Spartan football determined to succeed

As Grundy Center football's big men move on, with several of them starting college football careers, the Spartans will be looking to speed and athleticism to help those in the trenches.
 
Nolan Freeman, Cade Rohler, Josh Kuper and Jordan Hook all graduated after playing on the offensive line last season. Freeman is now playing at Upper Iowa along with Drew Rathe, Cade Rohler is at Truman State, Josh Kuiper committed to Central College and Jordan Hook is in his freshman season at UNI.
 
Matthew Sternhagen is the only returning starter on the offensive line from last season's 5-4 campaign, with Tanner Phillips, Payton McMartin and Kolby Muller expected to step into regular starting roles after earning varsity-letterwinner experience on the line last season.
 
"My focus is to get everyone to be like one," Sternhagen, a senior, said. "We're really going that way right now. We've got some guys that have some experience and that helps. … My role is to get everyone jacked up and ready to go, and that's working well for us right now."
 
Lining up behind the boys on the offensive line will be Caleb Kuiper, entering his senior season with the Spartans.
 
Kuiper rushed for 1,465 yards and 11 touchdowns last season as Grundy Center's top offensive contributor.
 
"I had a bunch of big boys that helped make my job easy," Kuiper said. "This year, we've lost size but we're more of a unit as a team, I think we'll stay positive and feed off each other a little bit more. … We know we can trust each other as a big ol' family."
 
Grundy Center opens the season at home on Friday against Belle Plaine.
 
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here.