, focused approach. "It's been all about the fundamen- tals, playing with confidence and not crossing the line into arrogance," Brazgel said. "Our theme for the sea- son is to get better each day mentally, physically and spiritually. If we stay focused on that, we will not only develop good players, but most impor- tantly good people." The return of 18 starters (nine on offense and nine on defense), includ- ing an experienced core of 12 seniors, will be important to the team's pro- gression. Senior second-year starting quar- terback/defensive back Ryan Nehls (6-foot, 170 pounds), first team all-con- ference wide receiver/defensive back Adam Mielke (5-9, 165), first team offensive lineman/inside linebacker and Midwest Classic Defensive POY Ezra Heinritz (6-1, 215), senior wide receiver/defensive end Brady Kerwin (6-3, 175), senior wide receiver/defen- sive back Joe Lipsky (6-3, 205), senior wide receiver/defensive end Jacob Harner (6-2, 165), senior running back/linebacker Ben Johnson (5-11, 185) and sophomore offensive line- man/linebacker Isaac Simons (5-11, 195) head the list of top two-way play- ers on the roster. "We're very excited about this sen- ior class and what can be accom- plished if everyone plays up to their potential," Brazgel said. Brazgel is quick to point to the team's chemistry as being one of the team's chief assets followed by strength, speed and intelligence. "After losing in the second round of the playoffs, a lot of the guys believe that they underachieved and have something to prove," Brazgel said. "Being a talented group with a lot of experience, that could be a scary thought. The guys have been hitting it hard since that final game of last season and are ready to come back and compete with a vengeance." Lightning return 18 starters LCL seeking another title 2016 Schedule (all games 7 p.m.) Aug. 19: Oak Creek Aug. 26: at Greendale Sept. 2: Wauwatosa East Sept. 9: at Marquette (Hart Park) Sept. 16: Hamilton Sept. 23: vs.West Allis Central at West Allis Hale Sept. 30: Brookfield East Oct. 7: at West Allis Hale Oct. 14: Brookfield Central Menomonee Falls Coach: Dan Lutz, second season 2015: 3-6 overall, 3-4 Greater Metro Con- ference Key returning players: Senior OL/DL Matt Henningsen (6-5, 270), senior OL Najhee Purdy (5-10, 210), senior RB Patrick Doyle (5-10, 160), senior QB Arick Gleissner, senior LB Konnor Leiske, senior DL Brandon Schaefer (6-3, 205), senior DL Josh Lamp (6-3, 200) Promising newcomers: junior OL Logan Fallon, senior RB Jonah Hestetune Key graduation loss: QB Bryce McMurtry Submitted photo Senior quarterback Ryan Nehls is back to try and lead Lake Country to anoth- er Midwest Classic Conference title. 2016 Schedule (all games 7 p.m. unless noted) Aug. 19: Racine St. Catherine's Aug. 26: at Catholic Central Sept. 2: Living Word Lutheran Sept. 10: at Kenosha Christian Life, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16: at St. John's Northwestern, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23: University School Oct. 1: at HOPE Christian Oct. 7: St. Francis Oct. 14: Brookfield Academy Lake Country Lutheran Coach: Greg Brazgel, 13th season (72-43 overall record) 2015: 9-2 overall, 7-0 in Midwest Classic Conference (first place) Key returning players: senior quarter- back Ryan Nehls, senior offensive line- man/inside linebacker Ezra Heinritz, senior wide receiver/cornerback Adam Mielke Key graduation losses: running back Ethan Kennedy, defensive lineman Noah Young, defensive end/outside linebacker Pete Hirt, defensive back Christian Calien- do and outside linebacker Zach Edwards