(photo by Jim Lindquist)
After winning just one game over the first two years of the program, Tiger coach Paul Sorensen said he has high expectations for his team this spring.
"We are not looking backward," he said. "We're only looking ahead and we see good things on the horizon."
Two of the reasons for Sorensen's optimism are the return of 14 letterwinners from last year's injury-plagued squad and the maturation of a junior varsity team that finished 5-7 last spring.
Senior returnees include offensive player of the year Mitch Collier (attacker) and defensive player of the year Charlie Weierke (goalie), Trevor Howard (attacker), Matt Ackerman (midfielder). Marques Words (attacker) and Alex Rojesky (midfielder). Collier, Weierke, Ackerman and Howard will share the captain's duties for this year's team.
Juniors Joey Todd (defender/long stickman), Jake Baumann (midfielder/attacker), Nathan Brunelle (defender) and Matt Heinzerling-Wiese (defender) and sophomores Cory Rudrud (attacker/midfielder), Dan Block (long stickman), Michael Thompson (midfielder) and Kevin Clifton (midfielder) also earned varsity letters in 2011. Junior attacker Brendan Berg should also vie for varsity playing time this spring.
Goalie Charlie Weierke, 2011 Defensive MVP
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
"We are in our third year now so overall experience and the ability to score from multiple sources should be our strength," Sorensen said. "The experience and a more athletic group of players has our defensive unit in harmony coming into the season."
Sorensen said the question marks remain similar to last season. Can the team stay healthy and how will it react in close-game situations.
"I am cautiously optimistic going into the season," he said. "We have set up our schedule to show our strengths against sectional opponents and we are looking to introduce some new wrinkles that should show well for us at the end of the season."
Sorensen who has been the head coach since day one of the program is joined by assistants Mike Fox and Carl Starkey this spring.
The Tiger open their 2012 campaign Monday, Apr. 9, with a home contest against Simley.
