Marathon fields young but athletic team
MARATHON - The Raiders opened training camp last season as a veteran-dominated team with a depth chart seemingly all but set before Marathon even hit the practice field.
It's been a different story this year.
Marathon graduated 19 seniors from the squad that went undefeated in the Marawood Conference last year on the way to the conference title. The team's past few weeks has been spent on seeing which players will help fill those vacancies for a team that finished with a 9-2 record overall and reached Level 2 of the WIAA Division 6 playoffs.
Marathon graduated six players who earned first team all-Marawood Conference honors last year. That includes Ryan Gassner and Sam Buchberger, who were the conference's running back and lineman of the year, respectively.
"We had so many starters coming back last year that there was very few question marks," Raiders coach Todd Stoffel said. "This year there are a lot of positions to be had and a lot of question marks. The competition (in camp) is both good and bad — they're pushing each other, but we are still trying to settle in on who it is going to be (going into the season opener). You would like to get the one guy more reps, but you have two guys who are really battling (for the position). It's hard to say."
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Stoffel said his team is a young but athletic group
"We don't have a lot of size, but I think we are a smart team," Stoffel said. "We've been throwing a lot of things at them and it seems that they are picking it up. There's the Week 1 mistakes here and there. But I like the attitude, especially from guys who don't have a lot of (varsity) experience overall. They expect to succeed."
Others might expect Marathon to take a step back this year. That just provides fuel for the Raiders in their hope to defend the conference title.
"I think any time people say you can't do it, that should motivate you even more to just prove them wrong," senior offensive lineman/linebacker Zach Hanke said.
Hanke is one of the key seniors for Marathon along with offensive lineman/defensive end Bryce Seubert and offensive lineman/defensive tackle Kaden Callaway. Junior Donavon Free, who is listed at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, will be the starter at quarterback after getting his first real varsity experience in a season-ending loss to Edgar in which starter Kellen Vetter suffered an injury. Nathan Stoffel, a second-team all-conference tight end last year, should be his top target.
"If you're starting an offense around a quarterback, he's probably a pretty good one to start it around," Coach Stoffel said. "We like just a lot of what he gives us — running, throwing and leadership. He's a student of the game, too."
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11
MARATHON
Coach: Todd Stoffel, 14th season
2015 record: 9-2, 7-0 Marawood Conference
How far they got: Lost to Edgar 36-6 in a Division 6, Level 2 playoff game
Key returnees: Bryce Seubert, sr., OL/DE; Zach Hanke, sr., OL/LB; Kaden Callaway, sr., OL/DT; Nathan Stoffel, jr., TE/DE.
Key newcomers: Donavon Free, jr., QB/S; Mitchell Putnam, sr., RB/CB; Richie Seubert, jr., RB/LB; Riley Rhyner, sr., WR/S; Dakota Longdo, sr., WR/LB; Zach Anklam, sr, RB/CB
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19: vs. Phillips
Aug. 26: at Stratford
Sept. 2: at Colby
Sept. 9: at Tomahawk
Sept. 16: at Rib Lake/Prentice
Sept. 23: vs. Edgar
Sept. 30:vs. Chequamegon
Oct. 7: at Auburndale
Oct. 14: vs.Pittsville
2015 RESULTS
Marathon 51, Pittsville 0
Marathon 36, Laconia 0
Marathon 33, Stratford 14
Regis 31, Marathon 6
Marathon 50, Tomahawk 14
Marathon 62, Rib Lake/Prentice 6
Marathon 16, Edgar 8
Marathon 37, Chequamegon 0
Marathon 43, Auburndale 0
Marathon 41, Crandon 0
Edgar 36, Marathon 6