With a record of 7-1, the Wolves have dominated many games this season.
The famous saying, “There’s no I in team” is taken to heart by sports teams across the globe, but there needs to be a certain appreciation for individuals who play a major role in a team’s success.
The Elkhorn North football team is no exception, as there are players, sophomore through senior, as well as coaches, who play a huge role in the winning culture of the Wolves.
The coaching staff of the Wolves is second to none, working day and night to develop the best game plan for each team. They work closely with each other to identify the biggest threats on the opposing team, and also the best ways to exploit the weaknesses of the other teams.
Samuel Stanley is the face of the coaching staff, and is currently in his fifth season as the Wolves head coach. He has a record of 26-24, but that will surely improve over the next few seasons; over the previous three years, the Wolves are 24-8.
Stanley, also the defensive coordinator, has led his defense to a dominant season so far, giving up around 14 points per game, with 22 takeaways and 9 sacks.
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Jacob Rapp runs the show. With almost twenty years of coaching experience, he is considered one of the most reliable members of the group.
“My main job is to work with our offensive staff each week to develop the offensive game plan for our opponent, and create the scouting report for players,” Rapp said.
Rapp holds his players to a high standard, and it works. So far, eight games into the 2025 season, the Wolves are averaging almost 28 points and over 300 total yards per game.
Although these two coaches lead the different sides of the ball, there are many other coaches, on the field and off, who play a huge role in the Friday night success.
For example, line coaches Justin Carraher (Defense/JV) and Jackson Seim (Offense), remain in the press box for a majority of the game, and give instant feedback to the coaches down on the sideline.
Assistant coaches Mike Zeplin (LB/RB), Shane Henderson DL), Anthony Dunn (Head JV), Joshua Hoins (JV), and Seth Krivohlavek (JV) also play a huge role in the teams success.
The Wolves offense has been outstanding this year, and there are many players who make that happen each and every week.
At Quarterback, Junior Ethan Beachy runs the offense. After a year in the backup role, Beachy has expressed himself as one of the top quarterbacks in class B. Passing for over 1600 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, Beachy has been a standout player for the wolves.
Standing right behind Beachy is senior running back Jett Tinglehoff. After an impressive junior season, in which Tinglehoff ran for over 1000 yards and 15 touchdowns, he has continued his success this year. With almost 900 total yards and 13 touchdowns through just 9 games, he is looking to finish the season strong.
On the perimeter, there are many options for Beachy to throw the ball to. Juniors Hunter Rosenbaum and Jase Reynolds each have over 200 yards receiving, including five touchdowns between the two. Senior Kendall Gragert has tallied 177 receiving yards and 1 touchdown this season. But the number one option in the receiving game is clearly Junior Alex Uchtman, who has amassed over 700 yards and 8 touchdowns this season.
Down in the trenches lies a whole bunch of experience. In each spot on the offensive line, there is a senior with four years of high school football experience.
Tackles Max Jacob and AJ Paladino protect the Quarterback’s blind spot and give him time to pass. Guards Sam Steffen and Ben Madrigal help to move the big defensive lineman across the ball. Center Mason Murphy holds it down in the middle, working in tandem with the guards to open gaps and tallie up some pancakes.
There are many other players who rotate in, such as junior Ben Hanson (Left Tackle), sophomore Zack Wolfe (Tight end), and Seniors Jayden Kohnekamp (Right Guard) and Nathan Kudrna (Wide Receiver).
Jacob Rapp gave high praise to his offensive players for being coachable and making adjustments on the fly.
“It all starts with the great leadership from our seniors,” Rapp said. “They have bought into what we are doing on that side of the ball and have raised the level of play of everyone around them.”
Many players who stand out on offense do the same on defense.
In the secondary, cornerbacks Alex Uchtman and Kendall Gragert hold it down outside the numbers, with safeties Jett Tinglehoff and Nathan Kudrna lurking over the top.
Uchtman, Tinglehoff, and Kudrna have all accounted for at least two interceptions on the season.
Inside the linebacker core, Juniors Barry Fries (ILB) and Jase Reynolds (OLB), as well as Sophomore Ian Christo (ILB) and senior Parker Thomas (ILB) make more tackles than anyone else.
The group has accounted for 270 tackles on the year, with Fries accounting for 94, including 25 solo tackles.
The defensive line accounts for a big portion of the defense’s success. Seniors Ben Madrigal, and Jayden Kohnekamp hold it down inside, accounting for over 70 tackles on the season.
The defensive ends set the edge, closing the pocket and putting pressure on the quarterback. Seniors AJ Paladino, Sam Huff, as well as junior Ben Hanson have accounted for more than 50 QB hurries, as well as four sacks and four takeaways.
“The team’s success definitely starts with our offseason work. Through the summer, we bonded and really became a brotherhood which helps us in the close games, knowing that we can rely on the guy next to us,” Beachy said. “I can definitely say that everyone on the team has the same goal, and everyone of us, from players, to coaches, to managers has bought into the process.”
From the players on the field, coaches on the sideline, and players boosting the energy on the bench, the whole team looks to keep their success going, as they expect to make a deep playoff run.
