Grand Rapids' 41-0 victory over Hermantown in the Section 7, Class 4A championship game last Halloween left little doubt about who owned the section in 2025. The Thunderhawks physically dominated the Hawks that night at Walt Hunting Stadium, ending Hermantown's season and sending players, coaches and fans into an offseason filled with reflection.
For Hermantown coach Mike Zagelmeyer, the process of answering what comes next is already underway.
"We are looking forward to going to UMD team camp in a couple weeks as we start the process of putting the pieces of the puzzle together," Zagelmeyer said. "A lot of development can happen with players over the summer months both mentally and physically."
What comes next may be the most experienced and talented Hermantown football team in several years.
The Hawks enter the 2026 season with legitimate championship aspirations after finishing 8-2 last fall and returning much of the core that produced one of northeastern Minnesota's most explosive offenses. Hermantown scored 430 points in 10 games, averaging 43 points per contest while recording victories over Duluth Denfeld, Proctor, Duluth East, Cloquet, Esko, Rock Ridge and North Branch twice.
The biggest headline is the return of senior running back Martin Sleen, one of the most productive players in Minnesota regardless of class. Sleen rushed for 1,908 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior while averaging nearly 12 yards every time he touched the football. Opposing defenses knew he was getting the ball and still struggled to stop him.
Zagelmeyer understands what having Sleen back means.
"I do think we will have another competitive team this year and it always helps to have the best back in the area," he said.
Sleen's production alone gives Hermantown a chance every Friday night, but the Hawks' ceiling may ultimately depend on the continued development of senior quarterback Sawyer Senst.
At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Senst possesses a rare combination of size, strength and athletic ability for a Minnesota high school quarterback. He passed for 709 yards and nine touchdowns while adding six rushing scores last season. Another offseason in the weight room and another year of varsity experience could allow Senst to become one of the section's most difficult matchup problems.
The challenge will be replacing several key contributors in the passing game.
"I still think we could be pretty explosive offensively, but we still need people to step up and make great strides and contributions in the receiving game," Zagelmeyer said. "We lost three seniors who have played a major part in our passing game, but we expect players who have been behind those players to step up. We also have a couple of younger guys who we think have promising futures in our program as receivers."
Fortunately for Hermantown, there appears to be no shortage of candidates.
Ethan McCubbin returns after another standout school year that included major contributions across multiple sports. Jordan Wilcox brings versatility at tight end and defensive end. Nathan Haedrich provides size, toughness and experience on both sides of the football. Jett Carlson, Corban Peterson, Easton Cherney and several younger athletes give the Hawks multiple options as they look to rebuild their receiving corps while maintaining offensive balance.
Perhaps the most encouraging development is what appears to be growing strength in the trenches.
Lane Holden, Neo Carlson, Grant Sharrow, Lek Paczynski, Jacob Marquardt and several other returning linemen provide a foundation that should be considerably bigger and stronger than a year ago. Physical line play remains the quickest path toward challenging Grand Rapids, and Hermantown appears better positioned there than it has been in recent seasons.
Defensively, the Hawks return much of their leadership and production.
Fletcher Wrazidlo's 125 tackles established him as one of the area's premier defensive players last season. Haedrich, Carlson, McCubbin, Wilcox and several others return valuable varsity experience, while the size of the defensive front stands out immediately on paper.
Still, Zagelmeyer believes one area must improve if Hermantown is going to take the next step.
"We are always looking to get better in areas and there is going to be an emphasis on our tackling this year," he said.
The schedule once again will provide plenty of opportunities to measure progress. Rivalry games against Cloquet, Duluth East and Rock Ridge remain important checkpoints, but everyone inside the program understands the ultimate measuring stick remains Grand Rapids.
The Thunderhawks defeated Hermantown twice last season by a combined score of 75-20. Until somebody changes that equation, Grand Rapids deserves to be considered the favorite in Section 7, Class 4A.
Yet the gap may be narrowing.
Championship teams are typically built around experienced senior leadership, a proven quarterback, a difference-making running back and a veteran offensive line. Hermantown appears to possess all four ingredients entering 2026.
Whether those ingredients produce a section championship may come down to something less tangible.
"How a team comes together with a new group of seniors and the leadership adjustments that come with that will determine how far this group goes," Zagelmeyer said. "I really like this group of seniors as athletes, but we need them to start playing with a little bit of an edge."
That may be the defining storyline of Hermantown's season. The talent is there. The experience is there. The expectations certainly are there.
"Again, there has been a lot of work and support put into this program by coaches, administration and the community," Zagelmeyer said. "We will continue to have high standards and high expectations of ourselves as a football program."
The question is no longer whether Hermantown can contend for a section title.
The question is whether this senior class can transform potential into production, close the gap on Grand Rapids and bring a Section 7, Class 4A championship trophy back to Centricity Stadium.
Howie's daily column is powered by Lyric Kitchen Bar in Downtown Duluth. Contact Howie at HowieHanson@gmail.com
