Oskaloosa Football Looks To Redeem Itself

Oskaloosa Indians Football 2015

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The waning days of summer vacation find student athletes getting ready for the upcoming season. At the same time, Volleyball, cross-country and football athletes are having to deal with the heat of Summer.

For Oskaloosa Football Head Coach Mike Sterner, it is officially 5 days into his third year as the head coach of the Oskaloosa Indians.

The Indians last year were 1-8 on the season, with the lone win coming at Saydel in week four.

Sterner explained that early in the year, the emphasis is on breaking some of “the bad habits and create some positive habits that are going to help them be successful”. Achieving those goals of good habits makes for a “bit of a roller coaster”. Sterner says there are really good days and really good moments, and then other times when “we have to work on it”.

“I really like the kids’ enthusiasm so far this season.”

With the loss of Nate Van Veldhuizen to graduation, a large piece of the Indian offense is gone for this upcoming year. Sophomore Jason Beebe went out at the end of the year with a serious injury, and, the now junior, appeared to hobble his way through baseball season.

Sterner says this team will be young, with only 12 members of the senior class on the team.

When it comes to finding that running game, Sterner says that he and the coaching staff are yet to spot who their starter will be for the season, especially with some younger returning players, some of whom have seen some time on the field. Callan Tomlin, Jason Beebe and Kyler Salazar all had time in Varsity last year, and could be a factor this year in developing the running game. Jack Moore is another weapon the Indians will be bringing to the field this year. The junior was a play-maker on JV, as well as seeing some time on Varsity. Bennett Spry is another of those talented players that could be impacting the Indians offense.

Senior Joe Sterner isn’t guaranteed his spot on the field yet either. Ethan Arnold is a junior that brings a good amount of experience to the position. Tucker Nunnikhoven is an incoming sophomore that will be eyeing that position for himself in the near future. “Any one of the three could be our starter yet. We don’t know yet.”

When it comes to picking those starting positions, Sterner says, “It’s going to be the kid that goes out and shows us they want it the most.”

Pella is once again the powerhouse in the District. The state champions are returning a very strong team, with many of their skill players returning. The Little Dutch have a good chance at repeating as state champions.

For Sterner, the focus he wants to give his team is for the first game, and each successive game after that, never looking past an opponent. “We’ve got to do some good things against Winterset. We’re not looking at game two or three.”

If Sterner is feeling pressure to perform this year, he’s not showing it. “It’s a new year, with new kids and we have to adjust things that are going to help fit our kids well. Last year obviously was a disappointment. Our kids did not want that to happen. Our coaches did not want that to happen.”

“Our coaching staff will be solid this year, and strong. Our younger kids are now growing, so they should be better.”

“Year three of what I’m [Sterner] trying to do. Year three is usually a year when you can try and move some things in the right direction,” explained Sterner, who says it takes about three years to get a new program going.

“Our coaching staff, the men I’ve [Sterner] selected to be with us and to be interacting with our kids, they’re positive men, they’re experienced in the game of football, and they do the right thing for kids. That’s what we’re in this for, to teach young men and young ladies, teach our young people how to be good people. It’s more than football.”

For this coming year, on offense, Sterner says to expect some new “wrinkles”, but the team should continue to do the things that were successful for them in the past. “Every year is a new challenge to adjust our offense,” added Sterner. Those challenges come with finding those positions that best utilize the talents of individuals, in order to make the team stronger.

This year, the Indians kick off the season with the Old Shoe Game, with the 9th grade team on the field at 4:45pm. Officially, the season kicks off the following week against the Winterset Huskies. The Indians lost to the Huskies last year in a heart-breaking single point loss on the Huskies home field.