Cougars move to 6-player football
Staff writer
One major change may be noticed this fall for Centre football.
This season, the Cougars will make the transition to six-player competition.
At the same time, volleyball returns several players from last season, and cross country has seen its numbers grow to four after one runner began practices this year.
Football
As Centre football goes to six-man competition, head coach Thieen Antoszyk has noticed both players and coaches having to adjust.
It also has brought a new level of excitement to the program.
“With fewer players on the field and more open space, we will need to play fast, communicate, tackle well in space, and find ways to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers,” Antoszyk said.
This will be Antoszyk’s third year at Centre. He is assisted by Jason Stika.
The Cougars have seven returning players from last season, giving the team a solid foundation as they head into the season.
Jason Ribelin, Micah Carlson, Aiden Perez, Noah Brunner, Cameron Howe, Colby Diepenbrock, and Auden Britton are set to wear the Cougars’ blue again this season.
Ribelin, Carlson, and Perez also are the three seniors leading the team.
Antoszyk already has had to rely on their leadership and experience on the field.
“They have been through the ups and downs of building this program and understand what we expect from our players,” he said.
Carlson earned All-League Honorable Mention as wide receiver last season. His expectations are to continue to be the team’s playmaker.
Antoszyk wants to “eliminate the noise” as one of his practice and game strategies, keeping things simple for players to react fast and confidently.
“Offensively, we want to take advantage of the open field and find different ways to get the football to our athletes in space,” he said. “Defensively, tackling in space is going to be extremely important because with six players on the field, one missed assignment or missed tackle can turn into a big play quickly.”
Because of roster size, most of the players are preparing to play both sides of the football.
“We have a small roster, which means everyone matters.” Antoszyk said. “Staying healthy, being in great condition, and having younger and newer players ready to contribute will be important.”
The Cougars motto this season is simple, yet effective: “Believe.”
“We want our players to believe in themselves, believe in their teammates, and believe that the work they put in can change the direction of this program,” Antoszyk said. “I am proud of the players who have continued to stick with the program and these guys have experienced some difficult moments but they continue to show up and work, which says a lot about their character.”
Centre will kick off its season at 7 p.m. Friday against Otis-Bison at home.
The Cougars play cross-county Peabody-Burns for the first time in football in October.
“We have a group of young men who want to improve, and I am excited to see what they can accomplish together in our first season of six-man football,” Antoszyk said.
Volleyball
Centre volleyball returns nine players from last season, three of which are seniors who add to the team’s core.
Those three are Ryleigh Jones, Gracie Meyer, and Kelbie Kidd.
“Our senior leadership this year will be essential,” second-year coach Amy Finch said.
Centre finished last season at 11-19. It’s a mark that signals there should be some room to improve on that this year.
“After having 11 wins last year, we are looking to improve upon last year’s mark,” Finch said.
It won’t happen overnight, however.
“We are trying to get a little bit better each day,” said Finch, who carries a career record of 409-253.
Finch will be assisted this season by Timothy Vinduska.
Other returning players to watch for are junior Jaycee Stikia, and sophomores Addison Kitzmiller, Kathrine Rziha, Hadleigh Felpel, Natalie Axelrad, and Bella Angerame.
“We are excited to see the impact that our younger players will have on the game including our sophomores who we will expect to step up this year from their freshman year,” Finch said. “We look forward to learning a lot about each other and coming together as a team.”
Four new players this season will be freshmen Zoey Svoboda, Isabel Antoszyk, Evan Makovec, and Annalee Meyer.
Because of the young core, Finch said the team may be able to use a 6-2 rotation, meaning two setters could see the court at once.
“We are possibly looking at having two setters this year rather than having only one setter like we did last year,” Finch said.
But before implementing that system, passing and hitting drills were at the forefront of preseason camp, which will help the team as the schedule tightens down the stretch.
Finch had the girls work over the summer as well, in hopes it translates into a great season.
The Cougars kicked off their season at Peabody-Burns for a preseason jamboree Aug. 29.
Centre opened up its regular season with five games last weekend, winning two of them.
The Cougars’ next matches will be on the road Tuesday against Wakefield and Hope on the road
Their first home games will be during the Centre Invitational on Sept. 12.
Cross country
Second-year cross country coach Caleb Reimer has four freshmen on the roster this season: Evan Makovec, Aaron Carlson, Wylie Meyer, and Jason Leach.
Despite this, Reimer said he expected maybe to field a few more runners.
“But I’m excited for Evan as she enters high school and to see what she does this year for our team,” Reimer said. “She had very good seasons of cross country and track as an eighth grader.”
Carlson also had a great eighth grade year of running.
“Look for him to continue on that with adjusting to the longer distance of high school,” Reimer said.
Meyer, who “came on at the end of his season last year,” had a solid track and field season in the spring. Leach brings a work ethic to the team that will allow him and others to make new strides.
Centre’s four cross country runners will kick off their season by running this Thursday at the Abilene Golf Course.
“The longer distance is an adjustment they’ll all be making this year and looking forward to seeing how it goes,” Reimer said.
Centre won’t technically host a meet this season, but will run Sept. 24 in Marion, and Oct. 8 in Goessel.