Big North Conference
School: Alpena
Nickname: Wildcats
2011 Record: 1-8
Head Coach: Jason Dubey (4th season)
Key Losses: Tom Dihlie, Sean King, Brandon Male
Key Returnees: Ashton Dever, Tim Atkinson, Brady Marweed, Chandler Bloom, Tyler Becaire
Coach’s Comment: “We’re really excited. We think we have a really talented group of kids, and hopefully we get them in position to make plays. I know our conference is going to be really tough, and we have a tough opening opponent with Escanaba, so we have to be ready from week one.”
School: Cadillac
Nickname: Vikings
2011 Record: 5-4
Head coach: Jim Webb
Key losses:
Key returnees: Riley Norman, Jack Ford, Jalen Brooks
Coach’s Comment:
School: Gaylord
Nickname: Blue Devils
2011 Record: 2-7
Head coach: Doug Berkshire
Key losses:
Key returnees: Dan Miller, Trevor Raymond, Trevor Adams, Tyler Frisch, Kyle Fahler, Trae Hill
Coach’s Comment:
School: Petoskey
Nickname: Northmen
2011 Record: 9-2
Head Coach: Kerry VanOrman (10th season)
Key losses: Joe Robbins
Key returnees: Kegan Schoenith, Chase Ledingham, Ben Loomis,Tony DeAgostino, Quinn Ameel.
Coach’s Comment:
School: Ogemaw Heights
Nickname: Falcons
2011 Record: 4-5
Head coach: Andrew Pratley (9th season)
Key losses: Sheldon Roberto, Jimmy Williams, Andy Oswald
Key returnees: Thane Robbins, Brandon Benac, Jerome Hunter, Alec Stevens, Garrett Hartley
Coach’s Comment: “We are extremely young. We have good depth at the skill positions and return six offensive starters. We will be very inexperienced defensively, and those kids will have to grow up quick with our schedule.”
School: Traverse City Central
Nickname: Trojans
2011 Record: 4-5
Head coach: Tom Passinault
Key losses:
Key returnees: TJ Schepperley, TJ Schwannecke, Nate Pupel
Coach’s Comment:
School: Traverse City West
Nickname: Titans
2011 Record: 5-4
Head Coach: Tim Wooer (5th year)
Key losses: Jordan Strope, Isiah Hackney, Zac Shafer.
Key returnees: Donny Cizek, Connor Hayes, Griffin Forrester, Derrick Driver, Chris Doherty, Collin Bush, Alex Hogarth, Chance Murphy and Dustin Tucker.
Comment: “We return seven on defense. We have great senior leadership. We will not be big but might be more athletic than in the past few years.”