MACCRAY Wolverines

MACCRAY junior quarterback Isaac Strommer fires a pass toward the sideline during a Southwest District West Division game against Yellow Medicine East on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 from MACCRAY West Elementary in Maynard. Patrick Bernadeau / West Central Tribune

New coach takes over Wolverines

Cole Christopher has some experience to improve upon 2020

BY JOE BROWN | West Central Tribune

MAYNARD — With seven starters back on both sides of the ball and a new head coach, MACCRAY will look to make steps towards the school’s first winning record since 2016.

Taking over the helm for the Wolverines is Cole Christopher. He will try to turn around a team that went 0-4 in 2020.

MACCRAY begins the 2021 campaign on Sept. 2 at home against Murray County Central.

On the offensive end, Isaac Strommer returns at quarterback for the fourth straight season. He was 61 of 128 for 663 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

“(Isaac’s) a talented thrower of the football that will have plenty of opportunities to showcase that this season,” Christopher said.

While top receiver Brady Kienitz graduated, the Wolverines will look to spread the ball around to receivers Gavin Husman, Brooks Asche and Isaac Post. Husman has averaged 12 yards per catch over his career while Asche averages eight yards per reception. Running back Dreyer Homan returns to the fray alongside Evan Laumb, a former lineman that’ll move to the backfield after breaking the school’s 100-meter dash record during the track and field season in the spring. Three linemen — Landin Ahrenholz, Gavin Nord and Caleb Kleene — return to the trenches.

Another four-year starter leads the defense in senior linebacker Austin Sweep, who led the team with 37 tackles.

“(He led) us in tackles in every game he has played and he will be expected to be a leader in tackles once again,” Christopher said of Sweep.

Laumb, Kleene and Brady Heiling will all see time at linebacker. In the defensive backfield, Husman, Post, Strommer, Asche and Jordan Warne will all be there to slow down opposing teams’ passing game. Up front, Homan will be at defensive end while Tyler Loe will line up at nose guard.