FZN Fall Sports Preview

Football

Head Coach: Joe Bacon (14th year)

Top Returners:

• Off.: Logan Knapp & Andrew Hoppe - OL (Sr.’s), Chris Reckel – QB/RB (Sr.), DJ Jones – RB (Jr.).
• Def.: Spencer Steinmeyer – LB (Sr.), DJ Jones – LB (Jr.), Chris Reckel – DB (Sr.), Jeremiah Dickerson – DB (Sr.), Jalen Lee – DB (Sr.).

Top Newcomers:

• Zach McGee – Sr. (WR/OLB).
  
• Payton Hoker – Sr. (QB/WR/DB)
• Adam Confer – Sr. (OL/DL).
  
• Miles Weddington – Sr. (RB).
• Brayden Miller – Jr. (RB).
• Conner O’Neal – Jr. (DB).
• PJ Henderson – Jr. (OLB).
• Shane Pruitt – So. (LB).

"We have a significant number of holes to fill on both sides of the ball due to that strong senior class that just graduated. Our challenge will be to get all 11 players on the field working together." Joe Bacon

First Game: 8/27 - 7:00 pm vs. Columbia: Battle

Team Goals and Expectations:

• Improve on last season’s accomplishments.
• Compete for a Conference & District title.
• Maximize our opportunities & play great football every week.
• Conduct ourselves with class & dignity regardless of the score of the game. “Always be bigger than the scoreboard.”

Quote: "Last year we graduated a remarkable group of Seniors from our team. This was a concern of ours heading into the off-season but our returning players have risen to the challenge. The level of play this summer has exceeded our expectations. More impressive, however, has been the attitude & effort we’ve seen on a daily basis. Sometimes when you’ve had success in the recent past your players can get content and unfocused but this group has really been pushing hard to give us the best chance possible to continue accomplishing great things." Joe Bacon

Boys Soccer

Head Coach: Chad Baldwin (2nd year)

Top Returners: Davis Herbst, Ben Schwerdt, Roman Merris, and Patrick Waidmann

Top Newcomers: Joey Linneman, AJ Wickerham, and Colby Thomas

First Game: August 28th v Lutheran St. Charles in the FZ Classic

Team goals and expectations: To continue to build up the program through the core principles of commitment, effort, attitude, accountability and a team first mentality. We expect to build upon and improve on last season's results and look to compete in each and every match this season.

Quote: "We had over 60 boys tryout for the soccer program this year and have more talent from top to bottom within the program than we've had in recent memory. We are excited to see how this group grows this year and in the future." Chad Baldwin

Cross Country

Head Coach: Josh Janisse (9th year)

Top Returners: Jailyn Ebert (State Qualifier) and Taylor Mason (GAC Central Champ & State Qualifier)

Top Newcomers: Daniel Meyer & Peyton Spellazza

First Meet: FZN Twilight Invitational- 8/28

Team Goals & Expectations: This year our goals are centered around our team mission:

NORTH CC
N- No Excuses
O- Optimistic
R- Relentless
T- Tradition
H- Humble and Hungry
C- Consistency
C- Culture

This will set our team up to honor the past and claim the future. We are striving to be a competitive team in the GAC Central and send athletes to compete at the state meet.

Quote: "We are focused on what we can control this season, which is our attitude and our effort. If we focus on these two things good outcomes will be had on the course" Josh Janisse

Girls Volleyball

Head Coach: Scott Clynes (2nd year)

Top Returners: Brooke Ronquest, Kailee McGee, Abbi King, Hannah Shylanksi, Madeleine Shylanski, Kenndey Janes, and Kayla Tilley

Top Newcomers: Jordan Ederer, Olivia Mannebach, Jenny Prinster, Izzi Bray, and Lily Porter

First game: 8/30 @ North Point High School in Wentzville at 5pm

Team Goals and Expectations: With a solid core of players returning and strong new varsity players added to the roster, making a run for Conference title and possibly District title is not out of the question.

Girls Golf
Head Coach: Mike Uffmann (1st Year)

Top Returners: Liz Bigler, Mackenzie Valentine, Heidi Ketchum, Grace Grafton

Top Newcomers: Mackenzie Darrah

First Meet: Monday, August 30 @ Lake Forest vs Timberland

Team Goals & Expectations: to continue to get better each time we pick up a club and enjoy a sport we can play the rest of our life
Quote: "We are really excited to have an opportunity to get better each day and have a program filled with phenomenal student-athletes." Mike Uffmann

Girls Tennis

Head Coach: Mark Brophy (1st Year)

Top Returners: Hadley Carrico, Ella Rosenberg, Madylin Morgan, Reagan Hamai, Gracie Weinhold, Sophia Hoersch, Alie Grimes, Lauren Forness.

Top Newcomers: Diana Calzada, Mariah Salvala, Lucy Paro

First Match: Fort Zumwalt West August 27th

Team Goals and Expectations: To encourage each other to grow as individuals by experiencing the importance of being part of a team by emphasizing sportsmanship, healthy lifestyle habits, fair play and self-confidence.

Quote: "We let our rackets do the talking." Mark Brophy

Softball

Head Coach: Steve Siebert (12th year)

Top Returners: Grace Thorn, Ali Burkemper, Victoria Martin, Emma Wood, Caroline Emge, McKenna Dydell, Lyla Campbell

Top Newcomers: Jewel Schade, Shea Nortrup, Madelyn Spencer, Kylie Hobbs, Lilliana Hairston, Allyson Stotler, Kaitlyn Stevenson, Sophia Abernathy

First Game: 8/27 @ Rockwood Summit Tournament (Blue Springs, Kelly)

Team goals and expectations: We have many young players new to varsity this year. We expect to improve individually and start clicking as a team with the help of our senior leadership.

Boys Swim and Dive

Head Coach: Alice Maloney (3rd Year)

Top Returners: Kenny Goeke, Tommy Stroud, Edward Woods

Top Newcomers: Caleb Burgard, Luke Burgard

First Meet: 8/31 @ Pattonville - 4:00 pm

Team goals and expectations: This year will be a growing year for the team because we lost some very important pieces to our puzzle last year, but we are determined to make an impact on the season. The coaching staff is excited to see many new faces come out for swim and dive this year and is excited to watch the team grow.

Quote: "This year we have a senior leader returning and in great shape. Kenny Goeke is ready to focus on breaking some school records as a team and he is focused on breaking an individual record. Kenny has his name already on the board and would like to see his name added to a different event. Kenny is joined by some fellow seniors, Tommy Stroud and Eduard Woods, who have made trips to State in the past. Our newcomer that should be on your radar is Caleb Burgard, a junior who is a transfer student from Jackson High School.Caleb is a diver who is truly coming into his own on the boards. Caleb has made the trip to State in the past and is working hard this year to not only make a return trip to State but to place at State. We are also very excited to have his younger brother Luke, who is trying to make his own mark in the diving world.Not only will they be a part of the DiveCats, they will also be swimming as SwimCats making themselves double threats." Alice Maloney