Anna’s Zach Osborn breaks through the Tippecanoe line for a touchdown during a scrimmage on Friday in Tipp City. Osborn ran for 1,457 yards and 27 touchdowns last season and is one of seven returning starters on offense.
Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News
ANNA — Anna finished last season with a strong playoff run and is hoping to keep the success up this season.
Nick Marino returns for his 10th season with the team. He has a 54-41 career record, with his best season coming in 2019 when the Rockets won a Division VI state title.
The Rockets finished with a 8-6 overall record finishing fifth in the Midwestern Athletic Conference with a 4-4 record. Anna won three playoff games and advanced to a regional final before losing to eventual D-VI runner-up Versailles; it was the second longest playoff run in program history.
The Rockets have seven offensive and eight defensive returning starters this season in seniors Zach Osborn (RB/LB), Alex Shappie (QB), Aaron Shappie (RB/WR/LB), Noah Aufderhaar (WR/LB), Nolan Howell (OL/DL), Clay Cummins (WR/S) and Trevor Roberts (FB/LB) and junior Nolan Wilt (OL/DL). Senior Canden Palmisano (WR/S) also returns to the team in 2024.
Alex Shappie threw for 2,161 yards in 2023 with a 16/12 TD/INT ratio. Osborn nearly had 1,500 yards rushing last year capping out at 1,452 with 27 touchdowns over 227 carries. Aufderhaar finished 2023 with 636 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 34 receptions.
“We brought a lot of key skilled guys back,” Marino said. “Osborn and Aaron Shappie are a solid RB duo. Alex Shappie brings a lot of leadership being a three-year starter.
“The line on both ends is anchored by Wilt. We have had a lot of guys step up into different roles and they have done a nice job taking on that adversity. We’re looking to improve every day and control what we can control. Players and coaches are locked in and very excited for the season.”
Wilt was second team all-MAC defens for interior lineman in 2023.
Some key newcomers for Anna that Marino highlighted are seniors Gage Hillenbrand (OL/DL), Jack Edwards (OL/LB) and Carson Pleiman (WR/S), junior Jackson Billing (OL/DL) and sophomore TJ Roberts (FB/LB).
“Gage fills a big hole for us on the line and has had a great preseason,” Marino said. “He was hurt all last year and would’ve had a big impact. Jack gives us a lot of physicality at the LB position and Carson is a field general on defense.”
Marino noted three key losses to the squad entering this season being Trey Heitkamp (WR/CB), Mason Hughes (OL/DL) and Lane Howell (OL/DL).
When asked about his outlook on the MAC, Marino expected a dog fight with the strength of the other teams and is proud to be in such a competitive conference.
Minster
The Minster Wildcats finished 2023 with a 10-3 record, tying them with Versailles for third place in the MAC. They lost to Marion Local in a regional semifinal.
The Wildcats are coached by Seth Whiting in his fourth season with the team. Whiting has a record of 19-17 at Minster.
Minster’s offensive returners this year will be seniors Brogan Stephey (QB), James Neimeyer (WR), Dylan Heitkamp (WR), Caleb Couse (WR), Kole Richard (WR), Connor Schmiesing (RB), Isaac Larger (FB), Ian Homan (OT), Will Frimel and Gabe Bornhorst (OG) and juniors Noah Schwiterman (WR) and Cole Albers (TE).
Returning for the Wildcats on defense will be seniors Ian Homan (DE), Will Frimel (DT), Will Knapke (MLB), Connor Schmiesing (SS), James Niemeyer (CB) and Caleb Couse (CB) and junior Noah Schwiterman (FS).
“We return a lot of solid football players and are looking forward to being a competitive team,” Whiting said. “We must stay healthy, that has been our Achilles heel the last three seasons. We are lucky in that we get to play in one of the toughest conferences in the state.”
Stephey suffered a broken arm in Week 5 and missed the rest of last season. He threw for 850 yards and nine TDs and ran for 470 yards and 10 TDs before the injury. Niemeyer played the rest of the season at quarterback. He had 357 receiving yards and five TDs last year as a receiver before moving to QB; he threw for 1,248 yards and 15 TDs.
“Our kids have worked hard and have given themselves a chance to compete at a really high level,” Whiting said. “I am excited for them and looking forward to seeing how this team grows throughout the season. To see how we handle all the ups and downs and to see what new leaders might emerge from our younger classes.”
Top newcomers for Minster this year are seniors Evan Prenger (OL), Ty Hess (OL), Max Knapke (F/LB) juniors Grady Hein (OL), Dom Meyer (RB/LB), Chase Dirksen (F/LB), Andrew Ketner (WR/DB) and Grant Larger (RB/LB) and sophomore Tyler Bergman (WR/DB).
Whiting listed his players to keep eyes on as Stephey, Neimeyer, Schmeising, Albers and Homan.
New Bremen
The New Bremen Cardinals are coached by Chris Schmidt, entering his 10th season with the team. Schmidt has a career record of 57-48 with the Cardinals and finished 2023 with a 5-7 (3-5) record and lost in the second round of playoffs.
Returning letterwinners for New Bremen are seniors Grant Dicke (WR/DB), Jack Sailer (OL/DL), Owen Rindler (TE/LB), Rogan Muether (RB/DB), Brady Keller (RB/LB), Vince Wilker (OL/DL), Logan Kreig (RB/DB) and Ryland Busse (TE/LB) and juniors Jaylen Powell (OL/LB), Jordan Evers (OL/DL), Sam Homan (OL/DL) and Caleb Keller (RB/DB).
“The focus this year is to be better, both on and off the field in multiple areas,” Schmidt said. “That starts with me, I need to be a better head coach than I was last year. We will be a younger team than what we have been in the last few years but I am excited to see, with continued growth and development, what type of team we can become.”
Some newcomers to varsity this year that could have some impact are juniors Jace Lange (WR/DB), Aidan Eastham (K), Pierce Whitlatch (RB/LB), Aaron Wuebker (TE/LB), Ryan Dwenger (WR/DB), Parker Ashman (OL/DL), Trevor Topp (RB/DB) and Dylan Wente (OL/LB) and sophomore Gavin Dicke (QB/DB) and senior Jacob Noll (OL/LB).
Versailles
The Versailles Tigers are coached by Ryan Jones who has a 45-18 record in his five seasons as head coach of the Tigers. In 2023, Versailles finished with a 13-3 (6-2) record, losing in the state championship game against Kirtland.
Returning starters for the Tigers in 2024 are seniors James Schmidtmeyer (FB/LB), Jace Watren (WR/DB), Blake Henry (RB/LB), Ross Francis (RB/LB), Luke Keiser (TE/DE) and Kayden Starkey (OL/LB).
Other key returners for Versailles will be senior Ben Subler (QB/DB) and junior Ethan Wilker (QB/LB).
Reach Sidney Daily News assistant editor Ryan Harless at 937-538-4651, or follow @RyanHarless_ on Twitter.
