Young and determined; Glenwood City gridders seek redemption in 2020
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THE GLENWOOD CITY Football team will open its 2020 gridiron campaign this Friday, September 25 when it hosts Spring Valley. Front row (L to R): Ericka Bosch, Jalissa Hager, Makayla Sina, Haidyn Walz, Payten Knops, Natasha Lagerstrom and Marie Garcia. Second row (L to R): Gavin Janson, Will Eggert, Brandyn Hallquist and Nick Nill. Third row (L to R): Coaches Jake Score, Chuckie DeSmith, Shane Strong, Justin Swenby and Tristan Kittilson. Fourth row (L to R): Bryce Wickman, Thomas Moede, Marcis DeSmith, Justin Moe, Owen Swenby, Drew Olson, Brady McCarthy, Collin Lavalley, Owen Nerby and Mitchell Bliese. Fifth row (L to R): Jayden Quinn, Max Janson, James Knight, Aaron Brigham, Nick Hierlmeier, Gabe Knops, Brady Klatt, Trenton McNamara, Noah Brite, Jared Hagar and Connor Gross. Back row (L to R): Will Standaert, Xander Jacobsen, Eli Nerby, Jonas Draxler, Payton Rassbach, Morgan Eggert, Brett Peterson, Steven Booth, Zach Hill, Jackson Halbach and Nelson Polen. Not pictured is Tucker Augeson. —photo by Jacob Maes Photography
by Laura Giammattei
Sports Correspondent
GLENWOOD CITY — Speed and a close knit comradery between players will be the two main strengths the Glenwood City football team will draw upon for success this 2020 season in the Dunn-St. Croix (D-SC) Conference.
The Hilltoppers aim to get back into a winning mentality this season, after wrapping up the 2019 season with a 1-8 overall record.
Head coach Shane Strong said that although there are only four total seniors on the roster this year, they are very close to one another, which is the opposite of last year’s team atmosphere.
Although eight seniors graduated in the spring, including first team, all-conference player Andrew Berends, the Hilltoppers bring back a great deal of experience in several returning upperclassmen, including three senior letter winners, Gavin Janson, Brandyn Hallquist, and Will Eggert.
Janson will provide a strong physical presence for the Hilltoppers at quarterback and linebacker, while Hallquist settles back in as a wide receiver and corner. Eggert is eager to return to the field after an injury prevented him from playing last season and can be expected to bring speed and power to the backline.
“We have good speed all over the field, and more experience this year,” Strong said. “We only have four seniors, but our numbers are up in the lower three grades. We are small and young and will go through some growing pains with a young line-up.”
Newcomers that Strong sees as potential future starters include sophomores Aaron Brigham, Noah Brite, Nick Hierlmeier, Max Janson, Gabe Knops, and Trenton McNamara, as well as juniors Marcis DeSmith, Justin Moe, Thomas Moede, and Drew Olson.
Strong said that, while these underclassmen are young, they are determined to work hard and play to their potential.
With the first game of the season just on the horizon, Strong said they are focused on settling back into a winning mentality in their preparation. “In the past our kids wanted to win every drill when we prepared for our upcoming game. We have to establish that you don’t rise to the occasion, you rise to the level of preparation. We will focus on what we can control.”
The D-SC made some changes this year, Elk Mound, Mondovi and Durand moved to the Cloverbelt Conference and Cadott, Clear Lake, Elmwood/Plum City and Turtle Lake have taken their place in the D-SC.
The Hilltoppers will jump right into the thick of things this Friday, September 25 as they host the Spring Valley Cardinals. Strong sees Spring Valley as the team to beat this year due to a very athletic senior core.
2020 Roster
Seniors: Will Eggert, Brandyn Hallquist, Nick Hill, Gavin Janson
Juniors: Mitchell Bliese, Marcis DeSmith, Collin LaValley, Brady McCarthy, Justin Moe, Thomas Moede, Owen Nerby, Drew Olson, Owen Swenby, Bryce Wickman
Sophomores: Aaron Brigham, Noah Brite, Nick Hierlmeier, Max Janson, Brady Klatt, James Knight, Gabe Knops, Trenton McNamara, Jayden Quinn
Freshmen: Tucker Augeson, Steven Booth, Jonas Draxler, Morgan Eggert, Connor Gross, Jared Hager, Jackson Halbach, Zach Hill, Xander Jacobsen, Eli Nerby, Brett Peterson, Nelson Polen, Peyton Rassbaach, Will Standaert