Wheeler: Taking the wheel
tabwheeler-PTB-0819-01
Wheeler High School
August 1, 2011
| Scott M. Bort~Sun-Times Media
Updated: August 18, 2011 6:47PM
Departed quarterback Sam O’Shea commanded the Wheeler offense like an expert driver at the throttle of a high-powered sports car. Bearcats fans who are used to seeing the scoreboard light up with rapid frequency might be seeing more of the same this year, but with a bit of a different style.
Nick Naspinski takes over at quarterback for Wheeler, which finished 11-1 a year ago.
“He’s a big, strong athlete,” coach Dan Klimczak said of the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior. “He’s got a fine football mind. He can run the ball, and he’s a very adept passer.”
Two seasons ago, Naspinski started at linebacker for Wheeler, but he missed all of last year with a torn labrum.
“It was pretty rough,” Naspinski said of rehabilitation for the injury. “It took about eight months.”
Naspinski said he is back to full strength and ready to lead the offense, which may focus more on the ground game than the air attack this season.
He played in the backup rotation at quarterback as a sophomore.
“The offense is great this year,” he said. “Robert Hurd and Mitchell Stevenson are very talented receivers.”
Naspinski said he feels that he’s a good decision-maker and able to get the extra yard when needed. He’s not shy about running the ball, and defenders will have a handful when Naspinski runs.
When asked whether he plans to try to avoid tacklers or go through them, he didn’t hesitate: “Run them over, sir.”
Naspinski said that team goals involve stepping up in the postseason.
Wheeler won 11 straight before falling 28-0 to Rensselaer in the sectional championship. Class 2A Wheeler, which plays in the Greater South Shore Conference, put up at least 32 points in every game before that, including totals of 55, 59, 65, 66, 70 and 71.
The Bearcats never have lost a game in GSSC play, and have posted three consecutive undefeated regular seasons.
“We’ve been pretty successful in the conference,” Naspinski said. “We want to take the next step in the playoffs and be great there.”
Klimczak thinks that Naspinski is key to helping the Bearcats make that leap.
“This will be his first year starting at varsity quarterback, but we’re very excited about having him under center,” the coach said.
The senior quarterback said he has been impressed with the Wheeler defense.
“It’s been pretty intense,” he said of practice. “They want to hit.”
Naspinski is undecided about his plans after high school, but will keep busy playing basketball and baseball after the football season.
Expectations will be high, but coach and team sound confident.
“Outside of practice, he’ll joke around, but once we’re on the field he expects us to work,” Naspinski said of his coach. “Everybody’s bought into that.”
Coach
Dan Klimczak
record
At school: 47-10 (sixth year)
Overall: 47-10 (sixth year)
Last season
Lost 28-0 to Rensselaer in sectional final
Key returnees
RB/WR Robert Hurd
OL/DL Mike Taposci
OLB Adam Abrell
WR/LB Mitchell Stevenson
Key losses
QB Sam O’Shea
College prospects
RB/WR Robert Hurd (Indiana St.)
OL/DL Mike Taposci (several)
Season outlook
The high-flying Bearcats rang up the scoreboard all year long on the way to 11 straight victories before falling in the postseason to Rensselaer. Sam O’Shea is no longer at the helm, but Nick Naspinski, who missed last season with an injury, is ready to step up. He’ll have some nice receiving and running options in Robert Hurd and Mitchell Stevenson.
Overall numbers are down slightly at Wheeler, but coach Dan Klimczak is confident in his team’s ability to keep things rolling.
“I certainly think we’re ahead of where we were last year,” Klimczak said when assessing practice. “We’ve got some holes to fill, but we’re very capable.”
Looming for the Bearcats are postseason opponents such as Rensselaer, North Judson and newly reclassified Andrean.
Up first is Boone Grove, which has a varsity team for the first time. “We’ve always shared a friendly rivalry in other sports,” Klimczak said. “They’re doing a great job over there.”
Postseason
Class 2A Sectional 25 (Andrean, Boone Grove, Bowman Academy, Lake Station, North Newton, Rensselaer, River Forest, Wheeler)
Schedule
Aug. 19 Boone Grove
Aug. 26 Kankakee Valley
Sept. 2 Whiting
Sept. 9 at North Newton
Sept. 16 at South Central
Sept. 23 River Forest
Sept. 30 Lake Station
Oct. 7 at Bishop Noll
Oct. 14 at Calumet
HISTORY LESSON
Season Record
2001 4-5
2002 6-4
2003 9-1, 7-0
2004 2-8, 1-6
2005 5-5, 5-2
2006 5-5, 4-3
2007 11-2, 7-0
2008 9-1, 7-0
2009 11-1, 7-0
2010 11-1, 7-0
Sectional titles: 2007
Roster
No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.
1 Nate Standiford 5-4 164 11 QB/DB
4 David Bolla 5-11 165 12 WR/DB
7 Jake Gore 5-10 155 12 WR/DB
9 Gavin Voss 6-1 160 12 K/P
12 Nick Naspinski 6-3 208 12 QB/LB
13 Alex Ruesta 5-6 153 10 QB/LB
15 Adam Abrell 5-10 165 12 RB/S
16 Mitchell Stevenson 6-1 185 12 WR/LB
18 Michael Crohan 5-11 150 9 QB/LB
21 Sam Bolla 5-8 175 9 RB/LB
22 Derek Hartwig 5-7 155 11 RB/DB
27 Chris Gore 5-5 135 9 RB/DB
30 Robert Hurd 5-7 160 12 WR/DB
34 Matt Pappas 5-8 183 10 RB/LB
37 Kirkland Kirincic 5-7 140 9 RB/LB
39 Hunter Hinkel 5-1 105 9 WR/DB
40 Brandon Ball 5-6 135 12 WR/DB
42 Corey Curtis 5-9 155 12 RB/LB
43 Bryan Trail 5-10 143 10 RB/LB
47 Jeremy Dunn 5-9 125 9 WR/DB
48 Emmanual Orlich 5-10 135 9 WR/DB
50 Shondale Batey 5-7 175 9 OL/LB
52 Carter Werno 5-11 150 9 OL/DL
53 Kyle Catherman 5-11 230 11 OL/DL
54 Jake Bertucci 5-10 200 10 OL/DL
55 Nick Roe 6-2 180 12 OL/DL
56 Jeremy Burney 6-2 210 11 OL/DL
59 Sean Pera 5-9 175 10 OL/DL
60 D.J. Perrine 6-1 280 12 OL/DL
61 Austin Whitaker 5-8 200 9 OL/DL
65 Jack Sommer 5-11 177 11 OL/DL
68 Ryan Cash 5-11 240 12 OL/DL
70 Edgar Hedge 5-11 190 10 OL/DL
72 Cody Riffett 5-5 240 9 OL/DL
75 Dominic Davids 6-4 265 9 OL/DL
77 Brandon Peyton 5-4 155 10 OL/DL
78 Mike Taposci 6-2 280 12 OL/DL
79 Christian Luna 5-11 210 9 OL/DL
80 Kyle Burch 5-11 155 10 OL/DL
81 Riley Smith 5-5 120 10 WR/DB
83 Michael Tasicas 5-8 150 11 WR/DB
88 Michael Palmer 6-1 175 11 WR/DB
97 Colin Jeffords 5-10 195 12 DL
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