Courtesy Photo/Presque Isle Advance
The 2023 Posen High School football team includes Jack Romel, Ethan Romel, Logan Timm, Conner Paull, Grayson Hincka, John Ennest, Eli Chojnacki, Tristin Hepburn, Owinn Comerford, Andy Budnick, Alex Soik, Blaine Rondeau, Loyd Page, Colton Paull, Foxx Peterson, Molly Chappa, Jace Romel, Kyle Romel and John Male.
POSEN — All signs are pointing to a promising season for the Posen football team. Tenth year head coach Greg Pietsch is keeping his team on task however, helping his squad tune out outsiders’ talk of expectations.
“Everything has been going well,” he said. “We are just taking it day by day, working on some things. I think a lot of the kids and coaches are familiar with the system so that really helps things. We are really trying to push the kids day in and day out to become better football players, but also more importantly better people.”
Last year the Vikings surprised many by a solid 7-3 season; dropping close games in the regular season to Rogers City and Au Gres. They lost their playoff opener to Marion; a team that advanced to the semifinals.
They did lose five players from that team, but they’ll return 13, including five seniors; Jack Romel, Ethan Romel, Logan Timm, Conner Paull and Grayson Hincka.
“We have a nice group of seniors, all five have been with the program since seventh grade,” Pietsch. “All five of them have very important roles in our program, so that’s great seeing them grow up from year-to-year and just seeing the improvements that they’ve made since they’ve been freshmen to where they are at now.”
Juniors on the team will be John Ennest, Eli Chojnacki, Tristin Hepburn, Owinn Comerford and Andy Budnick. Sophomores will be Alex Soik, Blaine Rondeau, Loyd Page and Colton Paull. Freshmen on the team will be Foxx Peterson, Molly Chappa, Jace Romel, Kyle Romel and John Male.
“We have a really nice junior class as well,” Pietsch said. “Sophomores Paull, Page and Rondeau (return) and Soik didn’t play last year, but he is another skill player that we are looking at being right there in the mix. Our freshmen that are coming in, they work hard and they show up and they will grow; that is cool to see that.”
With a school with an enrollment of 80 students, having 19 out for the football team; and at least four in each grade is a luxury not many schools the size of Posen have.
“It helps, having a group like that is familiar with our system, practices, offense, defense and special teams, strength and conditioning,” Pietsch said. “Even the kids that are coming up into the ninth grade (know the system). It makes it exciting to have a program that I feel is aligned.”
Posen’s original week one opponent Hale announced last week that it was canceling its football season due to lack of numbers. Pellston was in a similar situation with its week one opponent, and now the two teams will meet up on Friday, in Pellston at 3 p.m.
“They are a very quality program,” Pietsch said. “Their coaching staff has done a great job building that program, so we are expecting a tough ball game and it is a great battle to open up the season.”
With losing Hale from the schedule, the Vikings will now have just three North Star League Little Dipper games; against Hillman, Atlanta and defending champion Au Gres in week nine.
“Last year that (a week nine showdown with Au Gres) is what it came down to, but every game is a tough game,” Pietsch said. “We will take it one game at a time and focus on each team on a weekly basis and just try to continue to make ourselves stronger as the season goes on. The Little Dipper is going to be really tough this year with us, Atlanta, Hillman and Au Gres. That is a quality schedule right there, but we are looking forward to it.”
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