In little more than a month, the Wolfpack football team will begin the 2015 season.
Fresh off a district championship last year, Elgin Public-Pope John is looking for more this year.
Since the end of school in May, four senior captains (Dylan Behnk, Andrew Fangman, Kyle Kallhoff and Seth Schumacher) and their teammates have made the weight room their home away from home. Pumping iron, getting stronger and faster in preparation for a new season.
Heavy metal music from Metallica, Limp Biskit and other bands fills the weight room, so do the sounds made by lifting weights, all for a single purpose — to be the best football team in Class D-1.
“Our goal is to get 40 days,” Fangman said about work in the weight room.
Seniors on this year’s team were freshmen when the Wolfpack walked out of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln with a state championship trophy.
“We got a good taste of that (winning a state championship three years ago) we know what it’s like,” Fangman said.
The last two years, in their minds, didn’t live up to the expectations of Wolfpack fans. Beginning August 28 at Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, they are focused on winning one game at a time towards the postseason.
Chosen by their teammates to lead the way, each has earned his place.
As a signal-caller last season, Schumacher led the team back from an 0-3 start, completing more than 50 percent of his passes. Playing safety on defense, he had six interceptions.
Behnk was one of his “go-to” receivers, averaging more than 10 yards a catch.
Fangman and Kallhoff were two of the top three rushers on a team which, over the course of nine games, rushed for over 2,200 yards, averaging 4.5 yards every time they carried the ball. Kallhoff finished with 555 yards, Fangman had 543. Underclassman Chad Bode led the team with 755 yards on the ground.
Each player stressed the importance of getting off to a strong start early in the season, during an interview session Thursday afternoon.
For the complete story, see the print edition of The Elgin Review
