Crystal Lake South enters post-Ormseth era
Despite heavy graduation losses on offense Crystal Lake South coach Chuck Ahsmann says his Gators maintain the necessary components to defend their title in the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference.
“We have almost everybody on defense back, and we’ve had success at the lower levels,” said Ahsmann, whose team won its first 11 games last season before losing a Class 6A quarterfinal to Prairie Ridge. “With success comes confidence. We go into this season feeling pretty good.”
The Gators, ranked No. 8 in Class 7A in the state preseason poll, are counting on a defense that returns eight starters to keep them competitive against the six 2010 playoff teams on their schedule.
The defensive leader is senior Steve Forner (6-foot-1, 235 pounds), a three-year starter who heads up a talented corps of linebackers. He will be flanked by seniors Nick Amren (6-2, 245), Reese Dziedzic (6-0, 210) and Joe Coriaci (5-9, 170). They all have better than average speed and play a physical brand of football, according to their coach.
Senior nose guard Brandon Mitchell (6-0, 215) is back at full strength from a knee injury suffered last year. “He looks as strong as ever,” Ahsmann said. “He’s just a monster.”
Returning at defensive ends are seniors Colton Nero (6-3, 190) and Joshua Beveridge (6-0, 210). Nero rotated in last season and gained playing time when starter Brett Barchard was injured. Beveridge is described as a speed rusher who gets off the ball quickly.
One of the team’s top athletes, senior Brad Walovitch (5-11, 185), returns at cornerback. He made 2 interceptions a year ago. The secondary will miss Kenny King and his area-best 7 interceptions, however, the defensive backfield gets a lift from the return to football of senior Will Ahsmann (6-3, 170), a basketball and baseball player. Senior Bryan Kazmer (5-11, 180), also a running back, will see some time in the secondary. So will senior Austin Fowler (6-0, 175), the backup quarterback.
“It’s a group that hits hard,” Coach Ahsmann said. “We have to tell our defense to lay off when they’re playing scout team just so we can see our quarterback throw the ball once in a while against our secondary. We feel good about our defense. It’s as strong as our offense was last year.”
Last year the offense rushed for 2,713 yards and threw for 1,456 more. However, three-year starting quarterback and all-state pick Drew Ormseth has moved on to Drake. Taking over the position is junior Brendan Chrystal (6-2, 210). He started for the varsity at safety as a sophomore. A larger athlete than Ormseth, Chrystal is a straight-ahead runner who likes to challenge tacklers when scrambling for yardage.
He’ll hand the ball off to a committee of running backs, including Coriaci, who was a member of the academic all-state team last year. Dziedzic filled in on occasion last season when leading rusher Bolek Mikulec was hurt.
He rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries. Kazmer will also get his share of carries, as will Mikulec’s younger brother, Karl Mikulec (6-0, 205). The senior hasn’t played football since his freshman year.
Walovitch returns at wide receiver, where he made 9 catches for 319 yards and 4 touchdowns last year.
Last year’s CL South freshman team finished 8-1. Two of that squad’s best linemen now find themselves on the varsity. Sophomores Pat Walsh (6-2, 210) and Mike Franke (6-2, 240) will join a line that includes senior center Ed Atkinson (6-3, 260). Forner at guard, and tackle Jake Byron (6-2, 240).
“We lost an awful lot on offense, so we’ll be polishing along the way,” Ahsmann said.