Greater Lansing
Lakewood
Nickname: Vikings
Coach: Nick Boucher
2013 Record: 0-9
Players lost: Doug Suntken, Charlie Reiser, Tyler Oesch
Players returning: Scott Swift (OL/LB), Jayson O’Mara (OL/LB), Gabe Bowen (OL/DL), Ethan Binkowski (OL/DL), Jacob Darling (WR/DL), Austin Kietzman (RB/DB), Wesley Stoepker (RB/DL), Alex Salgat (QB/DB)
Outlook: Boucher points to senior leadership and work ethic as the team’s strong points. He also mentions the return of both starting linebackers as a strong point for a team looking for improved consistency.
Olivet
Nickname: Eagles
Coach: Gabe Priddy
2013 Record: 10-2
Players lost: Shane Loney, Rob Funk, Tyler Masters
Players returning: Austin Sadler (TE/LB), Dustin Holden (OL), Ryan Tennant (TE/DE), Deion Feldpausch (RB)
Outlook: The Eagles lost 17 seniors from a team that reached the regional final. Olivet has a strong winning tradition, and players like Holden (6’1″, 215 pounds) and Tennant (6’2″, 205) will keep the Eagles tough.
Leslie
Nickname: Blackhawks
Coach: Will Derr
2013 Record: 0-9
Players returning: Braydon Kinney (RB), Conner Morrell (QB)
Outlook: The Blackhawks struggled through a winless campaign last fall. With a new conference and a new outlook, things are looking up for them.
Perry
Nickname: Ramblers
Coach: Rob Porritt
2013 Record: 2-7
Players lost: Dillon Brooks, Kenny Polhemuus, Jebediah Spencer, Dakota Hart, Alex Proudfoot
Players returning: Mike Gramza (RB), D.J. Rodgers (TE/LB), P.J. Tharnish (OL/LB), Sam Cairns (OL), Hunter King (DB)
Outlook: “We have had outstanding leadership in the off-season and the first few weeks of preseason camp,” Porritt said. “The team chemistry is as good as we have seen it. I also believe we will be a little bit more physical, as a team, than we have been.”
Stockbridge
Nickname: Panthers
Coach: Jeremy Killinger
2013 Record: 4-5
Players lost: Lucas Showerman, Richard Newman, Kaleb Grammer
Players returning: Justin Underhile (OL/DL), Cord Acosta (OL/LB), Kody Krusinski (RB/LB), Josh Dickerson (WR), Nick Ensign (RB), Dakota Canfield (LB), Shane Allen (DB), Kyle Cook (DL)
Outlook: Killinger points to unity, work ethic, and speed as strong points of this year’s squad. The big key for the Panthers is stopping the run and establishing the run on offense.
Maple Valley
Nickname: Lions
Coach: Brian Lincoln
2013 Record: 2-7
Players lost: Austin Gonser, Dylan Kennedy, Anthony Mahler, Jeremy Fisher
Players returning: Austin Creller (G/DT), Cole Decker (TE/DE), Alec Hosmer (TE/DE), Beau Johnson (QB/DB), Ryan Mudge (RB/LB), Marcum Terpening (T/LB), Gunner Tobias (RB/DB), Corey Turner (RB/DB)
Outlook: “So far, the kids have worked their tails off,” Lincoln said. “That is one of our principles year in and year out: to outwork the other teams. Our goal is to compete for the new league title and make the playoffs.”