De Pere out to earn its keep
The De Pere football team got off to a much quieter start this year.
That’s just fine by the Redbirds.
Unlike last year, there wasn’t a string of local media coming to preseason practices to sing it praise as the defending Fox River Classic Conference champion.
There also wasn’t any blaring music emanating from the sports complex’s loudspeakers during practices.
“We gave that to them right off the bat last year,” De Pere coach Chad Michalkiewicz said. “We didn’t pull the plug on it, but it was something that they earned this year. We set benchmarks and goals, daily and weekly. If as coaches, we feel we’re heading in the right direction, then we do that payoff.”
The Redbirds hope the approach will ultimately lead to a playoff trip after they just missed out on one last season when they went 4-5.
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“This is the hardest training camp I’ve put a team through,” Michalkiewicz said.
“We’re trying to build physical toughness and mental toughness. That hasn’t really been my m.o. to do a brutal and tasking training camp. It hasn’t really been my style in any of the previous six years. But I just felt it was necessary to refocus the program and try and build our identity.”
De Pere will be building it around a defense featuring only juniors and sophomores among its starting linemen and linebackers.
Meanwhile, the offense will be directed by junior quarterback Landon Kirby.
“We have a pretty young team, but I’m excited to see what we can all do in the season,” Kirby said.
The Redbirds do have their share of seniors they will be relying heavily on, though.
Running back Nate Baranek returns after rushing for 546 yards and nine touchdowns, while receiver Gavin Knott scored touchdowns on four of his 16 receptions last year. Michalkiewicz feels both players have the potential to play at the NCAA Division II level in college.
Junior Jack Coisman, senior Steve Hermsen and senior Bobby Hinker all have starting experience on the offensive line, which was hit hard by injuries last season. Hinker, for example, took over for Hermsen, who tore a MCL three games into the season.
Coisman, who will play left tackle, started every game as a sophomore.
“We’re not averaging 280 or 290 like we have been, but we still have the kids that are 6-3,” Michalkiewicz said about the offensive line.
The biggest graduation loss – both literally and figuratively – for De Pere is Aaron Vopal, who is currently a freshman on the University of Wisconsin roster after being named FRCC defensive lineman of the year.
The young defense will feature sophomore Sam Hafner and junior Jacob Proulx at linebacker.
Junior Elijah Wright has the potential to make quite a few “splash plays” from the defensive line, according to Michalkiewicz.
Meanwhile, senior Austin Allen is a returning starter at cornerback.
“We truly believe that you’re going to see the De Pere Redbirds show tangible growth every single week,” Michalkiewicz said.
“It’s our job to piece it together and teach them to be successful. That’s fun. That’s a lot of fun. It keeps you that much more motivated every day to see some real growth and celebrate that growth by showing the kids why they’re getting better.”