The Grand Rapids football team finished last season all square. A 5-5 record, coming off an 8-1 record the year before, left the Thunderhawks hungry to get back to that spot, and hopefully their youth movement will pay off.

“The experience that a lot of these guys got, I mean, we ended up starting like 17 sophomores last year,” explained Greg Spahn, the Thunderhawks head coach. “Usually that means you’re taking lumps early and then it pays off later on. So we’re looking for that growth. Can we get that growth out of a lot of these guys, which, you know, I think we will.”

That young, core group of players is not only promoted by Grand Rapids’ coaches, but by the players themselves, citing the culture as a main factor.

“It’s been built up for many, many years,” said Oliver Spahn, a junior quarterback. “Coaching staff, we have one of the best in the state, I think. We’re all really tight-knit this year. We all played together last year. I mean, we only lost, what, five guys for both sides of the ball? So, I mean, that’s just the thing of it. You got to play together. You got to bond.”

“Well, we got a lot of guys with experience under their belt,” added Sam Dick, a senior linebacker. “So they’ll just be able to carry that confidence into this year and have another good season.”

The Thunderhawks kick things off on August 29th against Pine City, and then return home for their home opener on September 6th against Duluth Denfeld.