Team returns 14 starters from last season
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The seniors on this year’s East Troy High School football team likely have a number of things they would like to accomplish this season.
But one goal clearly has moved to the top of the list – and that’s to make a little school history.
Coming off a disappointing 2-7 campaign a year ago, East Troy brings back 14 starters and a lot more confidence into this season, eighth-year head coach Eric Sulik said.
“We had a much better off-season than we did (before last year),” he said. “We are as strong and as fast as we were when we won conference in 2012.
“Our offense will be better than last season, and I see a huge improvement on the defensive side. The players and coaches are very excited.”
That optimism and excitement means the goals have been amped up a bit, Sulik said, especially from the players in their final high school campaign.
“(We want to be a) playoff qualifier and a conference championship contender,” Sulik sad. “We will be vastly improved from our 2-7 season last fall. Our seniors wish to make history and be the first East Troy football team to win a playoff game.”
Several things need to happen to reach those goals, which is the case with any team at this point of the season.
But Sulik put a couple keys at the top of the list.
“The health and durability of our offensive and defensive linemen (will be critical),” he said. “(And) how we deal with adversity.”
New quarterback at helm
East Troy must replace a significant part of its offense from a year ago in the now-graduated Charlie Kutschenreuter.
Kutschenreuter scored 18 touchdowns passing and rushing combined, threw for 964 yards and rushed for 801 more.
Looking to fill those shoes will be senior Nick Ruffalo, who backed up Kutschenreuter last year and also played wide receiver.
Ruffalo will bring somewhat of a different skill set to the offense than his predecessor, Sulik said.
“Charlie did a lot of things for us,” he said. “As far as a thrower, Nick is going to be pretty good. He’s an athletic kid. I think he’ll be every bit as good as Charlie.”
The top skill players who return this year are seniors Ryan Olsen, Zach Zewiske and Jake Remsza.
As a running back, Olsen rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while Zewiske had 232 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Remsza recorded 180 yards receiving a year ago.
Serving as captains this fall are Ruffalo, Zewiske, Remsza, senior Nick Biersack and junior Truman Kent.
Other members of the senior class are Justin Growel, Jake Nixon, Logan Parson, Zach Brinkman and Kyle Storandt.
They are joined by juniors Noah Nyffler, Jake Balciunas, Sam Goral, Owen Goedland, Sean Cox, Alex Schahczinski, A.J. Kulick, Dawson Kruse, Jordan Roby and Mason Malzahn; sophomores Jack Kuzniar, Michael Burke, Tyler Zindars, Austin Garcia, Chase Coleman, Rogelio Hayes, C.J. Damico, Ethan Sweet, Chris Storandt, Cyrus Rodefer and Jake Pieper; and freshman Jacob Dessert.
Sulik will be assisted by Jeff Crandall, Skip Verick, Steve Collins, Jay Zimmerman, Matt Vanevenhoven, Brian Pluess, Jeremiah Vangen and Kalen Weber.
Conference outlook
Looking at the Rock Valley Conference North Division, Sulik said he expects last year’s co-champions, Evansville-Albany and Jefferson, again to be among the teams to watch.
Others should be McFarland and a much-improved Whitewater squad, he said.
East Troy opens play Friday night when it travels to Delavan-Darien for a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup with the Comets.
Now the games begin for real.
“I am excited, but more importantly, our players are excited,” Sulik said. “There is a lot to be excited about this fall. Friday nights are exciting for our players, families, school and East Troy community. However, I have learned over the years to ‘level out’ the peaks and valleys.”
As for Sulik himself, he’s looking forward to embarking on his eighth year as the Trojans’ head coach.
“I am learning something new every day, and player relationships are what I value most,” he said. “(But) I am not going to lie, winning is still a lot of fun.”
