Lena/STAA football co-op young, but ready to compete

The Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy co-op is hoping for a bounce back season after going winless last fall.

Co-coaches Dale Lange and Eddie Huberty will have a young and inexperienced roster to work with, but are optimistic they can turn in a competitive season.

Lining up in the offensive backfield for the co-op will be junior Logan Shallow and sophomores Jake Belongia, Josh Kristof and Ethan Braley.

Threats in the passing game will include seniors Alex Powers, Ethan Russell, Lucas Hofer and Miles Maloney; junior Lane Whiting; and sophomores Sam Marquardt and Sidney Sylvester.

Blocking for the team will be senior Griffin Knox, juniors Mason Simonson and Blake DeDamos, and sophomores Elijah Gott and Brady Smith.

On defense, Belongia, Simonson, Gott, Knox and DeDamos will serve as linemen, with Kristof, Powers, Shallow and Whiting serving as linebackers.

Shallow will also spend some time in the secondary, along with Russell and Braley.

Kristof is the team’s lone returning all-conference player. He made the honorable mention team as a linebacker.

The co-op has two games scheduled against Wausaukee, Gillett and Suring this fall.

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