Evergreens hope summer trip pays off
WESTON - The Evergreens hope their summer road trip might pave the way for a postseason run this fall.
Forty-five members of the D.C. Everest squad traveled to Fargo, N.D., in the middle of June for a football camp at North Dakota State University and scrimmaged against teams from Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
The Evergreens took their lumps in a few of the matchups, but competition wasn't the main goal for the journey.
"The No. 1 reason we went there wasn't to win games. It was to build camaraderie on our team," Evergreens football coach Luke Coenen said. "We had not done something like that in the past but our (team) leadership council said, 'We want to really work on camaraderie and want to go somewhere.' We learned some things and we are thinking about going to Minnesota-Duluth next year."
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The team-building experience could prove to be a benefit for a Evergreens squad that will look a lot different than a year ago. Everest was led by 42 seniors last year on a team that finished 5-5 overall and lost to Stevens Point Area Senior High in the opening round of the WIAA Division 1 playoffs.
The group included running back Stephen Paoli, defensive end Jamie Moe and punter Brad Goetsch. All three were first team all-Valley Football Association-North Division selections.
Coenen said last year's was the program's largest class of seniors in 29 seasons. The Evergreens opened training camp this year with 29 seniors.
The Evergreens return 26 letter-winners from last year, including junior offensive lineman Zach Mueller, who was an honorable mention all-VFA-North selection last year.
"I think we can take it into the playoffs. That's the goal every year," said senior cornerback Matt Nichols, who is one of three returning starters for the Evergreens defense this year. "I think this team can be special. We have talent on both sides of the ball. We just have to go out and win some games now."
The roster turnover has resulted in competition in Everest's practices the past few weeks.
"I change the depth chart every day, if for no other reason just to change it," Coenen said during the opening week of practice. "The depth chart doesn't really matter until after the scrimmage (on Aug. 12). We want to look at different people at different spots and move them around."
One of the camp battles was at quarterback between senior Riley Peterson and junior Ken Yoder. Petersen split playing time with Brady Uekert last year, and Yoder was on the Evergreens' junior varsity squad.
"We've got two good options. They're both good kids," Coenen said.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11
D.C. EVEREST
Coach: Luke Coenen, sixth year.
2015 record: 5-5, 5-3 Valley Football Association-North Division
How far they got: Lost to SPASH 24-13 in a Division 1, Level 1 playoff game.
Key returnees: Berkley Corvino, sr., DL; Zach Gruna, sr., LB; Matt Jagodzinski, sr.., LB; Riley Petersen, sr., QB; Kevin Sandoval, sr., RB; Matt Nichols, sr., DB; Sam Stroik, sr., RB; Austin Hargraves, sr., WR; Dylan Ellenbecker, sr., WR; Tyler Mertes, sr, OL; Zach Mueller, jr., OL;
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug, 19: at Wisconsin Rapids
Aug. 26: vs. Marshfield
Sept. 2: vs. Wausau West
Sept. 9: at Appleton West
Sept. 16: at Wausau East
Sept. 23: vs Appleton East
Sept. 30: at Kaukauna
Oct. 7: vs. Kimberly
Oct. 14: at Appleton North
2015 RESULTS
Wisconsin Rapids 19, D.C. Everest 17
Marshfield 24, D.C. Everest 17
D.C. Everest 37, Wausau West 8
D.C. Everest 17, Appleton West 7
D.C. Everest 40, Wausau East 6
D.C. Everest 17, Appleton East 0
D.C. Everest 54, Kaukauna 48
Kimberly 49, D.C. Everest 26
Appleton North 37, D.C. Everest 15
SPASH 24, D.C. Everest 13