OAKLAND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION BLUE DIVISION TEAM CAPSULES
Team Capsules compiled by Dan Stickradt. Email dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or follow on twitter @LocalSportsFans
School: Avondale
Nickname: Yellowjackets
Coach: Steve Deutsch, 12th season
2012 record: 9-2, 7-1 OAA Blue Division (second)
Players lost: Clark Clancy, Michael Johnson, Eric Stubbs, Treyvon Munson, Chris Bracewell, Dillon Brancheau, Kyle Sikora, Spencer Smith
Players returning: Mitch Williams, sr. DT-OL; Paul Czartorski, sr. DT; J.T. Ozerities, sr. QB-DB-SL; Joshuwa Holloman, jr. RB-DB; Tiroca Battle, jr. DE; Kanwal Bal, sr. OL; Chase Lalla, jr. RB-DB; Alex Clary, sr. TE; Paul Czartorski, sr. DL; Julian Pepaj, sr. DE-K; Jabar Mims, sr. FS; Alex Hodges, sr. CB; Ashton Mitchel, sr. LB
Coach’s comment: “We have a lot of experience on the lines, with two four-year players and a lot of team speed. Joshua Holloman had a great spring during track and a great summer at camps. A lot of these guys had a great [off-season]. We have a lot of very athletic kids who, I think if we put it together, can have a very special season.”
School: Berkley
Nickname: Bears
Coach: Chris Sikora, first season.
2012 record: 5-4, 5-3 OAA Blue Division (fourth)
Players lost: Eric Hudson, Matt Koerner, Armen Brus, Jeremy Shephard, Manny Bellamy, Veldo Funwie, Nick Borden, Alex Agbay
Players returning: Dennis Bevza, sr. OL; Alec Sanom, sr. RB-KR; Joe Coleman, sr. WR; Jake Cummings, sr. RB; Eric Voisine, sr. C; Josh Coleman, sr. RB-WR; Josh Jones, sr. OLB-RB; Meng Shi, sr. LB; Davion Lee, sr. DB; Eric Braun, sr. K
Notes: Chris Sikora takes over the helm of a team that dipped to just above five hundred last season. The Bears have ample talent to move up in the standings. With a lot of parity in the league, this team can finish just about anywhere.
School: Birmingham Groves
Nickname: Falcons
Coach: Brendan Flaherty, 13th year
2012 record: 2-7, 2-6 OAA Blue Division (seventh)
Players lost: Devan Moosherr, Drew Hendrickson, Tom Ndrejaj, Nick Valentine, Jacob Sneed, Nick Kizy
Players returning: Ross Williams, sr. RB; Cameron Tinsley, sr. LB; Logan Medelson, sr. OL-DL; Spencer Robnett, sr. TE-LB; Bryce Anderson, sr. RB-LB; Ryan Roberts, sr. WR-DB; Bradley Taylor, sr. LB-DB
Notes: The Falcons ended last season with a losing record. The good news for Groves fans is that most of the talent is back, especially all-state sprinter-hurdler Ross Williams. The bad news is that the OAA-Blue is a little more balanced and deeper this season.
School: Birmingham Seaholm
Nickname: Maples
Coach: Jim DeWald, second season
2012 record: 8-2, 8-0 OAA Blue Division (first)
Players lost: Dan Simon, Stephen Guenther, Sam Wilson, Austen Park, Dante Capicchioni.
Players returning: Chris Hill, sr. RB-LB; Matt Rothschild, sr. OG-C; Karl Marback, sr. OT-DE; Aaron Ware, sr. SL; Dylan Kanaan, sr. SE; Andrew Barton, sr. SE; Dominic Sierpien, sr.; Josh Smith, sr. DT; James Ford, sr. OT; Trevor Lloyd, jr. OT, Kerry Mott, sr. WR; Nick Vestevich, sr. RB; Jack Mentag, jr. CB-WR
Notes: Seaholm had a fine turnaround campaign in DeWald’s first season, going unbeaten in conference play and reaching the postseason. The Maples have great size and good speed to move the football.
School: Ferndale
Nickname: Eagles
Coach: Ryan Dunlap
2012 record: 3-6, 2-6 OAA Blue Division (sixth)
Players lost: Eric Ellis, Marcus Quarker, Jonny Coopwood, Chris Edwards, Desmond Paige, Collin McLaughlin, Jordan Banks
Players returning: Nate Brisson, sr. TE-DE; Shane Sandlin, sr. C-NT; Shaquan McGriff, sr. SLB; Tyree Bell, sr. MLB-NT; Termichael Brown, sr. RB -WR-SS-QB; Jordan Banks, sr. CB; Delante Dorris, sr. DT; Rob MacDonald, sr. OT-DT; Justin Hammerle, sr. C; Tamaul Donoho-Chunn, sr. RB-OLB
School: Hazel Park
Nickname: Vikings
Coach: Scott Guthrie
2012 record: 4-5, 4-4 OAA Blue Division (fifth)
Players lost: Cas Henzel, Keith Bucholtz, Andrew McClellan
Players returning: Joe McKinley, jr. FB-LB; Gary Tyner, sr. QB-RB; Antonio Hussey, jr. TE-LB; Raeshaun Campbell, sr. RB-DB
Notes: Hazel Park competed with only a varsity team last season, but it has seen an uptick in players and is bringing back a freshman squad this year. The Vikings also welcome a new stadium and facilities, including a turf field.
School: North Farmington
Nickname: Raiders
Coach: Todd Schultz, 10th year
2012 record: 3-6, 1-6 OAA Blue Division
Players lost: James Ward, Itoh Buley, Jordan Blaylock, Jason Ervin, John Wilson, Drew Correll, Justin Shelton, Alec Londal, Josh Kayster, Yanni Bills, Kameron MacNear
Players returning: Chauncey Bridges, sr. RB-DB; Alonte Mayweather, sr. WR-DB; Wes Heidkamp, sr. OL-DL; Austin Kappen, sr. OL-LB; Marvin Yaldo, jr. TE-LB; Malik Fuller, jr. CB-TB ; Deshawn Myers, sr. DT
Notes: The Raiders move from the OAA-White to the OAA-Blue and should fare much better, as these are smaller schools and they will no longer play in perhaps the state’s toughest league.
School: Royal Oak
Nickname: Ravens
Coach: Ryan Irish, third season
2012 record: 1-8, 0-8 OAA-Blue (ninth)
Players lost: Tyler Beerer, Andrew Glenn, Alex Sims, Justin Unger, Blake Hairston, Blake Coleman
Players returning: Jake Gastoiax, sr. QB-RB; Cullen Conway, jr. OL; Juxin Alushi, sr. OL; Noah Kochanski, jr. SS; John Lewins, sr. LB; Elio Kollcinaku, sr. LB; Evan Fall, sr. SL; Tyler Bloohm, sr. QB; Preston Binkley, sr. DL; Sam Simon, sr. LB
Notes: Since the merger of Dondero and Kimball in 2006, Royal Oak has ventured through some rough times with a collective record of 15-50 in those seven seasons. Coach Irish and staff are working diligently to try to right the ship and get this program back to a level of respectability. Getting the Ravens to believe that they can compete and win is half the battle.