The Waynedale football team had a bit of a struggle in 2024,
finishing 3-7 overall, 3-4 in the Wayne County Athletic League in Jesse
Kantner’s first year at the helm. The latter mark still put the Golden Bears
ahead of three teams in the conference. It was, however, their third
consecutive 3-7 mark, and they are looking this year to make a move back toward
the top of the conference, which hasn’t happened since Waynedale made the 2021
playoffs.
One thing Kantner is looking to do this year with the Golden
Bears is give them some stability. As their third coach in four years last
year, his mere return this season should help with that. It also should help
Waynedale overcome the loss of a dozen or more letter-winners on both sides of
the ball, most of them being the same players. The Golden Bears lost 13 on
offense but have 13 back; likewise, they lost 12 on defense but return 12.
Back in the fold offensively are junior quarterback Kamden
Alberson; sophomores Maddox Kidd and Dominic Miller; senior wide
receivers Kyler Bucher, Isaiah Miller and Lane Troyer and junior wideout Micah
Raber; senior running back Jayden Hochstetler, junior Reece Campbell and
sophomore Reid McKelvey; and senior linemen Kamden Lemon, Gradey Posey and
Brandon Walters, along with junior Branson Zuercher and sophomore Guy Polzel.
Among those back on the defense are seniors Posey, Walters,
Lemon, Troyer, Hochstetler and Bucher; juniors Raber, Zuercher, Campbell and Alberson;
and sophomores McKelvey, Polzel, Maddox and Kidd.
“I’ve focused on bringing stability to this program and
building it from the ground up,” Kantner said. “This year we will be young, but
we’ve focused on the execution of smaller things and letting the bigger picture
take care of itself. We will focus on the development of our young players, as well
as getting these seniors the season they deserve.”
