Rebuilding Wolves look to grow this season

Algoma is in a newly-aligned conference this year, with a lot of question marks.

But if there’s one thing that remains the same for Coach Wade Vandervest, it’s preaching one practice, one play and one game at a time.

“We have the potential to be a top-tier team in the conference, but we have to look for ways to improve each day in practice, and take what we are working on onto the game field. Take the season one game at a time, and even further, one play at a time.”

The Wolves find themselves with some new teams in their conference after a WIAA realignment. Gibraltar, NEW Lutheran/Providence and Sevastopol are back, and Oneida Nation — previously with NEW/Providence — now has its own team. Valley Christian and Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah are new. Gone are Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas, Suring and Gillett.

“I expect us to be a competitive and quality team,” said Vandervest, entering his 25th season as head coach. “A team other teams in the conference expect to be solid.”

A year after winning the Across the Bay Conference and finishing 7-1 overall, the Wolves tied Sevastopol for second in league play last fall with a 4-2 mark and were 6-2 overall.

“Last year we knew that there was going to be some growing pains with a young, inexperienced line,” Vandervest said. “Unfortunately we played Lena early, before we had a chance to gel collectively as an offensive and defensive line. Not sure if it would have changed the result if we played them later, but we made a lot of basic mistakes due to it being early in the season.”

Mike Kruis returns to lead the defense. Jared Zellner and Casey Nelson are also assistants.

“We as coaches have to figure out what this year’s talent is and how to utilize it in a way that will make the team successful,” Vandervest said. “We have some good experience coming back on the line, we also have some quality skill position players that have unique skill sets that we have to utilize and develop.”

Losses to graduation included Josh Bennett, Joey Cabino, Lane Cochart, J’Dion Duerst, Parker Lischka, Aiden Moen, and Brady Rogers. Cabino, Cochart, Lischka and Moen all provide big plays on both sides of the ball.

Returning to anchor the line are Kaden Bielawski, Pete Ritchie and David Tebon. Preston Delebreau (line) and Cayden Neuzil (wide receiver/defensive back) are both recovering from injuries, and won’t be available early on.

Ethan Melotte is starting at quarterback. Other key offensive pieces will be shared by Jacob Blahnik, Cooper Fay, Garret LeBotte, Jack Meverden and Jack Schwader.  Those players, plus Brady Walker, will be on defense as well.

Last Friday, the Wolves scrimmaged against Gibraltar and Sevastopol.

“We did alright,” Vandervest said. “We had some positive plays, and we had some mistakes that we have to clean up. Both Gibraltar and Sevastopol presented good challenges. It gave us something to reflect on and work on this week in practice.”

Vandervest said realizing he’s been the head coach for a quarter-century is strange.

“As I have asked my players to do, I try to do the same,” he said. “I try to improve myself each day. Am I a better coach than I was 25 years ago? I would hope so.”

In some ways, Vandervest said he’s still the same naïve young coach he was 25 years ago.

“The longer I have coached, the more I’ve realized that the players make a coach look good,” Vandervest said. “I have also had the opportunity to learn from a quality head coach (Steve Mayheu, who coached for three decades), and have been blessed with great assistant coaches over the years.”

The Wolves open on the road back-to-back, Friday at Newman Catholic and next Thursday at Wausaukee.