Experienced seniors demonstrate their leadership at football camp

Back in 2022, the Cleveland football coaches brought up a handful of eighth graders to join a sparsely populated Clipper varsity football roster.

And, while the Clippers were 1-8 that year, the tenderfoots, although pinballed around at times, were already leaving their mark.

Tanner Simonette and Carson Lyons were chosen as Rookies of the Year. Braeden Smith and Sam Ternes also lettered and were showing promising signs.

A year later, with the Clippers repeating a 1-8 record, linebackers Jackson Shouler and Garet Peterson earned letters. In 2024, the Clippers were 6-4. Sophomore Henry Boelter, taking advantage of the weight room, showed that he can be a factor. Last year, with a strong senior class and the juniors hitting their stride, the Clippers went 8-1.

So, this year, relying more on hard-nose senior experience than on the exuberance of youth, head coach Erik Hermanson and company expect to take their game to a higher level.

“Our seniors spent years playing against more experienced, bigger, faster, stronger opponents,” said Hermanson. “They have put in the work to even the playing field. We usually have excited young kids trying to make Cleveland something special. This year we have incredible senior leadership showing our young players the Cleveland way.”

The seniors and their teammates got back on the field officially on Monday for the summer football camp.

Attending the camp, which took place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, were 26 from grades 9-12 and 13 from junior high.

While the heat index and air quality forced the Clippers into the new gym for some of Monday’s camp, they got on Dave Krenik field later that evening. The hot weather took a vacation for the rest of the week, and, in pads and helmets starting on Tuesday, they never were forced back inside.

This offseason, the coaches emphasized upping strength and speed, but beyond that, Hermanson said he wanted everyone to work on being a great teammate.

“That includes being smart, tough, hardworking, self-motivated and driven. Everyone’s goal each day should be to get better as an individual, to help a teammate improve and to make the team better.”

The Clippers will have some big cleats to fill though. Gone to graduation are linemen Mason Kluntz, David Draheim and Max Esser; wide receivers Bode Bartell and Alex Kortuem; and running back and punter and kicker Caleb Possin.

“They were a great class, but this year’s upperclassmen want to show everyone that hard work and dedication pay off,” Hermanson said.

Last year the Clippers, benefiting from work in the offseason, cruised to 8-0 regular season record, but, favored to make the state tournament, their season ended abruptly when GFW came to town for the first round of the playoffs and avenged a regular season loss by stunning the Clippers 26-7.

The defeat left a bitter taste, but Hermanson said the Clippers plan on learning from that experience yet not dwelling on it.

“As a team we want to play this season without looking back. Full speed ahead.”

Also guiding the camp were all Hermanson’s assistant coaches: Kyle Atherton, Matt Miller, Larry Walechka, Dustin Bosshart and Garret Mensing.

“All played college football and have years of coaching experience,” Hermanson said. “Every one of them could be a really strong head coach in this league.”

First practice is on August 17 at 7:00 a.m. Until then, Hermanson said the team should keep lifting, running and working on their individual position skills.

Above: Camp attendees, from L-R, front row: Chase Harkins, Gauge Bock, Graham Reinhardt, Tanner Simonette, Henry Boelter, Brennon Holicky, Carson Lyons, Blake Stocker, John Ritchie, Pierce Lyons, Sawyer Roemhildt, Paxton Kluntz, Colter O’Keefe, Desmond McMonagle and William Tarkey. Back rows: Kyle Rain, Brayden Seeman, Carson Jindra, Austin Tarkey, Chase Roemhildt, Adam Rain, Jackson Shouler, Garrett Peterson, Braeden Smith, Kiptyn Coon, Sam Ternes, Ethan Hoehn, Harry Fuller, Tony Hollerich, Urijah Hoheisel, Zander Hoechst, Jack Mons, Jacob Walser, Jeremy Miller, Charlie Mons, Jake Mueller, Abel Hastings and Keegan Karels.

Captains Jack Shouler, Tanner Simonette, Carson Lyons and Braeden Smith