Tri Valley Conference Previews
Tri Valley Central
School: Alma
Nickname: Panthers
Head coach: Jeff Ingersoll (4th season)
2011 record :9-3
Key losses: Kyle Vedrode, Nate Smith, Cole Woods
Key returnees: Vinny Costanzo, Brett Green, Mitch Mott, Sam Cameron, Tyler Brecht
Comment: “We have a lot of holes to fill. We return two starters on offense and five on defense. We anticipate pulling together in a very tough Tri-Valley Central.”
School: Chesaning
Nickname: Indians
Head coach: Steve Tithof (4th year)
2011 record: 3-6
Key losses: Deshaun Young, Rod Cantu
Key returnees: Alex DeVota, David Yeager, Kyle Sweeney, Dan Escamilla, Alex Forsyth, Jimmy Thiele, Derrick Bocek
Comment: “Offensive side of the ball, a lot of skill positions are returning for us. A lot of it will come down to the offensive line on how we do this year. Defensively, we have some pretty good kids coming in. It depends on how fast they mature for how we do on the defensive side of the ball.”
School: Freeland
Nickname: Falcons
Head coach: Kevin Townsend (7th year)
2011 record: 8-3
Key losses: David Ruhlman, Conner Schultz, Kevin Morris
Key returnees: Matt Schauman, Chris Grabner, Mitchell Nowak, Mitchell Whitting, Shane Flattery, PJ Leubbert
Comment: “We graduated our entire offensive line besides our left tackle. We’ve won the conference the last two years, and three of the last four, but a lot of those kids have graduated, and these kids have to step up. If we make it this year, it will be the first time ever making the playoffs five years in a row.”
School: Hemlock
Nickname: Huskies
Head coach: Bruce Bendix (3rd year)
2011 record: 9-3
Key losses: Zach Chedry, TJ Vondette
Key returnees: Chase Wiechman, Ryan Hagarty, Matt Jesse, Deylan Hoffsinger, Reese Engel, Aaron Mathies
Comment: “We have a good nucleus of experience back. We had a good summer, but we’re the only class C team in our league, so we have one of the smallest rosters. We do have some holes to fill, so depth is going to be a concern.”
School: Bullock Creek
Nickname: Lancers
Head coach: Jon Danna (3rd season)
2011 record: 3-6
Key losses: Matt Myers, Josh Klingler, Seth Woods
Key returnees: James Henderson, Jacob Somerville, Zack Reed, Grant Piering, Tyler Miller
Comment: “The assistant coaches and the kids have put in a lot of time in the off-season in the film room and in the weight room. We’re going to combine the preparation and hard work and see what happens on Friday.”
School: Ovid-Elsie
Nickname: Marauders
2011 record: 6-4
Head coach: Travis Long (3rd year)
Key losses: Tate Coleman, Cal Martin, Chad Miller
Key returnees: Larry Fouts, DJ Meisel, Jacob Helms, Jacob Micka, Jacob Price
Comment: “We’re young and inexperienced. We’re going to have to get over that real quick, because our first three games are Portland, Freeland, and Swan Valley. Those are three tough opponents. Our quickness is probably our biggest strength, and some things that we need to work on are finishing plays and executing at the varsity speed.”
School: Swan Valley
Nickname: Vikings
Head coach: Ken Bourbina (2nd year)
2011 record: 5-4
Key losses: Johnathan Grace, Brody Bartell, Jeremy Gordon
Key returnees: Travis Bell, Tyler Branch, Mike Sielinski, Brad Boehler, Jamie Jiminez
Comment: “I think we have some young players up. We’re going to be young, but talented. It will be how we mesh, is my prediction. The kids know what my expectations are, and I’m expecting them to meet them.”
School: Shepherd
Nickname: Blue Jays
Head coach: Tom Creguer (5th season)
2011 record: 1-8
Key losses: Shelby Mitchell, Devin VanBond, Cody Wiles
Key returnees: Brandon Stressman, Justin Shufelt, David Hiner, Nate Casper, Lanvan Hazen
Comment: “The biggest thing on improving last year’s record is not turning over. We lost six of our eight games within 10 points. We turned the ball over in those games, and it cost us. Our team is working really hard at being physical and moving people.”