Small but mighty: Hilltoppers aim to stay healthy in 2017

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — In a conference like the Dunn-St. Croix, it is easy to envy the larger schools like Durand and Elk Mound.

Both the Panthers and Mounders are WIAA Division 5 schools, which gives them the safety of a deep roster of talented kids to pull from if a starter gets injured. Then, there are schools like Glenwood City, who don’t have the depth, but pretty much vibrate with talent.

The trick for Hilltopper head coach Shane Strong? Keep ‘em healthy.

The Toppers went 7-3 overall in 2016, and were 4-2 in the D-SC after falling to both Durand and Spring Valley. Glenwood City, who won six straight to open last season but lost three of their final four contests as injuries to key starters mounted, played in its first tournament game since 2013 against the Cardinals, but fell to their conference foe 27-6 in level 1, Division 6 play.

This year, scuttlebutt among some of the region’s pigskin prognosticators predicts the Hilltoppers could run all the way to state.

Strong’s Glenwood City varsity squad numbers just 35 players, but he has plenty of returning talent to fill the shoes of the five seniors who graduated in May.

Jake Logghe, Allen Croes, Spencer Peterson, Jake O’Meara and Marcus Ullom all departed the team after last year’s October 21 loss at Spring Valley, and Strong said they were integral parts of the team.

“Al and Spencer were very solid up front on our line, and both earned all-conference. Jake Logghe was our quarterback and a very good punter for us. Marcus Ullom played two ways for us, and all special teams, and Jake O’Meara started the year as one of the leading rushers in the league before his season was ended by injury,” Strong explained.

Glenwood City does return 10 letter winners from its 13-man senior class, and will welcome back five junior letter winners out of a crew of eight.

Senior Jake Kopacz led the conference in rushing last season after picking up 1,318 yards over 156 carries and all-conference honors.

Carson Strong led the Glenwood City receiving corp last year with 14 receptions for 185 yards, and tacked on another 215 yards rushing. The incoming senior is a two-time all-DSC player on both offense and defense, where he picked up 22 tackles and an interception for a touchdown.

Strong’s classmate, Pete Hill, will be stepping back into the quarterback’s shoes as the 2017 play caller, a position he took over midway through last season. Hill, a letter winner described as having a solid passing arm, completed 18 of 35 attempted passes for a 31.2 yard-per-game average in five starts last year.

Jake Nelson returns this season with a varsity letter despite sitting out much of last year due to a knee injury. Coach Strong calls Nelson a two-way starter with good speed and football intelligence. Quinn Taylor was a 2016 all-conference lineman and GC letterman. He brings athleticism and strength to the defensive side of the field.

Collin Schone will have one more season to show his intelligence on the field as the Hilltoppers’ starting center after showing his solid blocking abilities last season. Ethan Kahler and Owen Wagner also return as senior letter winners with varsity experience, as do Darian Multhauf, who like Nelson played in just two games before suffering a knee injury,  and Marcus Hurtgen.

The senior class will be rounded out by Carlos Perez, Trevor Larson and Jacob Wulff.

Juniors Hadin DeSmith, Dakota Dean-Immerman, Caleb Peterson, Tanner Davis and Bryce Fayerweather are all back after picking up varsity letters in previous seasons. Strong is looking at Davis to hold his own on defense with his size, athleticism, and speed.

DeSmith and Fayerweather are two juniors the Hilltopper coach is keeping a close eye on.

“Hadin DeSmith will be a great asset on both sides of the ball. He is athletic and very tough,” Strong noted. “Bryce Fayerweather has great size, and has made a strong commitment in the weight room.”

Dean-Immerman made an impact offensively in 2016, with 88 yards on 21 carries, and a single 32-yard reception. Other juniors who saw some field time last year were Matt Prinsen, Caleb Peterson, Will Owen, and Jake Cmelja.

Sophomores Ethan Hanson, Cole Cmelja, Cole Logghe, Dan Loring, Ethan Berends, Andrew Berends, Harrison Chouinard and Tucker Lagerstrom, and freshman Nick Hill, Gavin Janson, Andy Grant, Jace Wilson, Bryce Drill and Andrew Nauer will all be looking to hit the field for some experience this season.

Strong has confidence in his skill position players.

“We will be very fast at the skill positions,” he said. “All of our skill players return from a year ago, which helps our experience.”

The downside for the Hilltoppers in Strong’s eyes is the lack of depth at all positions. He noted the team has lower numbers in the younger grades due to kids specializing in other sports, and that means his players will need to stay healthy.

Glenwood City is not focusing on statistics this season, instead choosing to focus on “going 1-0 each week” for the wins.

Strong is in his ninth season at the helm of the Hilltopper football program, and has a 52-33 record. He will be assisted this year by Jake Score, Chuckie DeSmith, Richard Croes, Rob Logghe and Randy Ketola.

The Hilltopper coach has marked Durand and Elk Mound as the teams to beat in 2017 since both the Mounders and Panthers return a number of good players on their offensive lines.

The Glenwood City squad will open its season August 18 at home with a match-up against the Frederick Vikings before hitting the road to Amery to meet the Warriors August 25. They will host the Mounders September 1 for their first Dunn-St. Croix contest of 2017.

Roster

Seniors: Carson Strong, Ethan Kahler, Pete Hill, Owen Wagner, Jake Nelson, Darian Multhauf, Jake Kopacz, Marcus Hurtgen, Collin Schone, Quinn Taylor, Carlos Perez, Trevor Larson and Jacob Wulff.

Juniors: Hadin DeSmith, Will Owen, Dean Immerman, Caleb Peterson, Tanner Davis, Bryce Fayerweather, Matt Prinsen and Jake Cmelja.

Sophomores: Cole Cmelja, Ethan Hanson, Cole Logghe, Dan Loring, Ethan Berends, Andrew Berends, Harrison Chouinard and Tucker Lagerstrom.

Freshmen: Nick Hill, Gavin Janson, Andy Grant, Jace Wilson, Bryce Drill and Andrew Nauer.