North Star League
School: Alcona
Nickname: Tigers
Coach: Dave Schneider, fourth year
2012 record: 6-3
Players lost: Austin Cole, Eric Hampton, Andrew Cammack, Chad Hanenckow
Players returning: Nate Fettes, Cody Franklin, Tony Dubay, Garrette Norling
Coach’s comment: “We made the playoffs last year, so we were real happy about that, but we also got into the playoffs and got kicked around a little bit. We really set our hand at getting stronger in the off-season, and it has worked. We’re very strong, and that was our primary goal. We’re very fast, too. We’re very excited; expectations are very high. If we don’t win some playoff games, we’re going to be disappointed.”
School: Atlanta
Nickname: Huskies
Coach: Troy Cheedie
2012 record: 3-5
Players lost: Garrett Badgero, Brock Baum
Players returning: Kyle Klein, Seth Teets, Jake Chambers, Evan Reeves, Jacob Ross, Josh Barrett
School: Au Gres-Sims
Nickname: Wolverines
Coach: Eric Perrot, third year
2012 record: 6-4
Players lost: Brent Schwiderson, Cody Yokum, Tyler Schutte
Players returning: Brett Maser, Ryan Caulfield, Brett Hively, Cade Mahom, Joey Brooks
Coach’s comment: “We’re progressing; we still have work to do, though. I think we could have a pretty good team this year We’re low on numbers, but we’ll get by with what we have. We’ll be competing for an NSL title this year, I suspect, and we should have a good chance of making it to the playoffs.”
School: Hale
Nickname: Eagles
Coach: Bill Hjorth
2012 record: 2-6
Players lost: Dan Katterman, Ryan Richardson, Travis Tripp
Players returning: Kelby Chrivia, Kyle Reilly, Jamie Balbaugh, Leo Polkowski, Josh Smith
School: Hillman
Nickname: Tigers
Coach: Bill Koenig, ninth year
2012 record: 5-5
Players lost: Mike Olshanski, David Olshanski
Players returning: Brenden Zimmer, Mason VanPammel, Ty Jones, Dylan Ross, Michael Klein
Coach’s comment: “I believe that this year we should be all right. Last year, we started seven sophomores, so we have all of them back. We have a small but good group of seniors that will help us out. I think the opportunity is there, we just have to make the best of it.”
School: School: Mio
Nickname: Thunderbolts
Coach: Jim Gendernalik, seventh year
2012 record: 6-4
Player lost: Nick Mangutz
Players returning: Brad Rhoades, Colton McGregor, Bryson Devers, Seth Thomey, Zach Pattullo, Jacob Lentz
Coach’s comment: “I think we had a lot of good athletes last year. The hardest thing is getting people to work together. In that there’s a football mentality of getting after people, getting excited about this play and the next play. It’s a way bigger challenge to meet the wins to get in. We’ve been in the playoffs the last 12 years, and 15 of the last 16. We’re going to be playing bigger schools – all the schools that came into the NSL are going to be bigger than us. We hope we can get wins out of that; if not, we hope we can ride the fact that we have a tougher schedule. I’m glad those schools came in.”
School: Oscoda
Nickname: Owls
Coach: Dave LeVasseur
2012 record: 3-6
Players lost: Tony Weed, Donovan Fouchey, Jacob Wood
Players returning: Dakotah Eberhadt, Brandon Franks, Alex Lamrock, Brandon Adamson, Brad Zarachowicz
Coach’s comment: “We are getting much more comfortable with our system on both sides of the ball, but we still have a tremendous number of new faces on the varsity. Having lost 18 seniors to graduation, we have a great deal of learning to do. On the same token, we are a much more focused, disciplined, committed, and determined team with the group that we have.”
School: Posen (8-man)
Nickname: Vikings
Coach: Wayne Karsten
2012 record: 2-7
Players returning: Nick Hincka, John Zaborney
School: Rogers City
Nickname: Hurons
Coach: Tim Nagy
2012 record: 1-8
Players lost: Evan Lamb, Andrew Selke
Players returning: Matt Rhode, Clay Nadolsky, Jack Ryan, Quintin Kelly, Colton Fessler
Coach’s comment: “The biggest challenge is I don’t know these teams. We will have a film exchange with the new league, but that’s all we really get out of it. The advantage is, they haven’t seen us.”
School: Whittemore-Prescott
Nickname: Cardinals
Coach: Kevin Frederick, sixth year
2012 record: 6-4
Players lost: Tyler Janish, Clay Loomis, Jordon Runyon
Players returning: Jens Gillings, Travis MacDonald, Jose Rodriguez, Ryan Prescott, Austin Edmonds
Coach’s comment: “We will know a lot more after our scrimmage. Developing depth is something we’re focused on. We have 26 varsity players this season, and we’re hoping to get contributions from everyone in one form or another. We have always made it a goal to contend for a league title. I want our goals to expand beyond the field and into the classroom as well.”