“The biggest thing I’ve noticed in early practices is the impact of having a senior laden team,” commented third-year Head Coach Eli Beachy.  “These boys have taken command.  The energy is demanded and different from years past.  Our leadership and experience is the biggest intangible strength.  When it comes to tangible strengths, this will be our best, biggest, and most versatile offensive and defensive lines we’ve had in 3 years.  When it comes to the skill players, they have all had 3 years in our system and are able to understand and handle anything we throw at them, offensively and defensively on the back end.  It is the most versatile and intelligent group on the outside and backend of the defense we’ve had.”

Returning senior starters are Timmy Guler (QB/S), Justin Jacobson (T/TE/DL), Jack Paulson (WR/S), Jarett Stetz (C/DL), Kaden Holt (G/DL), Luke Sjolie (WR/OLB), Alex Tabery (G/DL) and Ethan Sjostrom (TE/S).  Returning junior starters include Jack Kapenga (RB/LB), Mark Kapenga (RB/OLB), Treyvon Benson (WR/CB) and William Pesch (T/DL).

Seniors returning with extensive varsity experience are Anthony Checco de Souza (G/DL), Chris Laferriere (T/DL), Brayden Weise (DL) and Connor Nelson (T/DL).  Junior Channing Russman (Slot/LB) and sophomore Miguel Torres (WR/CB) will also be varsity contributors.

“Our biggest weakness last year was respecting each opponent and respecting ourselves sometimes too much and sometimes not enough,” stated Coach Beachy.  “We need to figure out how we’re going to bring it every game, every play, every opponent.  Discipline on the field has been a problem of ours the last two years.  There have been too many controllable errors.  False starts and holding, specifically.  We have put ourselves behind the chains too much the last two seasons.  One other thing we need to clean up this coming season is our special teams play.  We, unfortunately, do not have the luxury to get some of our starters rest there. We need to take more pride in it.”

Beachy, who will be assisted by Hayden Sturdevant, Chris Hacker, Paul Sturdevant, Mitch Verdorn and Jenson Beachy, sees Barnesville and Hawley as the main challengers to the Vikings in Section 8AA.