Thursday, September 19, 2024
MARINETTE - The Marinette Marines have spent two full seasons in the Packerland conference and are looking forward to the 2024 season to make its junior year in the conference one to remember. After two weeks of practice the Marines eye their first showdown of the season with Clintonville to get the season off on the right foot.
The Marines will be lead by Head Coach Nate Anderson, who enters his sixth year as head coach, and assistant coaches Eric Olson, Andy Plude, Eric Maynes, James Jagielski, Alex Zenil, Jerrid Bizefski, Sean Boyce, Jeff Bayerl, Rick Raygo
Getting things going on the right track will take some physical play and the Marines seem to meeting those physical demands with a fast paced physical style of practice with a roster that hold a bit of depth to it.
“The kids have been working hard,” said Anderson. “Everyone has been very physical which you always like to see. Usually you have to try hard to get that kind of effort out of the kids but these guys are hungry. This group wants to go live all the time. They want to fly around and make hits and compete. They really compete in practice and I think that’s because we have a lot of depth this year. Most positions, we are three or four deep. In the past if hasn’t been like this. We have a very solid group this year and the kids are still competing for spots on this team. There’s no spot that I would just say they have it. They all have someone pushing at their heels, which has made our practices very competitive and physical which is definitely what we want out here.”
The Marines will have a nice amount of depth going into the 2024 campaign as there will be 7 returning seniors on offense and 6 returning seniors on defense. They include Elijah Wimbush at WR/DB, Ben Rickaby at RB/LB, Brady Eastman at WR/DB, Tyler Gagnier at WR/DB,
Ethan Doubek at RB/LB, Evan Berg at TE/LB, Bryce Steinfath at G/DT, Maverick Williamson at C/DT, Justin Crass at T/DT and Jaxon Smith at G/DE.
Returning juniors include Chase MacGregor at QB/LB, Braxton Polzin at WB/LB, Max Jacobson at WR/DB, Ryker Maye at G/DE.
Sophomores include Wyaat Stauss at TE/DE and Teegan Humphrey at T/DT.
Off season work ethic with an attention to building themselves up has set the Marines with a core of players that have maintained a high level of physicality.
“We have a good group of guys who are in great shape and are strong. They are very physical,” said Anderson. “We have a lot of juniors and sophomores who have been playing varsity for a year or two, and now they are upper classmen. Our senior group has a lot of solid guys that are put together. We didn’t have a big drop off in numbers so we have a lot of choices out here.”
Looking to make a name for their team in the Packerland has been a priority for the team since its induction into the conference three years ago. But according to Anderson it will take a day to day effort and some grit and determination to finally break through and see the sleeping Marine Machine begin churning out wins again.
“Whenever you switch to a new conference it takes a couple years to really get a feel for it and get a feel for the teams your playing and just how to fit the mold offensively and defensively for the teams your facing,” said Anderson. “Every season is different and I’m very optimistic that this could be one of our better years and maybe be a breakout year for us. There’s a view that this team is a sleeping giant and I think we are close to breaking out. It just takes a day to day effort, trusting the process, keep working hard , keep grinding, keep pounding the rock and focus on the now. Just one day at a time and one team at a time.”
