Mounder football looks to move up in Cloverbelt
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by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
ELK MOUND — The Elk Mound football team expects the strong numbers that showed up for practice August 12 will be able to move the Mounders up in conference play this season. After finishing 3-4 in the Cloverbelt Conference a year ago and 4-6 overall with their final loss a Division 5 Level 1 playoff loss to Northwestern, head coach Dave Lew looks for his highly skilled seniors and some strong leadership to be a strength of the team this season.
Lew begins his 12th season leading the Mounders and brings an overall record of 51-56 to the field. He believes the key will be how fast the young offensive line can learn to play at the Cloverbelt level and the speed of the game.
Five all conference players return for the Mounders including first team lineman Landon Kasakaitas, and second team Kamron Diermeier, a defensive back and wide receiver. Diermeier caught two touchdown passes and collected 266 receiving yards last year. Honorable mention quarterback Logan Jerome passed for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns while Parker Dutzle, another honorable mention pick rushed for 521 yards and eight touchdowns as a running back and also played linebacker on defense, Running back and defensive lineman Rownan Soul-Stewart was also an honorable mention selection. All of them along with Ian Gerrits, an offensive lineman and linebacker, Sam Hemenway, a defensive back and wide receiver and Mason Books, another defensive back and wide receiver are expected to lead the Mounders this year.
Plenty of newcomers will have their chance to compete for a starting spot on the varsity. Josh Braker, Adrian Lombard, Brandon Lee, Brayden Borek, Teegan Wright, Jack Buchholtz, Logan Brost, Brody Mathison, Ben Jensen, Brady Sundeen, Norman Hanson, CJ Brunner, Zach Brantner, Easton Chisholm, Will Thatcher, Gavin Dean and Coner Mock will all be competing for playing time.
Lew expects Stanley-Boyd, Eau Claire Regis and Mondovi along with his Mounders to be the strongest competition for a conference title this season.
“We plan to compete every week and let the scoreboard and record take care of itself,” he stated.
Elk Mound travels to Spooner this Friday evening, August 23 to open the 2024 regular season.
THE 2024 ELK MOUND FOOTBALL TEAM looks to move up in this year’s Cloverbelt Conference race after finishing 3-4 in league play last season and 4-6 overall. The Mounders have over 50 players on their 2024 roster. Front row (L to R): Managers Remy Chisholm and Makiah Hay. Second row (L to R): Paiton Nyren, Waylon Topper, Brandon Lee, Evan Brindle, Miles Woolever, Brayden Borek, Brody Mathison, and Nathan Miller. Third row (L to R): Adam Roder, Braxton Bjork, Dylan Mueller, Brayden Steig, Callen Robel, Jonah Gonzalaz, Haiden Hay, Colton Plemon, and Marcus Folczyk. Fourth row (L to R): Wyatt Clauson-Zahara, Eathan Brindle, Sam Hemenway, Ian Gerrits, Kamron Diermeier, Brady Sundeen, Norman Hanson, and Santi Carrillo. Fifth row (L to R): Timothy Fleming, DJ Lew, Kaden Books, Adrian Lombard, Mason Books, Parker Rhude, Landon Kasakaitas, and Parker Dutzle. Sixth row (L to R): Zeb Robinson, Kaden Moyer, Coner Mock, Teegan Wright, Sam Heath, Rowan Soul-Stewart, Easton Chisholm, and Jesse Baxter. Seventh row (L to R): Derek Frinack, Ben Jenson, Logan Brost, Jack Buchholtz, Isaac Schnell, Zack Brantner, and Logan Jerome. Back row (L to R): Manager Keason Seyller and coaching staff. Missing are Gavin Dean, Will Thatcher, and Joshua Braker. —photo by Jon Holzwarth