Wolverines reload for challenging season

Published by editor on Fri, 08/18/2023 - 1:32pm

First row left to right: Chloe Gorby, Summer Bertram, Will Rogers, Jacob Wood, Chase Lehr, Mike Valentine, Zachry Adelmund, Blane Schmitt, Ty Deering, Micah Walston, Jayce Jensen, Cameron Decker, Walker Weedman, Cole McCumber, Will Huck, Ashton Schmitz, Jacen Wenger. Second row: Antuan Deering, Tyler Bakken, Keegan Bolhuis, Brian McCarter, Devon Lotts, Tyson Bennett, Jack Hoehns, Carson Costello, Jack Severson, Tate DeBuhr, Lew Textor, Colin Meester, Cal Halverson, Connor Dancer, Kolton DeWall, Jake Reicks, Ty Johnson, Karsen Kannegieter, Cooper Steffen, Noah Borcherding. Third row: Chris Lewis, Noah Stockdale, Trey Haak, Tate Block, Logan Peverill, Levi Folkerts, Kaleb Rindels, Jalen Haugen, Jaiden Soppe, Cam Tott, Dawson Dietrick, Dev Davis, Jacob Burch, Lane Girsch, Julian Haugen, Ethan Osterhaus, Danny Mitchell, Alec Nieman. Fourth row: James Wingert, Lane Johnson, Zach Graves, Logan Hayes, Grady Heimann, Keagan Kannegieter, Peyton Pokorny, Aidan Nielsen, Quinn Mills, Jacob Feaker, Lakin Peyton, Gavin Gerbracht, Cane McCumber, Gavin Decker, Charlie Stewart, Aiden Walston, Erhart Bern, Ryder Palmersheim.

By:

CJ Eilers

Regional Sports Editor

2022 Record: 7-3 (28-6 L to MFL-MarMac in Second round of Playoffs)

Head Coach: Don Betts

Dike-New Hartford football went into the second round of playoffs confident after two dominant home wins. What followed was an “abrupt” end to the season at the hands of MFL-MarMac, and a senior group that had contributed heavily to the Wolverines’ recent success was done.

“Every season, you will lose valuable leaders and then you have to develop more,” coach Don Betts said. “It was an unfortunate end for last year’s seniors, but they had great careers. And now our seniors-to-be have worked hard this offseason and are ready to step up leadership wise.”

The Wolverines lost their starting quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver to graduation. Senior Micah Walston (679 yards on 111 carries with 12 touchdowns, 248 yards on 17 receptions with four touchdowns) was the second option for DNH and will be the main weapon as junior Colin Meester takes over QB duties this season.

“Colin’s been the heir apparent here these last couple years and he's looked really good so far,” Betts said. “Micah is a great playmaker and we have to figure out all sorts of ways to get the ball in his hands. We’re still identifying what we can do, but it will remain similar to what we’ve seen at Dike-New Hartford.”

Graduation also bit the Wolverines hard on the defensive side of the ball. The top four in tackles are gone, including one of the state’s top linebackers in Nick Reinicke. Junior Devon Lotts (28 total tackles) and senior Jayce Jensen (26.5 tackles) are top returning playmakers on the defensive end. Special teams do have senior Cole McCumber back after 37 PATs and over 2,000 yards kicking.

“I expect big things from Devon, Jayce and Zach Adelmund,” Betts said. “The linemen are our biggest opportunity for growth. We’re inexperienced at the line of scrimmage. That’s not to say we don’t have good kids, but there’s experience we need to replace. With reps, this team will get better as this year goes along.”

Betts hopes to see that improvement come sooner rather than later with their schedule. In their non-district slate, the Wolverines will host 2022 Class A champion Grundy Center moving up to 1A. West Branch has a lot of tradition and Osage won seven games last season. Their conference schedule includes two teams they lost to last season in MFL MarMac and Denver.

We're going to play with great effort and together as a team to be a tough out for anyone,” Betts said. “I know we can be a good football team at some point this season. The question is, how quickly do we get up to speed with that?”

Dike-New Hartford football will open their season at home against Grundy Center on Friday, Aug.25.

2023 Dike-New Hartford Football Schedule

Friday, Aug. 25 vs Grundy Center

Friday, Sept. 1 @ West Branch

Friday. Sept. 8 vs Osage

Friday, Sept. 15 @ Sumner-Fredericksburg

Friday, Sept. 22 vs Central Springs

Friday, Sept 29 vs MFL MarMac

Friday, Oct. 6 @ Aplington-Parkersburg

Friday, Oct. 13 @ Denver

Friday, Oct. 30 First Round Playoffs TBA