“Making it to the state championship game, beating Hawley in the section final, and really our entire post season from section to state was a great experience,” commented Head Coach Bryan Strand, now in his fifteenth season.  “That team was very close and really worked hard to get to where they ended up.  We had many great seniors and they gelled well with our underclassmen.”

Jackson Peopping, Preston Snobl, Adrian O’Brian, Nick Detlosff, Kellen Hinsz, Chase Brenner, Gabe Dent, Sam Askegaard, Grant Inniger, Brooks Martinson, Jonah Lenoue, Luke Audette and Jacob Morgan were all lost to graduation.

Returners include seniors Jackson Wahl (RB/DB), Hunter Zenzen (TE/LB), Hunter Anderson (RB/LB), Connor Morse (OL/DL) and Matt Samuelson (OL/DL), juniors Adam Tonsfeldt (QB/DB), Brady Kroll (OL/DL), Joey Mark (E/DE) and Aaron Schiefert (FB/LB), and freshman Jonny Robideau (OL/LB).

“We have experience back from last years’ team in the line and backfield,” reported Coach Strand.  “With the work the team has put in the past year our expectations are to get back to state and make another run at it.  This is a very dedicated group and if they work hard and improve I think they can do great things.”

The Trojans will also be expecting senior Caleb Ott (OL/DL), juniors Blake Bakken (RB/DB) and Tobias Elliott (OL/DL), and sophomores Cameron Heng (RB/DB), Kaden Zenzen (E/DE), Travis Affield (OL/DL) and Joaquin Nelson (RB/DB) to step into varsity roles in 2019.

“I have loved what I have seen at camp,” continued Strand.  “We have 65 kids out in grades 9 through 12, and many kids fighting for playing time.  It will be interesting to see who rises to the top.  We will know a lot after the first part of our season as we have Ada-Borup, Hawley, OTC and in week five, Breckenridge.”

Strand thinks Hawley and Breckenridge will provide the stiffest competition in District play, with the Nuggets and Crookston the top contenders, along with the Trojans, in Section 8AA.

Strand will be assisted by Phil Trowbridge, Nate Strand, Nick Paur, Scott Snobl, Ace Gregg, Dain Biewer and Noah Brendan.