Wolverines' football fortunes may turn around this fall

After enduring one-win seasons in each of his first two years as the Wadena-Deer Creek head football coach, Ryan Kapping is hopeful this will be the breakout year the Wolverines have been waiting for.

With 11 returning starters, including seven juniors and four seniors, it looks as if the Wolverines' fortunes may finally be turning around.

One player W-DC will count on this season is 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior Matt Sweere. As a linebacker, Sweere was named to the All-Northern Lakes Conference team and will also see time at running back.

Senior Kevin Kephart returns to take over the reigns of the offense at quarterback.

Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines

Football coach -- Ryan Kapping, 3rd year

Career record -- 2-15

2001 record -- 1-8

Assistant coaches -- Tom VanErp, Sean Hoolihan, Norm Gallant, Brian Longerbone

Volleyball coach -- Sue Volkmann, 16th year

Career record -- 40-120

2001 record -- 3-1 in Mid-State Conference; 19-11 overall

Assistant coaches -- Heidi VanDyke, Pam Hamann

Cross country coach -- Terry

Olson, 10th year

Assistant coach -- Mike Brunsberg

Tennis coach -- Lori Paavola, 7th year

Career record -- 52-38

Assistant coach -- Trisha Kraemer

Joining Kephart in the backfield will be junior running backs Bradon Currie and Travis Pettit. Currie, 6-1, 175, will also play in the defensive backfield while Pettit, 5-10, 170, will see some time at linebacker.

More importantly, the Wolverines return four starters in the offensive line. Juniors Foster Lysdahl (tackle), Brady Folkstad (center), Dustin Uselman (guard) and Matt Gastecki (guard) will provide protection for Kephart and holes for Currie and Pettit.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Zach Snyder, NT; Kyle Trout, DE; Kevin Kephart, QB; Seth Meier, WR; Mike Breid, DE.

Juniors -- Matt Sweere, RB-LB; Foster Lysdahl, T; Brady Folkstad, C; Dustin Uselman, G; Matt Gastecki, G; Tyler Neu, QB-LB; Bradon Currie, RB-DB; Travis Pettit, RB-LB.

Additional varsity candidates

Seniors -- Jon Stevens, DE; Tyler Ice, WR-DB.

Juniors -- Brice Gray, OL-LB; B.J. Olson, RB-DB-K; Tim Snyder, RB-DB; Luke Horn, TE-DE; Bryan Sonoloja, TE-DE; Justin Shultz, G-DT; Cliff Aldrich, WR-DB; Carl Allen, RB-DB.

Girls' cross country

Cross country coach Terry Olson returns after a one-year hiatus and will have some talented girl runners to work with.

One of those runners will be senior Avery Buresh, the Class 1A state champion in the 800-meter run at this year's state track meet. Besides being a gifted runner, Buresh will supply leadership.

Three other seniors, Karissa Andrews, Megan Boline and Shelby Tabery, are expected to help lead three freshmen that make up the rest of the squad.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Avery Buresh, Karissa Andrews, Megan Boline and Shelby Tabery.

Freshmen -- Samantha McGrane, Annie Kramer.

Additional varsity candidates

Freshmen -- Morgan Paulson.

Boys' cross country

The Wolverines will have their work cut out for them as they try to replace graduated all-state runner Adam Asfeld.

With only four returning runners from last year, the Wolverines may experience a few growing pains this season.

W-DC will be leaning on juniors Rocky Jantzen and Andy Hay to help guide younger runners such as sophomore Jeff Reidel and freshman Eric Asfeld.

Returning letterwinners

Juniors -- Rocky Jantzen, Andy Hay; Sophomores -- Jeff Reidel; Freshmen -- Eric Asfeld.

Additional varsity candidates

Juniors -- Tyler Pederson; Freshmen -- Brock Puskarich, Matthew McCullough; Seventh graders -- Cory Asfeld.

Girls' tennis

The Wadena-Deer Creek girls' tennis team will experience a youth movement this season as Mikaela Hutson will be the lone senior on the squad.

Besides Hutson, who will return as a starter in singles, the Wolverines have junior Jenn Taves coming back to compete in doubles, as well as junior Bridget Wynn, who will play singles.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Mikaela Hutson; Juniors -- Jenn Taves, Bridget Wynn, Amanda Wegscheid, Sarah Jasmer; Sophomores -- Jenny Kraemer, Darcy Uselman; Eighth graders -- Shelby Paavola.

Additional varsity candidates

Freshmen -- Sarah Timm, Megan Packer; Eighth graders -- Bethany Anderson, Courtney Bernu.

Volleyball

After back-to-back winning seasons, Wadena-Deer Creek volleyball coach Sue Volkmann, is entering a rebuilding phase with her program as the Wolverines said good-bye to eight seniors from last year's team that won the subsection and say hello to only two returning starters and a handful of varsity hopefuls.

Angie Johnson is the only senior on this year's team. She will try to provide leadership along with numerous kills from her outside hitter position.

Junior Brittany Anderson is also a returning starter and will also provide some power as an outside hitter.

Returning letterwinners

Seniors -- Angie Johnson; Juniors -- Brittany Anderson.

Additional varsity candidates

Juniors -- Jessica Radermacher, Annie Sundby; Sophomores -- Sarah Tabery; Freshmen -- Alyssa Hay, Nikki Kneisel, Jessica Davis, Kasey Theisen.