Front Row: London Rankin, Darico Griggs, Waylon Kevern, Konstanine Pulos-Siegel, Bryce Shaver. Back Row: Ethan Vossekuil, Callahan Millis, Michael Moschke, Brody Wynsma, Mason Darke, Garrett Olejarczyk.
(Photo courtesy of Scott DeCamp)
By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – Reeths-Puffer’s football program got off to an encouraging start in the first two seasons under head coach Cody Kater with back-to-back playoff seasons in 2022 (6-4 record) and 2023 (7-3).
Last fall, the Rockets could never ignite en route to a 2-7 record, requiring a reset by Kater & Co.
This fall, the definition of success in the R-P program will look a bit different.
“I felt like the first two years we were kind of riding this wave of a lot of people wanting to come out and play because we felt like we’re going to be successful because of maybe new staff but also the
players and nucleus of guys that were in there and they kind of helped pave the way,” Kater said.
“Then last year, I felt a lot of guys were playing football for the wrong reasons. Our numbers were still pretty high. This year, we finally hit the breaking point of, like, we’re finding the guys that want to play football but we’re also finding the guys that want to go through hard things and learn how to strain and go from there.”
As has been the case for Reeths-Puffer, the schedule is again a challenging one. The Rockets kick off the season Aug. 28 at home against Forest Hills Central. On Sept. 5, R-P hits the road for a tough one at Caledonia.
Tough tests against OK Green foes Mona Shores, Muskegon, Byron Center, and Forest Hills Northern await as well.
“The little details matter the most when we have such a hard schedule and we’re competing so much against these good teams,” said senior Konstantine Pulos-Siegel, who plays right guard on offense and anchor on defense.
Rather than being defined by wins and losses, Kater and the Rockets have a different way of measuring success and a different way of getting there: “Prefer to earn” and “Choose hard.”
Rarely is the easy way, the best way.
“I would say probably three or four games at the end of last year, we were like, ‘OK, we might have to break this thing down to build it and create a 10-year plan here,” said Kater, whose 2024 squad began the season 2-2 but lost its final five contests.
“Totally different staff (this season), totally different outlook, totally different – I guess, just alignment of where we’re trying to go and the people who want to be here and understand what we have to do.”
Reeths-Puffer is looking at mid-30s for varsity roster numbers this season and a little more than 60 program-wide.
A familiar face from last season, but playing a new role this fall, is senior Mason Darke. The 6-foot-4 Darke played quarterback for the Rockets last season, but he’s converting to wide receiver. He returns with even more confidence, having captured a national championship in the 110-meter hurdles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., in June.
Vying for the R-P starting QB job are sophomore Cole Piper and junior Braylon Swain.
One notable newcomer to the program, albeit a familiar face in the hallways at Reeths-Puffer High School, is defensive coordinator Paul Siembida. The two-time state champion as a player at Muskegon Catholic Central also brings a no-nonsense attitude to the Rockets program.
But, as senior running back/outside linebacker Callahan Millis said, coach-led teams only get so far. He said that leadership was missing from players last season.
“I feel like we didn’t trust each other enough as a team,” said senior Garrett Olejarczyk, who plays center and defensive end. “This year, I feel the trust more within ourselves. Last year we didn’t trust each other and that’s what killed us in the end.”
According to Millis, last season some were more concerned about making the “cool” play rather than a winning one.
Again, it comes down to “choosing hard,” even when that’s not the easier path.
“Last year there were a lot of plays – even seniors – when the hard play would be to chase somebody down and make the tackle,” Millis said. “Instead, they’d see a guy and just jog around and they’d go and try to lay him out so they’d look cool in front of the student section. But then the guy scored when they could have tackled him for a 10-yard gain and it would have been just fine. They wanted
to look cool for Instagram. That’s not what it’s about.”
Kater and the Rockets are focused on being process-oriented and worrying about the work.
There are no shortcuts to success, not the way Kater views it.
“I think that’s how I would define success for us in this program, especially this year, having a team come through here that maybe hasn’t had all the names and all the success from prior opportunities in middle school or youth or whatever that may be,” Kater said. “But just doing the work, worrying about the work, talking about the work, and being process-oriented, that would be a huge success for us.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – Reeths-Puffer’s football program got off to an encouraging start in the first two seasons under head coach Cody Kater with back-to-back playoff seasons in 2022 (6-4 record) and 2023 (7-3).
Last fall, the Rockets could never ignite en route to a 2-7 record, requiring a reset by Kater & Co.
This fall, the definition of success in the R-P program will look a bit different.
“I felt like the first two years we were kind of riding this wave of a lot of people wanting to come out and play because we felt like we’re going to be successful because of maybe new staff but also the
players and nucleus of guys that were in there and they kind of helped pave the way,” Kater said.
“Then last year, I felt a lot of guys were playing football for the wrong reasons. Our numbers were still pretty high. This year, we finally hit the breaking point of, like, we’re finding the guys that want to play football but we’re also finding the guys that want to go through hard things and learn how to strain and go from there.”
As has been the case for Reeths-Puffer, the schedule is again a challenging one. The Rockets kick off the season Aug. 28 at home against Forest Hills Central. On Sept. 5, R-P hits the road for a tough one at Caledonia.
Tough tests against OK Green foes Mona Shores, Muskegon, Byron Center, and Forest Hills Northern await as well.
“The little details matter the most when we have such a hard schedule and we’re competing so much against these good teams,” said senior Konstantine Pulos-Siegel, who plays right guard on offense and anchor on defense.
Rather than being defined by wins and losses, Kater and the Rockets have a different way of measuring success and a different way of getting there: “Prefer to earn” and “Choose hard.”
Rarely is the easy way, the best way.
“I would say probably three or four games at the end of last year, we were like, ‘OK, we might have to break this thing down to build it and create a 10-year plan here,” said Kater, whose 2024 squad began the season 2-2 but lost its final five contests.
“Totally different staff (this season), totally different outlook, totally different – I guess, just alignment of where we’re trying to go and the people who want to be here and understand what we have to do.”
Reeths-Puffer is looking at mid-30s for varsity roster numbers this season and a little more than 60 program-wide.
A familiar face from last season, but playing a new role this fall, is senior Mason Darke. The 6-foot-4 Darke played quarterback for the Rockets last season, but he’s converting to wide receiver. He returns with even more confidence, having captured a national championship in the 110-meter hurdles at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., in June.
Vying for the R-P starting QB job are sophomore Cole Piper and junior Braylon Swain.
One notable newcomer to the program, albeit a familiar face in the hallways at Reeths-Puffer High School, is defensive coordinator Paul Siembida. The two-time state champion as a player at Muskegon Catholic Central also brings a no-nonsense attitude to the Rockets program.
But, as senior running back/outside linebacker Callahan Millis said, coach-led teams only get so far. He said that leadership was missing from players last season.
“I feel like we didn’t trust each other enough as a team,” said senior Garrett Olejarczyk, who plays center and defensive end. “This year, I feel the trust more within ourselves. Last year we didn’t trust each other and that’s what killed us in the end.”
According to Millis, last season some were more concerned about making the “cool” play rather than a winning one.
Again, it comes down to “choosing hard,” even when that’s not the easier path.
“Last year there were a lot of plays – even seniors – when the hard play would be to chase somebody down and make the tackle,” Millis said. “Instead, they’d see a guy and just jog around and they’d go and try to lay him out so they’d look cool in front of the student section. But then the guy scored when they could have tackled him for a 10-yard gain and it would have been just fine. They wanted
to look cool for Instagram. That’s not what it’s about.”
Kater and the Rockets are focused on being process-oriented and worrying about the work.
There are no shortcuts to success, not the way Kater views it.
“I think that’s how I would define success for us in this program, especially this year, having a team come through here that maybe hasn’t had all the names and all the success from prior opportunities in middle school or youth or whatever that may be,” Kater said. “But just doing the work, worrying about the work, talking about the work, and being process-oriented, that would be a huge success for us.”
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