Revamped offseason program brings excitement

CEDAR SPRINGS, MI – Cedar Springs extended its school-record playoff streak to six seasons last year, but something just seemed off about the Red Hawks vibe, said head coach Gus Kapolka.

“I just didn’t like the way we looked; I didn’t like the way we played, and I didn’t like the way we interacted with each other,” the 10th-year head coach said about his 2022 team.

So, Kapolka reached out to an old friend, former Chelsea state finalist football coach Brad Bush, and picked his brain about how to make a team more cohesive.

Those discussions spawned the Red Hawk Championship, an offseason program that divided this year’s Cedar Springs football players into small groups and had the groups compete for points against one another based on their grades, community service and attendance in the weight room and team functions.

“I knew (Bush) had always done some offseason things to really bring his kids together, so I asked him, ‘What do you guys do?’ And he kind of laid out the whole Bulldogs Championship Series, or whatever he called it, and has been a really good thing in the offseason for our kids to buy in,” Kapolka said.

“They have to draft a team, and it’s all grades, so they’re doing homework on guys. They can earn points for weight room attendance, going to team meetings, good grades, community service in school and outside of school, and they can lose points for detentions, suspensions, bad grades and missing meetings, so they’re drafting their team based on guys they can rely on and guys that will be accountable.”

“For some guys, it was great because they suddenly say, ‘Hey, I’m not just behaving in school for myself. I’m doing it for my teammates because we want the prizes,’” Kapolka added. “It’s little things like premier parking spots next to the locker room door, first pick of equipment, stuff that some people might think is corny, but to them, it’s a big deal.”

Kapolka admits that not every player bought into the process, and that many of those guys decided to leave the team.

Those who stayed and embraced the competition think it will pay dividends this season.

“I think it has probably been the best offseason we’ve ever had in terms of people coming,” senior running back Dylan LaFontsee said. “Even in January, we were having competitions that’ll lead us into the season. Agility competitions that we’re getting better at. We’re probably the strongest we’ve ever been just because we’ve been united every single day going into the weight room and getting everyone to come.”

“A lot more people that maybe wouldn’t be showing up are showing up because everyone’s keeping them accountable, and the captains are making sure everyone’s getting there,” junior Marek Oleneack added. “It should help us on the field because everyone’s a lot more conditioned and stronger.”

Senior linebacker Nate Slager said the intermingling of underclassmen and upperclassmen in the Red Hawk Championship created a stronger bond between Cedar Springs football players of all ages this offseason.

“Something that’s been really cool is just being able to reach out to a lot of the younger grades,” he said. “In past years, the varsity sticks with varsity guys, and JV and freshmen kind of stick to their own groups, but this year, I feel like we’ve done a really good job of having a family. Everyone knows everyone, we’re all super close, and I appreciate that.”

Also helping the revamped offseason work was the recent hire of strength and conditioning coach Derek Ash, a 2012 Cedar Springs graduate that played football at Ferris State and went to the 2016 national semifinals with the Bulldogs.

“He’s bringing that championship mentality to our program and has done a great job building relationships with all student-athletes, not just football players, but our guys have completely bought into the program and have seen the gains,” Kapolka said of Ash.

Follow along for more info on this year’s Cedar Springs football team.

Head coach: Gus Kapolka, 10th year (69-34 record)

Key returners: Nate Slager (Sr. LB), Nathan Robinson (Sr. OL/DL), Marek Oleneack (Jr. RB/LB), Rory Schoenborn (Jr. RB/DB), Jackson Calati (Jr. OL), Hunter Brosseau (Sr. OL), Jackson Pocsi (Sr. OL)

Top newcomers: Bryce Luevano (Sr. QB), Caden Dreyer (Soph. RB/DB), Luke Egan (Soph. DB), Marquise Mance (Jr. OL/DL), Dylan LaFontsee (Sr. RB)

2022 review: Cedar Springs first four games were as tough as you’ll find, as the Red Hawks opened with nonconference tests against River Rouge and Zeeland West, before starting OK Gold play against GR Catholic Central and eventual Division 4 state champ South Christian. Those four opponents had a combined record of 40-9, and all defeated Cedar Springs by at least three touchdowns, except Catholic Central, which squeaked by the Red Hawks, 21-20.

Cedar Springs ended the regular season by winning their last five games to reach the playoffs, but a 28-0 loss to Coopersville in Round 1 of the Division 3 tournament wrapped things up for the Red Hawks at 5-5, with three loses coming via shutout.

“That falls on me,” Kapolka said of the goose eggs. “I’m the OC; I’m the offensive line coach. It never got right, and part of that is opening the season with River Rouge and Zeeland West with a young offensive line, and they never got the opportunity to get their feet under them. You were always in survival mode, so you’re never able to really thrive.

“I think with an offseason where we were able to do somethings from a basic footwork and hand-placement standpoint, and that they were able to get in the weight room and build more confidence, and with the fact that some of them got 10 games of varsity experience, that gives me some confidence that offensively we’ll be closer to where we’ve been in the past.”

2023 outlook: This year’s schedule is more manageable, though the Red Hawks still open at East Grand Rapids, before visiting Zeeland West in Week 2. Opening the conference season with games against Middleville and Wayland will at least allow Cedar Springs to gain some traction before showdowns against Catholic Central and South Christian in weeks 5 and 6.

The Red Hawks might even surprise some people this season by throwing the ball a little bit more thanks to the return of senior quarterback Bryce Luevano, who missed the bulk of the 2022 season recovering from a broken collarbone.

“I really like Bryce as a quarterback,” Kapolka said. “He’s not necessarily a traditional quarterback for us. He’s more of a thrower than a runner. Does that mean we’ll throw the ball more? I would say ‘Yes.’

“We completed seven passes in 10 games last year, and we’re typically a team that doesn’t throw it a ton, but seven completed passes in 10 games is not going to get it done.”

2023 schedule

Thursday, Aug. 24: at East Grand Rapids

Thursday, Aug. 31: at Zeeland West

Friday, Sept. 8: at Thornapple Kellogg

Friday, Sept. 15: vs. Wayland

Friday, Sept. 22: vs. GR Catholic Central

Friday, Sept. 29: at South Christian

Friday, Oct. 6: vs. Ottawa Hills

Friday, Oct. 13: at Kenowa Hills

Friday, Oct. 20: vs. Forest Hills Eastern

See OK Gold Conference high school football schedules for 2023 season

GR Catholic Central football preview: Cougars enter 2023 shouldering unfamiliar chip