Howie
Howie: Hermantown football has the enthusiasm. Now comes the evidence.
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Mike Zagelmeyer has coached enough football to recognize the difference between a productive August and a successful November. He likes what he has seen from Hermantown through the opening week of preseason practice, but he also understands that effort, conditioning and enthusiasm have yet to win the Hawks a game.
That opportunity arrives Sept. 4, when Hermantown opens its season at Duluth Denfeld. Before then, the Hawks have a Saturday scrimmage at Esko and another week to determine whether their promising senior class, experienced backfield and emerging offensive and defensive fronts can deliver something more substantial than encouraging practice reports.
“I am really excited as to how camp is going,” Zagelmeyer said. “It seems there is a lot of enthusiasm and the effort has been great. Probably one of the better camps I can remember. It seems our guys have come to camp in shape both mentally and physically.”
The optimism is not difficult to understand. Hermantown finished 8-2 last season, scored 430 points and averaged 43 points per game. Senior running back Martin Sleen rushed for 1,908 yards and 29 touchdowns, senior quarterback Sawyer Senst passed for 709 yards and nine touchdowns, and senior linebacker Fletcher Wrazidlo recorded 125 tackles.
Those numbers provide a clear explanation for why the Hawks expect to contend. They also provide an incomplete picture of what happened when Hermantown encountered the team it must eventually overcome.
Grand Rapids defeated the Hawks twice last season, including 41-0 in the Section 7, Class 4A championship. Across those two meetings, the Thunderhawks outscored Hermantown 75-20. Until the Hawks demonstrate they can change that equation, returning talent alone will not move the section trophy.
That is why Zagelmeyer’s assessment of training camp carries more weight when he talks about the players working beyond the familiar names.
“I really like this senior group,” he said. “Obviously everyone knows about Sleen, Senst and Wrazidlo, but we have a ton of experience in multiple positions and I think we have depth on the line.”
Sleen provides the most obvious offensive advantage. His combination of speed, vision and production forces opposing defenses to account for him on every possession. A running back who approaches 2,000 yards and scores 29 touchdowns does not need much introduction, particularly in a region where opponents have already spent two seasons trying to contain him.
Senst gives Hermantown an experienced quarterback capable of adding another physical dimension to the offense. His recovery, however, remains an important consideration. He spent the summer rehabilitating after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus and previously identified the Denfeld opener as his target for returning. His availability and readiness will help determine how quickly the Hawks can establish offensive continuity.
Wrazidlo anchors the other side of the ball. His 125 tackles last season reflected more than individual activity; they demonstrated how frequently Hermantown relied on him to organize its defense and finish plays. A senior linebacker with that level of production provides stability, but he will need consistent support from the defensive front against opponents capable of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Zagelmeyer believes several less-publicized seniors can provide it.
“I look at players that no one has heard much about such as Owen Simonson, Nate Haedrich, Lane Holden, and Neo Carlson as being tone setters for us,” Zagelmeyer said. “Another sleeper for us could be Grant Sharrow who has really impressed in the offseason.”
Simonson offers versatility at fullback and linebacker. Haedrich, Holden and Carlson are expected to contribute on both the offensive and defensive lines, while Sharrow has positioned himself for a larger role through his offseason work. None carries the public profile of Sleen, Senst or Wrazidlo, but those players could determine whether Hermantown becomes more than a team built around recognizable skill-position talent.
The Hawks learned last season that explosive scoring against much of the schedule does not guarantee they can withstand a stronger, more physical opponent in the section championship. Closing that gap requires reliable blocking, improved defensive resistance and enough depth to remain competitive when injuries, fatigue and postseason pressure begin to accumulate.
Zagelmeyer sees encouraging signs in the communication and preparation of his linemen.
“I have been impressed with our commitment in the offseason to prepare for what is ahead,” he said. “I like the way our line communicates, and I think we have the size and athleticism to be successful.”
The overall numbers also matter. Zagelmeyer said Hermantown has good depth in each grade, giving the program the participation and continuity needed to support varsity depth while developing younger players.
“We are just north and south of 20 guys per grade which is kind of where we need to be,” he said. “There is a ton of enthusiasm in our program right now and you can feel it.”
He also credited the support surrounding the program.
“The community has been very supportive of us, and we are tremendously thankful,” Zagelmeyer said.
The immediate schedule will quickly test whether that enthusiasm translates into execution. Hermantown travels to Esko for a 9 a.m. scrimmage Aug. 29, then opens at Denfeld at 6 p.m. Sept. 4. The Hawks visit Proctor on Sept. 11 before hosting Duluth East on Sept. 18 and Cloquet on Sept. 25. The rematch at Grand Rapids is scheduled for Oct. 2, followed by home games against Esko and Rock Ridge and an Oct. 21 regular-season finale at North Branch.
Zagelmeyer has no interest in treating the Hunters as a preliminary exercise before the more anticipated games later in the schedule.
“Looking forward to going to Denfeld for our first game,” he said. “Denfeld has always been a challenge for us and we have had some great tilts in the past. They always have great skill guys and we know we have to contain them to give us the best chance to win.”
Season openers present their own complications. Coaches have limited current film, personnel changes can alter an opponent’s identity, and even experienced teams must rediscover their timing under game conditions. For Hermantown, the priorities include controlling Denfeld’s playmakers, establishing physical consistency and limiting mistakes that tend to surface when a team moves from practice into live competition.
“First games are always tough because you really don’t know what to expect,” Zagelmeyer said. “All we can do is prepare our kids to the best of our ability and I think that is what our coaching staff is doing. We really need to focus on ourselves and make sure we are ready to go.”
That approach reflects the position Hermantown occupies entering 2026. The Hawks have established players at important positions, enough returning experience to expect improvement and a senior class capable of setting the program’s competitive standard. They also have an unresolved quarterback situation, a section opponent that handled them twice last season and several weeks of meaningful evaluation before any championship conversation becomes relevant.
Zagelmeyer understands the distinction.
“With all that being said, the first week of fall camp does not make a season,” he said. “Sometimes guys will look like Tarzan week one but play like Jane when pads start popping for real, and that is what the second week of practice is for, along with the upcoming scrimmage we will have on Saturday.”
Hermantown appears to have the enthusiasm, the senior leadership and the recognizable talent. What comes next will determine whether the Hawks also have the physical depth and competitive consistency necessary to change the ending.