https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="d96c1884-3d22-5715-aefe-2c352c5afaa5&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=900&height=471 900w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="d96c1884-3d22-5715-aefe-2c352c5afaa5&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1200&height=629 1200w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="d96c1884-3d22-5715-aefe-2c352c5afaa5&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1500&height=786 1500w" src="https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid=d96c1884-3d22-5715-aefe-2c352c5afaa5&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&width=1200&height=629" alt="Marion Wolves quarterback and a team captain Kaleb Diers (11) huddles with the team during practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)"/>
Marion Wolves quarterback and a team captain Kaleb Diers (11) huddles with the team during practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
MARION — A new home means a new era for Marion football.
The Wolves have traded the historic and hallowed ground of Thomas Park nestled in the middle of town for a larger stadium with all the bells and whistle on the school campus.
“I loved playing at Thomas Park because it’s grass,” said Trey Franck, a senior in his third season as a varsity starter. “I love the feeling of it because it’s so sacred, but having the new field, especially the new speaker system. You can sit more people. It gets bumping. It’s a good feel.”
Even though Marion Stadium was christened in the spring with track and soccer events, the Wolves got a feel for their new den, hosting about 500 people Friday for a preseason scrimmage with Linn-Mar.
Marion returns nine starters and 13 lettermen from a 5-4 team that just missed the playoffs last year. The Wolves begin the season Friday at Clear Creek Amana. Unfortunately, they don’t have a home game until Week 3 against Center Point-Urbana.
“I am looking forward to it a lot,” Marion senior Kaiden Griffith said. “It does suck having to wait until Week 3 to play on it but we are excited and ready to compete.”
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="dce6557b-a57f-52c5-a2a2-3fa132deb138&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=900&height=471 900w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="dce6557b-a57f-52c5-a2a2-3fa132deb138&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1200&height=629 1200w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="dce6557b-a57f-52c5-a2a2-3fa132deb138&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1500&height=786 1500w" src="https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid=dce6557b-a57f-52c5-a2a2-3fa132deb138&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&width=1200&height=629" alt="Marion Wolves head coach Michael Joyner stops to talk to senior Wyatt Erkel during warmups at practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)"/>
Marion Wolves head coach Michael Joyner stops to talk to senior Wyatt Erkel during warmups at practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Few high school events have the same atmosphere as football Friday nights, attracting students, faculty, families and community members. The players and spectators will be able to enjoy more seating, a brand new sound system and an electronic videoboard. All the exciting upgrades to enhance game nights.
“It’s amazing,” Wolves quarterback Kalen Diers said. “I like to go up there a lot (and) bring a lot of different guys. If we want to get extra reps in before practice or lifting, it’s a lot more convenient, having our football field so close.
“I really like using the pressbox speakers. I go get work in and hook up to them. My friends and I can listen to some music when we get reps in. The new scoreboard is electronic and is like a big TV.”
An adjustment to the new turf after a lifetime on grass has been necessary. The Wolves have a dry and level practice and playing surface.
“The turf is a different feel,” Diers said. “It’s nice. It helps us a little bit. It’s definitely something to get used to it.”
The Wolves will still have some workouts on grass and have room on campus to do so. They will have district games on grass at Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock.
The bus ride down the hill to Thomas Park was a cherished tradition, but it is hard not to appreciate being close to home.
“My favorite part of having the stadium on campus is that we don’t have to travel to get to our home games,” Griffith said, “and we get to practice on our home stadium, so we get the feel for what it will be like on game days.”
The Wolves have benefited from the new facility in the preseason and early practice. The new turf allowed them to practice when normally rains would have affected the old grass surface and limited areas to conduct plays and drills. The field has wood infill instead of rubber, which is 10 to 15 degrees cooler, according to Marion Coach Michael Joyner. They are also able to practice on the same spot as they play.
Coaches and players can focus solely on their duties.
“It takes a level of stress away from coaches and players,” Joyner said. “We really don’t have to think about anything. Our routine doesn’t change. Our approach doesn’t change.
“The whole preseason where you don’t have to worry about anything else other than getting prepared for the season and getting the guys as prepared as they can, that’s a positive thing for us.”
Joyner noticed another difference the on-campus facility has made. It saved a lot of time during the scrimmage. Freshmen and sophomores took only 25 minutes leaving the field for the locker room with supervision and back out to the stadium to watch varsity. The varsity shook hands, cleared the sidelines and coaches started their postgame debrief within 30 minutes. About one-third of the time it would normally take.
“We are gaining so much more time because of it,” Joyner said. “A lot more efficiency.”
The excitement surrounding the new facility is met with excitement for the new season. The Wolves are coming off their first winning season since 2017. They closed last fall with three straight wins and are hoping to rekindle the fire that led to the win streak.
“That’s the plan. That’s the hope,” Joyner said. “The best part of how we finished is the guys saw how it needs to be done and prepare.”
The sky is the limit for the Wolves, despite a district with No. 6 Western Dubuque, the No. 8 Go-Hawks and the Vikings. The Wolves did receive votes in The Gazette’s preseason football poll.
“I think we have a lot of potential,” Franck said. “It’s all there for us. If we want to prep every week, want to get better continuously and work hard, there’s no saying what we could do.”
Franck will play a key role in Marion’s success. The senior linebacker and fullback led the Wolves with 51.5 total tackles, including 36 solo stops and 10 for a loss. Franck added 238 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
“I try to push myself and our team,” Franck said. “I think I have to play a big role this season if we want to have success. I have big expectations on my part.”
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="341fb5a1-ec35-5b1f-ae36-994fe79e64eb&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=900&height=471 900w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="341fb5a1-ec35-5b1f-ae36-994fe79e64eb&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1200&height=629 1200w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="341fb5a1-ec35-5b1f-ae36-994fe79e64eb&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1500&height=786 1500w" src="https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid=341fb5a1-ec35-5b1f-ae36-994fe79e64eb&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&width=1200&height=629" alt="Marion Wolves quarterback and a team captain Kaleb Diers throws during practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)"/>
Marion Wolves quarterback and a team captain Kaleb Diers throws during practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Diers returns at quarterback, passing for 731 yards and five touchdowns last season. He added 126 yards and four scores on the ground. He devoted a lot of time during the offseason, competing in 7-on-7 leagues, attending camps and visiting the new field to throw with his wide receivers.
“I’m a lot more comfortable with the offense and the way it is set up,” Diers said. “The big thing is being confident in my wide receivers and knowing where they are going to be. Work on fundamentals, too.”
Diers, Franck and other skill players will play behind a line with potential to be one of the best Joyner has had in 11 years working in the trenches.
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="db28ac8e-0f11-55a3-b61a-eb4a4d4f36be&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=900&height=471 900w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="db28ac8e-0f11-55a3-b61a-eb4a4d4f36be&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1200&height=629 1200w,"
https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid="db28ac8e-0f11-55a3-b61a-eb4a4d4f36be&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&q=75&width=1500&height=786 1500w" src="https://imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.com/?uuid=db28ac8e-0f11-55a3-b61a-eb4a4d4f36be&function=cover&type=preview&source=false&width=1200&height=629" alt="Marion Wolves senior and a team captain Tayt Broell (left) tangles with teammate Logan Harris during a drill at practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)"/>
Marion Wolves senior and a team captain Tayt Broell (left) tangles with teammate Logan Harris during a drill at practice at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa, on Monday, August 21, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Tackle Tayt Broell, who was voted a team captain along with Franck and Diers, and guards Brady Walsh and Noah Case return as starters. Broell was a second-team all-district selection.
“This has the potential to be the second-best crew I’ve ever coached,” said Joyner, noting the 2016 Glenwood team that reached the state semifinals is tops. “They have to make the decision to do the little things. We have the knowledge and strength. We just have to go in with that idea that we are going to dominate the guy in front of us.”
Marion has the chance to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in six seasons. A playoff berth is a possibility as well. The Wolves can reclaim the success the program has had in the past. Something that is on the minds of the current players and coaches.
“The more we do to put ourselves in a spot to win games will continue to help the future of this program,” Franck said. “That is the ultimate goal here. I just want to change the culture of Marion football and bring it back to what it was.”
A closer look at Marion
Coach: Michael Joyner (3rd season, 6-12 overall)
Last year: 5-4 (3-2 in 4A District 2)
Returning starters: FB/LB Trey Franck, WR/CB Kaiden Griffith, OL/DL Tayt Broell, RB/TE/LB Adam Rose, SS Darius Rouson, FS Coda Johnson, QB Kaleb Diers, OG Brady Walsh, OG Noah Case
3 keys to success: Continue success from last three weeks of last season; Develop playmakers in the pass game; Keep defensive secondary healthy
Big game: Sept. 29 vs. Western Dubuque
0 Comments