Coaches- John Larson (15th head, 20th overall), Andy Peissig (10th), Ben Lowdahl (2nd, head JV) Ryan Huseby (7th, JV asst.), Todd Senoraske (5th, head frosh), Jeremy Zimmerman (3rd), John Repinski (1st, fr. asst.), Shane Sowinski (6th, fr. vol.).
Last season’s accomplishments- 1-5 GNC, 2-7 overall.
Major losses- Kyle Grube (1st/2nd GNC, WB/CB), Andy Murphy (2nd GNC, FB, OLB), Andy Flynn (SE), Travis Cardinale (OG/DT), Jacob Jarvensivu (QB/CB), Isaac Silvernale (RB/LB), Mike Wenzlick (DB), Mike Anderson (OT).
Key returnees- Payton DuPlayee (HM GNC, C/ILB), Nathan Erickson (OT/DE), Craig Swan (TE/OLB). Jared Hansen (RB/DB), Nate Kuehn (OG, DT), Dylan Brietzke (K, P).
Promising newcomers-Jacob Swenty (FB/OLB), Andy Firkus (QB/DB), Kory Brietzke (RB/ILB), Mitch McAllister (LB/RB), Clay Borchardt (LB/TE), Mitch Schauer (OT, DE), Dylan Myers (OT, DT), John Fecks (RB, DE), Eddie Yirsa (SE, DB), Adam FauFau (FB, ILB), Austin Bellile (DE), Alex Kuehn (OG, DT).
Larson quotable- “Playing the 2010 season as an independent will allow our team to be competitive for four quarters all nine weeks. That’s unlike our Great Northern schedule last year where a lot of games were over at halftime. We feel good about our schedule. Everything has to fall into place, but if they do we feel we can be a playoff team. Our whole goal is to qualify for the playoffs. To do that we’ve got to win six games.
“We have good numbers, our team speed is solid. Skill-wise we’re as good as we’ve ever been. We go 3-4 deep at many positions.
“We’re very thin on our offensive and defensive lines, so we’ve got to stay healthy. We need to develop depth on those lines. We need to have our young players develop quickly. If our kids can mature and continue to do good things, we’ll be fine.
“Our biggest games this season are Medford (9/10), Ashland (9/24), Rhinelander (10/8) and Mosinee (10/21).
“Our goals are to be the best fourth-quarter team each game; improve each day we step on the field; be the most physical team each game; and qualify for the WIAA playoffs.”