Christian Wiley serves as both the Merrill High School principal and its football coach.
So he had mixed feelings when he watched most of his state-finalist football team grab their diplomas on their way out the Merrill High School doors.
In 2022, the Vandals reached the state championship game for the first time in football program history, falling to Martin in the 8-player Division 1 final.
But nine seniors graduated from that team, including all-state quarterback Joel Tack, all-state defensive back Denver Coty and second team all-state lineman Cameron Raftery. Add in all-state honorable mention receiver Kaleb Walker, and the Vandals experienced a serious talent drain from their 2022 team.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Wiley said. “So many people contributed. We lost so many good players. That’s what happens at a small school. It happens to everybody. You’re going to lose top players.”
But that does not mean Wiley is ready to throw in the towel or go into rebuilding mode.
“People are going to be surprised at how good we can be, how fast we can rebuild,” Wiley said. “We have a lot of quality players who would have started in other years or other teams, but they didn’t get to start because of the quality of that senior class.”
The Vandals do return four players who received post-season honors in the Central Michigan 8-Player Football Conference, including star defensive end Grant Vedrode, who also started at receiver.
“He played so many snaps last season,” Wiley said. “He never came off the field … offense, defense, special teams. We couldn’t get him off the field.”
Vedrode was a first-team all-conference pick, while defensive lineman Carter Feith and receiver Hayden Ayotte earned second team honors. Bailey Wachowicz was an honorable mention pick.
“It’s going to be a good conference, with Carson City-Crystal and St. Charles becoming 8-man teams,” Wiley said. “The big thing we learned when we went was how important it was to tackle well, more important than it is in 11-man football. There’s more space per person, so you have to make sure you make the tackle because there’s a lot of open room out there if you don’t.
“We lost a lot of great players from last season. After our run to the state finals, it’s impossible to replace a group of seniors like we had. But people will be surprised how well we reload. If we can put it all together, it will be another special season.”
Merrill Season Outlook
Merrill Vandals (12-1)
Central Michigan 8-Man Football Conference
Coach: Christian Wiley (9th season, 50-29)
Top Returning Players: Grant Vedrode, WR-DE, Sr.; Carter Feith, RB-LB, Sr.; Hayden Ayotte, WR-DB, Sr.; Raven Chobob, WR, Sr.; Bryley Wachowicz, LB, Sr.
Top Newcomers: Antonio Jimenez, QB-DB, Sr.; Jacob Kroll, OL-DE, Sr.; Tyler Smith, OL-LB, Sr.; Ethan Mattson, WR-DB, Jr.; Landin Lajoice, OL-DE, Jr.; Logan Cassiday, RB-LB, Jr.; Cash Jungnitsch, OL-DE, Jr.; Billy Wenzel, RB-LB, Jr.
Sleeper: Braden Buckley, WR, Jr.
Coach Wiley says: “We lost a lot of great players last season after our run to the state finals. It’s impossible to replace a group of seniors like we had. With that being said, a lot of people will be surprised how well we are reloading. We have a lot of talented players. If we can put it all together, it will be another special season.”
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