Special Sections

2016 Waukesha Prep Football

Conley Publishing - Special Sections

Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/716814

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 9 of 15

By Tony Mooren Freeman Correspondent BROOKFIELD — Tom Swittel took a Brookfield East football program that had not made the WIAA playoffs in six seasons to six straight playoff berths. Now it's up to Ben Farley to continue the newfound success following the resignation of Swittel. And Farley — who was an assistant football coach at East for the past six years and head boys basketball coach at Menomonee Falls — has a superb starting point in senior running back/linebacker Sam Santiago-Lloyd. The 5-foot-10, 235-pound Santia- go-Lloyd was fifth in the state in rushing yards (2,251), sixth in touchdowns (31) and was voted first team all-state as both a run- ning back and linebacker by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association. "Lloyd looks good," Farley said. With six teammates also returning who started last sea- son, the Spartans could be rock- solid again on offense following a second-place, 6-1 Greater Metro Conference campaign and a 10-2 overall record last season. "Mike Caliendo was a first team all-state lineman who's now playing at Western Michigan, so that's a huge hole to fill, but our offensive line should be a strength," Farley said. The returning linemen are seniors Max Aslin (6-5, 300) and Max MacGillis (6-4, 310) and jun- iors Everett Cartier (6-4, 225) and Adam Streich (6-4, 250). Also back on offense are senior receivers Patrick Cartier (6-7, 195) and Nick Kreul (6-2, 190). The Spartans will try to replace quarterback T.C. Swittel, who is now at Western Michigan. Swittel threw for nearly 500 BROOKFIELD CENTRAL/BROOKFIELD EAST The FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE 10 • PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 By Tony Mooren Freeman Correspondent BROOKFIELD — The Brookfield Central football team lost a ton of tal- ent to graduation, but the Lancers have a ton of talent coming up to replace it. It could be an interesting season for Central under third-year coach Jed Kennedy, who guided the Lancers to the Greater Metro Conference cham- pionship last season with help from six graduated first team all-confer- ence players. The Lancers' sophomore and fresh- man teams were unbeaten and returning players include four start- ing linebackers. "We should be pretty good there," Kennedy said of his linebacking group, which is headed by senior Reg- gie Jennings (6-foot-1, 212 pounds), a first-team pick. Another returning starting line- backer is junior Nick Leszczynski (6- 0, 225), who was honorable mention all-conference. The other two return- ing starters are seniors Bobby Ravinelli (5-10, 210) and Jordan Hoehnen (6-3, 210). "They should be pretty good against the run and I expect them to carry us early," Kennedy said. "Line- backers should definitely be the strength of the team. I thought our defense was one of the better ones in the state last season and we have a lot of folks back." Sophomore defensive back Jaiden Banda (6-0, 170), who was honorable mention all-conference, also returns on defense. Three starters also return on offense: senior wide receiver Thomas Gibson (6-2, 185) and senior linemen Sam Ockwood (6-2, 250) and Cody Moua (5-10, 215) — Ockwood a first team all-conference choice and Gib- son a second-team selection. "We're talented, but it's young tal- ent," Kennedy said. "We have players who've had success at the lower levels and it's our job to see that it carries on to Friday nights." Aiding that mission are 125 players out for the team — up 35 from the number Kennedy started with three years ago and enough to provide plen- ty of competition for positions and depth. Offense is perhaps the biggest ques- tion mark. "We lost 1,200 yards from Dominic Labellarte, 1,100 from Malik Turner and 500 from Mitch Meves," Kennedy noted. "There ain't much left after that." But that's talking about the varsity level. A lot of players are itching for their shots. Labellarte and first team all-confer- ence lineman Joey Koppelman are playing at the University St. Thomas -Minnesota this season. Senior Jimmy Rodgers (6-1, 175) and sophomore Drew Leszczynski (6- 1, 165) are the top two quarterbacks. "It's a dead-even race," Kennedy said. "They both bring different qual- ities to the table." The top running backs are juniors Zach Heckman (5-11, 175) and Jon Neubauer (5-11, 170). Ockwood and Moua lead a list of numerous line candidates including seniors Jacob Vetta (6-2, 254), Jordan Hoehnen (6-3, 210), Mitchell Selas (6-0, 190) and Jacob Ozolins (6-6, 235) and juniors Alex Wille (5-11, 226) and Noah Mortag (6-4, 270). Senior Parker Jensen (5-10, 175) will handle the kicking, and junior Rade Latinovich (6-0, 240) is the punter. Top defensive linemen include Lati- novich, junior Blake Fehrmann (6-5, 220), junior Quinn Anderson (5-10, 215) and senior James Foster (5-9, 230) and defensive backs include Jaiden Banda, sophomores Julian Banda (6- 0, 175) and Joe Cleary (6-3, 174) and junior Michael Vandenberg (5-9, 138). "One thing I worry about is we're so unorthodox at what we do on offense that there's an adjustment period to what other offenses do," Kennedy said of his hope that his defense carries the team early. Robert Hellendrung, who was a defensive coordinator at Oak Creek, joins Paul Maier as co-defensive coor- dinator this season. "The goal is always to compete for the conference and state champi- onships," Kennedy said. "I don't think we're the favorite but I think we'll be in the mix. Brookfield East and Marquette are the favorites." Freshmen, JVs went unbeaten last season New talent to replace many holes Brookfield Central Coach: Jed Kennedy, third year (14-7 record) 2015: 9-2 overall, 7-0 and Greater Metro Conference champion Key returning players: Senior offensive lineman Sam Ockwood and junior line- backer Reggie Jennings, who were first- team all-conference picks, sophomore defensive back Jaiden Banda, senior receiver Thomas Gibson and junior line- backer Nick Leszczynski who were honor- able mention all-conference Key loss to graduation: Six first-team all- league selections: quarterback Dominic Labellarte, linemen Brandon Hughes and Joey Koppelman, tight end Michael Hauser, running back Malik Turner and defensive back Joe Dubois See EAST, PAGE 11 Santiago-Lloyd is back Farley plans to keep winning at alma mater Brookfield East Coach: Ben Farley, first year 2015: 10-2 overall, 6-1 and second in the Greater Metro Conference Top returning lettermen: Senior run- ning back/linebacker Sam Santiago- Lloyd, a first-team all-state selection at both positions Top graduation losses: quarter- back/kicker/punter T.C. Swittel, line- men Mike Caliendo and Dominic Cartier, defensive backs Mitch Mikul- sky and Will Schmidt and linebacker Jake Roy, who were all first-team all- conference choices Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Brookfield Central lineman Sam Ockwood blocks during a drill in practice. 2016 Schedule (all times 7 p.m.) Aug. 18: at Whitefish Bay Aug. 25: Hartford Sept. 2: at West Allis Hale Sept. 9: vs.West Allis Central at Hale Sept. 15: Brookfield East Sept. 23: vs. Marquette at Hart Park Sept. 30: Hamilton Oct. 7: Wauwatosa East Oct. 14: at Menomonee Falls 2016 Schedule (all times 7 p.m.) Aug. 18: vs. Pius at Wisconsin Lutheran College Aug. 25: at Beaver Dam Sept. 2: vs.West Allis Central at Hale Sept. 9: West Allis Hale Sept. 15: at Brookfield Central Sept. 23: Wauwatosa East Sept. 30: at Menomonee Falls Oct. 7: vs. Marquette at Hart Park Oct. 14: Hamilton Mary Catanese/Special to The Freeman Brookfield East senior Sam Santiago-Lloyd is back after being picked the Greater Metro Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Special Sections - 2016 Waukesha Prep Football