By Hayden Swope
Many have been excited to see what St. John’s-Tipton has up their sleeve this year. Under the leadership of head coach Lance Bergmann, the Bluejays are looking towards the future — and a winning record.
“Our expectation is to experience growth as a program in every way,” assistant coach Parker Gates said. “Our numbers have increased over the summer which has been and will be beneficial every practice. We want our players to improve each day in some way and build upon it as the season progresses.”
With many new faces in new positions, the Bluejays will look to key players such as Kaden Rabe and Dominic Eilert on the offensive line, sophomores Brooks Dunstan and Kaden Phillips at quarterback and running back, and John Mick at tight end.
“Our boys have shown the desire to improve and get better all summer,” Gates said. “We have a group that has a good amount of overall athleticism. Our group is intelligent and adapts quickly to new things that we throw at them.”
While the schedule is never easy, Bergmann, Gates, and the rest of the squad are looking forward to the competition every week.
“Each game will be important stepping stones for us as we navigate a handful of new players and youth,” Gates said. “Historically, St. John’s-Tipton vs Osborne has been a rivalry of sorts in many sports. Both teams bring in good young groups that will be fun to watch develop over the next few years. St. John’s-Tipton vs Thunder Ridge has also shown to be a competitive battle, resulting in a few thrillers over the years.”
