North Star League
School: Atlanta
Nickname: Huskies
2011 record: 4-5
Head coach: Troy Cheedie (1st year)
Key losses: Justin Klein, Josh Kumper
Key returnees: Garrett Badgero, Jason Ferguson, Shaun Jahn, Colin Redman, Trent Janiga, Danny Palmer
School: AuGres-Sims (combined with Arenac Eastern)
Nickname: Wolverines
2011 record: 3-6
Head coach: Eric Perot (2nd year)
Key losses:
Key returnees: Brett Maser, Brent Schwiderson, Tyler Schutte, Cody Yocum, Tyler Card, Jud Pendred
School: Hale
Nickname: Eagles
2011 record: 2-7
Head coach: Bill Hjorth (1st year)
Key losses: Jacob Rogers, Trevor LaRocque, Ben Katterman
Key returnees: Ryan Richardson, Dan Katterman, Josh Smith, Kelby Chrivia, Nate Barnes
Coach’s comment: “I think if we can stay healthy, we’ll be alright, and we can achieve our goal of making the playoffs. We’ve got two key players dinged up right now; hopefully, they’ll be ready to go against Baldwin. We just don’t have a ton of skill players on the bench.”
School: Hillman
Nickname: Tigers
2011 record: 8-2
Head coach: Bill Koenig (8th year)
Key losses: Matt Godfrey, Caleb Zimmer
Key returnees: Michael Olschenski, Dylan Ross, Brenden Zimmer
Coach’s comment: “We’re very young; a total of five seniors, and one of them has never played football. We have six juniors and a whole string of sophomores. Nothing is going to be easy for us this year, that’s for sure, but these guys have a lot of talent.”
School: Mio
Nickname: Thunderbolts
2011 record: 7-3
Head coach: Jim Gendernalik (6th year)
Key losses: Grant Price, Tod Rondo
Key returnees: Nick Mangutz, Seth Thomey, Aaron Fox, Bryson Devers, Aaron Wood, Shaun Obermiller
Coach’s comment: “We only have five seniors this year, not many starters back – maybe one or two on both sides of the ball. We’re a small team with some good speed. Mangutz is probably the cornerstone right now. Not sure what we’re going to do at quarterback right now [(between Devers and Brad Rhoads.]”