Head coach upbeat about Tigers’ season

HOWARDS GROVE – Steady progress and staying healthy will be crucial to the success of Howards Grove Tigers for the 2010 football season.

The Tigers lost six All-Central Lakeshore Conference players to graduation, including three first-team picks, but have seven starters back among 14 returning letter winners from a state playoff qualifier.

“I am excited about the season. That is the best part about coaching in high school – each year is completely new and different,” said Tiger head coach David Schmid.

“This team has its own strengths and weakness that we are working our way through.

“We’re going to have to steadily progress,” he said.

The Tigers finished fourth in the CLC at 4-3 and were 4-6 overall. They lost in the first round of the Division 5 playoffs to host Tigerton/Marion, 28-20.

Schmid pointed out the team’s strengths: “Team unity, excellent condition and they work hard.”

He pointed to a lack of varsity experience at some positions as a weakness.

The returning starters include Zach Glaser, Matt Wleklinski, Cole Reinemann, Ashton Holzman, Adam Sheahan, Nathan Bitter and Daine Sikora. Wleklinski, a senior split end-defensive lineman, was an All-CLC honorable-mention end and Howards’ second-leading receiver.

Junior free safety Noah Steines finished second in total tackles for the Tigers in 2009 with 57. Steines will also play quarterback this season. Howards lost all-league second-team QB Eric Dickmyer to graduation.

Schmid expects the following players to lead the way this year: Wleklinski (split end-defensive end), Holzman (tight end and defensive end), Bitter (linebacker), Reinemann (wide receiver-free safety) and Zach Glaser (wideout).

Senior running back Max Cohen, who returns after a one-year absence, and sophomore running backlinebacker Brevin Scholten have impressed Schmid among the varsity newcomers.

Schmid, who enters his ninth season at the helm, sees defending champion Cedar Grove-Belgium as the favorite to win the CLC crown again.

“Random Lake and Oostburg will be very competitive. Every game is going to be tough [in the league],” he said.

Winning the conference and hosting a playoff game are the coach’s top goals this season.

The Tigers hosted a four-team scrimmage Friday but it was shortened due to bad weather. Chilton, Sturgeon Bay and Two Rivers also participated.

“The scrimmage helped clear up some places where there was competition for play time,” Schmid pointed out.
HOWARDS GROVE
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
Varsity
Aug. 27 – @ Poynette
Sept. 3 – Kiel, here
Sept. 10 – @ Elkhart Lake
Sept. 17 – Oostburg, here
Sept. 24 – @ Random Lake
Oct. 1 – Sheb. L/Koh./SC, here
Oct. 8 – @ Stockbridge
Oct. 15 – Cedar Grove, here
Oct. 21 – Ozaukee, here
Junior Varsity
Aug. 31 – Kiel, here
Sept. 7 – Ozaukee, here
Sept. 13 – @ Reedsville
Sept. 21 – Oostburg, here
Sept. 28 – @ Random Lake
Oct. 5 – Sheb. L./Koh./SC, here
Oct. 11 – @ Kettle Moraine Luth.
Oct. 19 – Cedar Grove, here