SPORTS

Veteran Merrill team setting high goals

Tim Johnson

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

MERRILL - The Bluejays haven’t reached double digits in wins in six seasons, but Merrill feels that drought could end this year.

Jonathan Gruetzmacher (96), middle, plays for Merrill during Friday boys football scrimmage matchup against the Warriors at Wausau West High School.

The Bluejays returns six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that finished last year with a 5-4 record and lost in the opening round of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs. The returning players combined to earn all-Great Northern Conference honors at seven positions. It’s why Merrill players feel this year’s group has the potential to make a run like the 2009 team, which finished 11-2.

RELATED STORIES:

“I think we have an opportunity that we haven’t had here in a long time, not since (former Bluejay standout and University of Wisconsin tight end) Sam Arneson played. I think we have a team that is comparable to that athlete-wise,” said Merrill senior lineman Jonathan Gruetzmacher, who committed to South Dakota State University earlier this season. “We have a lot of talented football players and are very athletic this year. We had a lot of young sophomores playing last season who have a year under them now. We are mostly juniors and seniors this year.”

That experience showed early in the Bluejays training camp.

Merrill's Jake Collinsworth was a first team all-Great Northern Conference selection at linebacker last year and a second-team pick at running back

“I’ve really have watched some seniors step forward with leadership,” Merrill coach Nick Sturm said. “Guys have pushing each other too (on the practice field) and demanding more of each other. Not just demanding more of each other, but picking each other up when they make mistakes. It’s just a group of kids who are coming together and enjoy being together.”

Merrill had the second-best rushing attack in the GNC last year, totaling 1,404 yards in conference play, and the Bluejays should not drop off much from there. Nevada Laabs, the Bluejays leading rusher last year, is back, and junior Braeden Dorn and senior running back/linebacker Jake Collinsworth are in the backfield as well.

Sophomores Kade Bonnell and Zach Mootz entered camp in a competition at quarterback with the graduation of Drew Hoff.

“We have to find that guy to replace that quarterback position, but I think we have a couple of guys who can do a very good job there,” Sturm said. “On the offensive line we have to replace a couple starters, but some of our younger guys have really been looking good so far. They are both good athletes, and they are willing to work and continue to grow.”

Merrill's head coach Nick Sturm coaches the Bluejays team during Friday boys football scrimmage matchup against West Warriors at Wausau West High School.

Collinsworth, who received a preferred walk-on offer from Wisconsin in late July, highlights a Merrill defense that allowed an average of 17.6 points per game last year.

“We were really young (on defense) last year. Against Superior in the first game last year there was something like seven guys who were getting their first varsity snaps. It was some crazy number like that,” Collinsworth said. “But they’re all coming back this year, so we’re way more experienced. It’s going to be fun to see what happens.”

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

MERRILL

Coach: Nick Sturm, fifth year.

2015 record; 5-4, 4-2 Great Northern Conference

How far they got: Lost to Medford 29-27 in a Division 3, Level 1 playoff game.

Key returnees: Jon Gruetzmacher, sr., OL; Jake Collinsworth, sr., RB/LB; Ben Tabor, sr., DB; Braeden Dorn, jr., RB/DE; Nevada Laabs, jr., RB; Adam Detert, jr., OL; Riley Young, jr, OL; Jared Ollhoff, jr., WR/DB.

2016 SCHEDULE

Aug. 19: at Superior

Aug. 26: vs. River Falls

Sept. 2: vs. Lakeland

Sept. 9: at Rhinelander

Sept. 16: vs. Medford

Sept. 24: at Antgo

Oct. 1: vs. Ashland

Oct. 7: at Mosinee

Oct. 14: vs. Escanaba, Mich.

2015 RESULTS

Superior 50, Merrill 20

Merrill 35, River Falls 0

Merrill 21, Lakeland 0

Merrill 41, Rhinelander 6

Merrill 19, Medford 12

Antigo 14, Merrill 0

Merrill 20, Ashalnd 14

Mosinee 33, Merrill 16

Medford 29, Merrill 27