Antioch looks to improve and make a statement on the gridiron

“I just love the chemistry and players on this year’s team… we have a lot of responsible kids that are willing to go above and beyond what we expect of them in efforts of being successful.”

~ Antioch head coach

Brian Glashagel

By Todd Rohde~SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Antioch football team knows that they were a much better program than their record may have indicated last season, as they suffered some tough defeats in game’s that they should have won. So this season, the Sequoits are out to prove themselves and make a statement by proving their athleticism and attaining success along the way.

If everything falls into place and comes together for them like they plan, this shouldn’t be a problem for them as they return to the field with a very talented and enthusiastic group of players. With the above in mind, it should be a fun and exciting year for the Sequoits and their fans as a new season gets underway.

“I just love the chemistry and players on this year’s team, as we have a lot of responsible kids that are willing to go above and beyond what we expect of them in efforts of being successful,” Antioch head coach Brian Glashagel said. “We should be in great shape, as we have 7 to 8 players on both sides of the ball who have started or saw significant playing time at the varsity level last year.”

The Sequoits are coming off of a season where they finished 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division, as they failed to qualify for the postseason playoffs. Antioch did lose a few quality starters to graduation including fullback/linebacker Cody Gwinn (Trinity University), defensive end Jack Johnson (North Central University), running back Austin Klotter, linemen Justin Seyter and Jacob Craft as well as defensive back Cameron Slate.

This year’s varsity program has pretty good numbers to work with as there are 53 players out including a balanced mix of seniors and juniors as well as a couple of underclassmen. There are also quite a few returning starters and letterwinners back, with quarterback Zach Andre, lineman Nate Zeien, linebacker Zac Keller and defensive back Anthony Cole serving as the team captains.

Other athletes that the Sequoits are looking for good things from on offense consist of linemen Mike Dorosan and Jon Haeffele, running backs Cam Corey and Alan Taylor as well as tight end Tyler Lazar. Leading the charge defensively will be defensive back Patrick Krause, linebackers Rob Ritacca and Jackson Boeh and linemen Andy Romani, Malik Jackson, Jon Haeffele and Lukas Poplevicious.

Antioch is hoping to fight it out for the division title with the likes of Lakes and Grant this season. One of these three teams have won it over the last five years, as the Sequoits goals are to win the division, make the playoffs and work towards attaining the ultimate state championship.

The overall strengths of Antioch are that they are a veteran team with experience and speed. The one downfall would be the lack of depth at certain positions.

Antioch began practicing with just helmets for eight sessions in June, then move onto wearing pads for their July camp and then officially took the field in full force on Aug. 15th. Their first competitive nonconference game is Aug. 30th at Kenosha Tremper.

“With so many returners who were on a team that struggled last season, the players are hungry to succeed and it shows as it simply has been one of the best off seasons and summers we have had in a while,” Glashagel said.

This is Glashagel’s seventh season at the helm for the Sequoits and helping him out as assistants are Grant Murray, Del Pechauer, Mike Gordy, Rico Ellis, Pat Swanson, Karl Richter, Ryan Shifley, Mike Karner, Chris VanAlstine, Neal Farlow, Craig Tanner, Jeff Petersen, Paul Petty, Dave Wines and Steve Baum.

 


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