Coach hopes promising offensive line,
commitment will help keep Rams competitive
By Bruce Rolfe
The slate is clean and the Galesburg-Augusta varsity football team will be looking to improve on a 2-7 overall record last year when injuries and physical and mental errors factored into last season’s disappointing overall record and 0-4 SAC finish.
“I was certainly disappointed with our record last season. We definitely did not meet our expectations,” said fourth year Ram head coach Chuck Hadley.
Hadley adds when reflecting on last year’s record, the team was decimated by injuries, headlined with the loss of starting quarterback Nolan Brewer in the third game of the season and the loss of starting linebacker and running back John Klimp early in week No.4.
The G-A coach admits despite the injuries to key players, he felt his team remained competitive every week except one game facing a schedule that consisted of six playoff bound teams.
Despite being sidelined for most of the season Klimp rushed for 563 yards on 84 carries with six touchdowns, He added nine catches for 84 yards. Defensively, Klimp had a team high 94 tackles, including two tackles for a loss and one sack, and two fumble recoveries. Klimp also provided a spark on special teams, totaling 123 yards on six returns. His presence on both sides of the ball will certainly be missed.
“In small school football it is imperative that you stay healthy because rosters lack the depth that bigger schools possess,” said Hadley.
Looking ahead to this season, Hadley admits making the playoffs for the first time since 1997 is something that motivates this year’s team.
“This group wants to be the group to break that streak. However, breaking that streak will be no easy task as we have another tough schedule,” observed the Ram head coach.
In addition to division powerhouses Lawton (9-2 last season), Schoolcraft (7-3) and Saugatuck (8-3), all playoff teams with a combined record of 24-8, G-A has added three schools with enrollments more than twice of G-A in Allegan (5-4), South Haven (6-4 and a playoff qualifier) and Coloma (3-6).
“It’s a tough schedule but it’s one with great opportunity. The MHSAA playoff system rewards playing tough competition and we will have bonus point opportunities throughout the season,” said Hadley.
G-A got a brief feel of playing in the new Maskill Stadium last season for one home game after the season was dedicated October 6 and Hadley said his team is excited to play an entire season in the new facility. “It seems like we’ve been practicing in the shadow of it forever,” adds Hadley.
The G-A fourth year head coach feels with two full time starters and three others who saw significant playing time, the offensive line should be one of G-A’s strengths.
The offensive line that helped the Rams produce 1608 rushing yards, 1804 total yards, and 86 first downs is anchored by junior Bradlee Hubbard, who played every snap at center last season. He will be joined by juniors Prince Franz and Aiden Moses and the lone senior returner on the offensive line, Anakin Jordan. The five average about 230 pounds, which Hadley said “is by far the biggest group I’ve had since coming to G-A.”
Two returners that could spark the offense include senior Levi Born, who rushed for 275 yards on 69 carries and scored two touchdowns and senior quarterback Nolan Brewer, who finished the season completing 6-for-14 passes for 108 yards and one interception, while adding another 26 yards on 10 carries.
The duo also stood out defensively. Born had 37 tackles including one sack to go with one interception and Brewer finished with 29 tackles with one interception and one fumble recovery.
The slate is clean and the Galesburg-Augusta varsity football team will be looking to improve on a 2-7 overall record last year when injuries and physical and mental errors factored into last season’s disappointing overall record and 0-4 SAC finish.
“I was certainly disappointed with our record last season. We definitely did not meet our expectations,” said fourth year Ram head coach Chuck Hadley.
Hadley adds when reflecting on last year’s record, the team was decimated by injuries, headlined with the loss of starting quarterback Nolan Brewer in the third game of the season and the loss of starting linebacker and running back John Klimp early in week No.4.
The G-A coach admits despite the injuries to key players, he felt his team remained competitive every week except one game facing a schedule that consisted of six playoff bound teams.
Despite being sidelined for most of the season Klimp rushed for 563 yards on 84 carries with six touchdowns, He added nine catches for 84 yards. Defensively, Klimp had a team high 94 tackles, including two tackles for a loss and one sack, and two fumble recoveries. Klimp also provided a spark on special teams, totaling 123 yards on six returns. His presence on both sides of the ball will certainly be missed.
“In small school football it is imperative that you stay healthy because rosters lack the depth that bigger schools possess,” said Hadley.
Looking ahead to this season, Hadley admits making the playoffs for the first time since 1997 is something that motivates this year’s team.
“This group wants to be the group to break that streak. However, breaking that streak will be no easy task as we have another tough schedule,” observed the Ram head coach.
In addition to division powerhouses Lawton (9-2 last season), Schoolcraft (7-3) and Saugatuck (8-3), all playoff teams with a combined record of 24-8, G-A has added three schools with enrollments more than twice of G-A in Allegan (5-4), South Haven (6-4 and a playoff qualifier) and Coloma (3-6).
“It’s a tough schedule but it’s one with great opportunity. The MHSAA playoff system rewards playing tough competition and we will have bonus point opportunities throughout the season,” said Hadley.
G-A got a brief feel of playing in the new Maskill Stadium last season for one home game after the season was dedicated October 6 and Hadley said his team is excited to play an entire season in the new facility. “It seems like we’ve been practicing in the shadow of it forever,” adds Hadley.
The G-A fourth year head coach feels with two full time starters and three others who saw significant playing time, the offensive line should be one of G-A’s strengths.
The offensive line that helped the Rams produce 1608 rushing yards, 1804 total yards, and 86 first downs is anchored by junior Bradlee Hubbard, who played every snap at center last season. He will be joined by juniors Prince Franz and Aiden Moses and the lone senior returner on the offensive line, Anakin Jordan. The five average about 230 pounds, which Hadley said “is by far the biggest group I’ve had since coming to G-A.”
Two returners that could spark the offense include senior Levi Born, who rushed for 275 yards on 69 carries and scored two touchdowns and senior quarterback Nolan Brewer, who finished the season completing 6-for-14 passes for 108 yards and one interception, while adding another 26 yards on 10 carries.
The duo also stood out defensively. Born had 37 tackles including one sack to go with one interception and Brewer finished with 29 tackles with one interception and one fumble recovery.
One intriguing addition will be senior running back and defensive linebacker Ashton Matrau, who transferred to G-A from Climax-Scotts after enjoying a very nice season on both sides of the ball as well as having a big season on special teams. Matrau rushed for 452 yards on 48 carries, while scoring nine rushing touchdowns. He caught nine passes for 173 yards. Matrau had 236 punt return yards and 59 kick return yards. Defensively last year at C-S, the Ram transfer student accumulated 88 tackles with one interception and two fumble recoveries.
Hadley also likes the commitment he has seen so far from this team. He said there was nearly perfect attendance at G-A’s summer camps and seven on seven drills. “I haven’t had to beg a kid to show up. Everybody on this teams wants to be here and wants to get better,” observed the Ram coach.
Cross country teams have small numbers
but coach looks forward to season
By Bruce Rolfe
While the Galesburg-Augusta boys cross country team will start the new season with just enough runners to score as a team and the girls will not, G-A coach Chris Thomas is hoping for some good things to come out of the season.
The boys will have five runners and the girls two.
Thomas said both girls on the team play volleyball, which will likely limit their cross country activity to Saturday invitationals.
The four returning letterwinners on the boys cross country team are seniors Landen Bouchard and Carter Stevens, junior Knighten Rockwell and sophomore Nick Stevens. Freshman Ashton Dingee is a first year runner.
Carter Stevens was SAC All Conference last year.
“I am very curious and optimistic about the boys team. Landen and Carter have stoked the competitive flames of the team and are leading by example. The boys have worked hard this summer. Hopefully, that effort pays off,” said Thomas, who is entering her fifth season as the high school cross country coach after serving two years as middle school cross country coach.
Running on the girls cross country team is sophomore Ellesa Callender and freshman Claire Callender.
“They are both strong competitors and will run their best. Both are awesome kids and I am happy to have them on the team,” adds Thomas.
Thomas said one highlight this season will be a relay the team plans to run in for homecoming, carrying the game ball from Delton to G-A’s Maskill Stadium October 11. The Ram coach said she hopes to get alumni involved in this event.
Varsity volleyball team expects to be
well rounded offensively; have 6 seniors
By Bruce Rolfe
After finishing with a fine 22-13-4 overall record and second place finish in the SAC Valley Division (4-1) last season, a senior heavy Galesburg-Augusta varsity volleyball team is eager to have another strong season that will hopefully be filled with memories and accomplishments.
G-A, under third year coach Jonica Klimp, began the new season August 27 with a home contest against Comstock.
The team features a group of six seniors who have been playing volleyball together for years, combined with four juniors eager to make contributions.
Returning letter winners include seniors Suzanne Nichols (setter), Jaidyn Klimp, (middle blocker), Megan Ranes (outside hitter), Lilianna Thompson (defensive specialist), Samantha Mobley (defensive specialist) and Rhyann Wilson (opposite hitter).
The rest of the team will consist of juniors BreAnna Keene (middle blocker), Grace Gibson (outside hitter), Charlotte Lockner (outside hitter), and Addison Born (defensive specialist).
Klimp is especially eager to see how this year’s group of seniors that have been playing sports together since their childhood, will transition that familiarity with each other on the floor into their senior season.
“There is homegrown trust and comradery all ready built in the team. We also have one of the most powerful hitters in the league, and a well-rounded offense to keep the other team guessing. This group will attack the ball, and will strive to earn every point,” observed the Lady Ram coach.
While Klimp welcomes any improvement on last year’s overall and SAC record, she admits the schedule once again includes some talented teams.
G-A will once again play 2023 state champion Kalamazoo Christian in the regular season. She adds Watervliet, Martin, and Constantine will offer strong competition and have a history of successful volleyball teams.
The Lady Rams will be aiming for a deeper run in the postseason after a first round district semifinal loss to Schoolcraft last year, 3-2 (21-25, 25-15, 22- 25, 25-21, 15-17).
“It will be great practice as we yet again have a tough district, and playing high level teams in season will help us prepare for the state tournament,” said Klimp.
Klimp is also happy G-A is beginning its third season with a freshman volleyball program, which she feels is not only good for the student-athlete, but the program. This year’s freshman schedule includes 11 events.
“Having a freshman team not only allows more athletes to play on a team, it also gives us another year to develop girls with direct coaching and more playing time. We are able to take our JV players and really develop them to be varsity ready when their time comes,” said the G-A coach.
Klimp will be assisted this season by Katlyn Dunithan, JV coach Kristin Gibson and freshman coach Delany Dack.
Freshman volleyball team defeats
Kalamazoo Hackett, enjoys strong
effort at Fennville Tournament
The Galesburg-Augusta freshman volleyball team rallied for a third game win to secure a 2-1 victory over Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep on the road August 26, two days after enjoying a strong effort in the Fennville Tournament.
G-A started strong in the first game at Hackett with eight service points and the rest of the team made contributions along the way to register a 25-16 win in the first game.
The Lady Rams fell to Hackett 16-25 in the second game, but rallied to win the third game 15-4.
G-A coach Delany Dack said quite a few players had strong serve efforts to help the team move ahead and hold on for the win in the deciding third game.
G-A Freshman Volleyball Team Flourishes In Pool Play, Falls In 1st Round Of Bracket Play At Fennville
The Lady Ram freshman volleyball team won all of its games in pool play before losing in the first round of bracket play at the Fennville Tournament August 24.
G-A earned pool plays wins over Fennville (25-18), Paw Paw (25-21) and Holland Black River (25-15).
The Lady Rams then lost to Otsego in the first round in gold bracket action, 18-25, 18-25.
Coach Dack said throughout the tournament her team enjoyed many serve runs to go along with some rally wins.
The freshmen will return to action September 5 at home against Colon at 5:30 p.m.
