Hawks hope to continue progress

In the second year under coach Al Tomow, the Shawano Community High School football program is in a better groove to start the 2014 season.

Hired in July 2013, Tomow had to scramble not only to put together a plan for the team, but also to get players adjusted to a new system.

This year the players know the coach and the system, and it is showing in early practices.

“So far, we’re a lot farther ahead than we were last year,” Tomow said. “We’re able to move at a quicker pace. Most of these guys, this is their second year in the system, a lot of the freshmen came to the contact days; the system is already in place and they have an idea of what is going on.”

Also helping is that Tomow now has a group of upperclassmen able to mentor younger players.

“We’re able to get a lot more done. Our sessions are a lot more quicker, a lot more efficient,” Tomow said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

The coach has been busy getting the Hawks (3-6, 3-5 Bay Conference) ready for the season opener Aug. 22 at Lakeland Union, a task that includes finding replacements for 14 players who graduated.

“We have a lot of competition at every spot,” Tomow said. “The big thing is, we can’t be complacent, we can’t think we have a spot because maybe we were there last year or the year before. No guaranteed spots coming into camp. … As of right now, we’re rotating guys and guys are getting work in with different groups. We’ll see who meshes together and gives us our best lineup.”

Sophomore Dylan Sumnicht (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) and junior Adam Bartz (6-1, 175 pounds) are the leading candidates for replacing Brice Bergner, a second-team All-Bay Conference selection at receiver/defensive back who caught five touchdowns a year ago, and Cody Urban, a do-everything player who was an honorable mention all-conference kicker and the team’s most valuable player.

Bartz has impressed Tomow with his offseason work.

“He might have had the best offseason out of everyone and shown the most improvement,” Tomow said. “From where he started the year last year to where he is right now, he’s a completely different player.”

Chase Henning, a 6-1, 175-pound senior who earned an all-conference honorable mention at defensive back last season, will go both ways this year, adding running back duties.

“We’re going to try Chase as a two-way player this year,” Tomow said. “He’s going to start out the year at running back and linebacker for us. He also flashed some return ability against Luxemburg-Casco, so we’re going to let him try that out.”

Henning will compete with sophomore Kien Moorman (5-11, 160 pounds) at running back.

Also in the mix at running back is Zack Sousek (5-10, 170 pounds), who returns to football after playing soccer a year ago.

“He took the year off from football to help our soccer program chase a conference championship,” Tomow said. “He did a great job for those guys. We’re definitely happy to have him back.”

Tomow expects Sousek to also contribute at linebacker.

Senior Cole Huntington (6-2, 180 pounds) returns as quarterback after racking up the second-most yards in the Bay Conference last season. He had 905 yards passing and seven touchdowns. He also led the Bay in completions (108), attempts (192) and interceptions (13).

Junior Zeke Gueths (6-6, 260) and senior Dylan Hintz (6-2, 230) will anchor both lines for the Hawks.

“They’re definitely in the mix for all-conference discussion,” Tomow said. “They’ve come a long way with their foot speed, their strength levels and just their explosiveness. It shows, and they’ve taken on more of a leadership role on the offensive line because we are so young.”

Senior Dalton Parson (5-7, 145 pounds) is a new addition to the team in the secondary.

“A very welcome surprise,” Tomow said. “He’s a little undersized, but the years he spent in wrestling really toughened him up. He plays fearless even though he’s a little smaller. He brings it.”

In the playoff hunt until the last week of the season a year ago, Tomow hopes the program continues to make progress.

“We’re trying to work our way into that middle tier and close the gap with those top teams,” he said. “We came close last year. We were a game away, but then injuries caught up to us.”

While the injuries torpedoed the Hawks’ playoff hopes last year, they did allow for some freshmen and sophomores to see the field.

“Even though we’re a younger team, we’re older sophomores and juniors now,” Tomow said. “We’ve seen what it’s like to play playoff-type football.”