Elder Panther Football - 2003
Playoffs
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Head Coach: Doug Ramsey (Career Record: 72-15)
Captains (l-r): Bradley Glatthaar, John Tiemeier, Rob Florian, and Corey McKenna
Final GCL-S Standings
1.
ELDER 2.
Moeller 3. La
Salle 4. St.
Xavier
The Elder Panthers began their state title defense on Thursday, August 21 at UC against the Winton Woods Warriors, as part of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown. A confident Winton Woods team promised to "shock the world", and they battled the Panthers for the first three quarters (benefiting from two Panther turnovers) but the Panthers pulled away in the fourth quarter to win, 33-14. Bradley Glatthaar was the star of the game, scoring four TDs and rushing 35 times for 235 yards, setting Crosstown Showdown records for TDs and rushing yards gained. In the process, Bradley also set new Elder records for Most Touchdowns in a Career (his 52 TDs breaks Kyle Koester's mark of 49) and Total Points Scored in a Career (he now has 312 points, passing Koester's 298). The team's win also set a school record for Consecutive Wins; since Game 2 of last season (against Louisville Trinity) the Panthers have won 14 straight games. Notable for the defense were Eric Andriacco, Drew Metz, and John Tiemeier, each of whom picked off Warrior passes.
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It was "deja vu, all over again" for the Panthers in Game 2. Returning to the Ryle Sports Festival for the second year in a row, Elder faced a powerhouse, nationally-ranked team, and were dealt a sound trouncing. Last year, the Trinity Shamrocks from Louisville beat the Panthers 44-20; this year, the Indianapolis Warren Central Warriors went one better, winning 45-20. Throwing only one pass the entire game (which unfortunately went for a 39-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-long play), the Warriors offense dominated the Panthers' defense, picking up 380 yards on the ground. The Warriors converted two early interceptions into TDs, to take a 12-0 lead, but a 5-yard Rob Florian-to-Billy O'Connor pass followed by a PAT by D. J. Hueneman made the score 12-7 early in the second quarter. The teams again traded scores with the Panthers picking up six points on a Florian-to-Kurt Gindling 26-yard TD pass. At the break, the score was 18-14, and the Panthers were still in it. But on their first series of the second half, the Warriors scored on a 36-yard run, and they never looked back. Forced to pass to try to come from behind, Florian was pressured by a powerful, quick Central defense, and was sacked nine times. Bradley Glatthaar was held to only 57 yards on 14 carries, while Florian went 19-for-34 for 279 yards, but the Elder record-setting winning streak ended at 14.
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The Panthers successfully put last week's loss behind them by returning to the friendly confines of The Pit and trouncing neighborhood rival Western Hills by a score of 50-8. After stopping the Mustangs on their first possession, Elder scored two first quarter TDs, on runs of 1 and 26 yards by Bradley Glatthaar. The magic continued in the second quarter as the Panthers scored 22 unanswered points, on two Rob Florian passing TDs (to Craig Carey for 23 yards and Ben Wittwer for 10 yards) and a Pat Lysaght 1-yard run. Glatthaar added a 2-point conversion run and D. J. Hueneman went 6-for-6 on extra points to make the halftime score, 36-0. Virtually every man on the team played in the contest, and the Panthers added two more scores in the second half, on a QB keeper by Craig Carey (good for 40 yards) and a Gerald Walker 1 yard run. The Mustangs picked up a late score to spoil the defense's bid for a shutout. Florian completed 6 of 8 passes for 107 yards, while Glatthaar ran 14 times for 123 yards.
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Since they last visited The Pit (and lost 40-16), the Bishop Chatard Trojans have rattled off 26 consecutive wins, on their way to two Class 3A Indiana State Championships. They had a statement to make, and the Trojans gave the Panthers all they could handle. After the teams traded scores in the first quarter (with Bradley Glatthaar scoring for the Panthers on an 11-yard run), the Panthers led at the half 14-10, as the Trojans took the lead 10-7 on a 23-yard field goal which the Panthers trumped with another Glatthaar score, this time from 12 yards out. But late in the third quarter, Chatard took the lead 16-14 on a 63-yard Dray Mason TD run, but missed what was to be a crucial PAT attempt. After stopping the Torjans late in the game on the Elder 30 yard line, the Panthers, led by QB Rob Florian drove the length of the field and D. J. Hueneman kicked the game winner, a 19-yard field goal with 2:11 left. Glatthaar carried the ball 28 times for Elder, picking up 195 yards and two TDs.
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Following the 2002 season, former Elder Head Coach Tom Grippa left Fairfield and took over the head coaching chores at La Salle, the Panthers' opponents in Game 5. The media made much of the battle between the former head coach and his former assistant, but in the end it was just another key game in the annual GCL slugfest. And again, for the 11th time in a row, the Panthers topped the Lancers, this time by a score of 42-7. Elder jumped out early, scoring on their first posession on a 15-yard pass from Rob Florian to Kurt Gindling. The Panther defense dominated the Lancers, and the offense tallied twice more in the first quarter, both on short runs by Bradley Glatthaar. In the second quarter, the Panther defense scored a safety as Michael Brown blocked a punt which went out of the end zone, and Rob Florian scored his first TD of the season on a 7-yard run. Late in the first half, Florian threw an interception which the Lancers turned into a TD, and the score was 20-7 at the break. In the third quarter, Elder scored again on a 33-yard Florian-to-Gindling aerial, and on a memorable 53-yard pass play from Florian to Ian Steidel, which was tipped by a Lancer defender but still hauled in by Steidel. It was Steidel's third career pass reception--each of which has netted a touchdown. Coach Ramsey once again was able to get virtually everyone into the game, and both teams went scoreless the rest of the way. Florian threw for 259 yards, completing 10 out of 16 passes, while Glatthaar picked up 54 yards on 14 carries.
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Game 6 brought the Covington Catholic Colonels to The Pit to face the Panthers for the first time on the gridiron, and they received a harsh reception. Bradley Glatthaar rushed for 117 yards and a record-tying five touchdowns in the first half, Charlie Coffaro rushed for his first score of the season, and Elder led 42-0 at the break. The Colonels had limited success against the Panther back-ups, but were able to score twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth, while holding the Panthers to one more TD, by junior RB Nick Williams. D. J. Hueneman also tied a school record with seven successful PATs in the game, and the final score was 49-21. Florian was 2 of 3 through the air for 27 yards, while the ground game netted 360 yards on 49 carries. The Panther defense was stifling, taking control early and recovering 3 CovCath fumbles (by Steve Haverkos, Rick Stautberg, and R. J. Jameson) and picking off one pass (by John Tiemeier).
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Both teams were riding four-game winning streaks as the Moeller Crusaders journeyed to The Pit for the Panthers' final home game of the regular season. The Crusaders forced the Panthers to punt on their first possession, and then mounted an extended drive to the Panther 4-yard line, first-and-goal. The defense held, and Elder took possession on their own 1-yard line. Rob Florian then led Elder to its first score, which ended with a 47-yard TD pass to Ben Wittwer shortly after the start of the second quarter. D.J. Hueneman kicked the PAT, and Elder led, 7-0. Moeller responded with a 34-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by senior DL Mike Zielasko. The Crusaders tied the score on the last drive of the half, scoring on a 4-yard Chris Reisert run and a Tyler Wehmann extra pont. Elder regained the lead early in the third quarter, as Rob Florian scored on a 12-yard run, and again the PAT was good; Elder 14, Moeller 7. But the seesaw battle continued, and Moeller scored early in the fourth quarter on a Martez Williams 4-yard run and Wehmann PAT. The Panthers retook the lead, 21-14, on a 37-yard TD run by Bradley Glatthaar, and Hueneman's decisive PAT was good. Moeller drove to a TD with 30 seconds left in the game, scored by Reisert on a 4-yard run, but the PAT was blocked by senior Alex Harbin to seal the Panthers' fifth straight victory over the Crusaders.
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The Panthers visited the renovated and enlarged St. Xavier Stadium in their quest for a second straight GCL title, a venue in which they had not been victorious since 1995, and were not to be denied. The ever-strengthening Panther defense forced eight turnovers--four interceptions and four fumbles--along with a blocked punt, on their way to a 28-7 victory. In fact, the Bombers gave up the ball on each of their first five possessions--twice on interceptions, twice on fumbles, and once on a failed fourth-down try. Even then, the Panthers could only muster a 14-0 halftime lead, with the scores coming on a 14-yard Bradley Glatthaar run and a 27-yard Rob Florian-to-Kurt Gindling TD pass. But the Panthers came out fired up in the second half, scored quickly following a long drive capped by a 2-yard Glatthaar TD run, and tacked on another score in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard Glatthaar run. The Bombers picked up their only score immediately thereafter on an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD by Robert Mahoney, spoiling the chance for a shutout. Glatthaar carried the ball 36 times for 143 yards on the ground.
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For their second consecutive road game, the Panthers traveled to Indianapolis to battle the Fighting Irish of Cathedral Prep. After a long bus ride, the Panthers came out sluggish, and were only able to muster a 7-0 halftime lead, on the strength of a Bradley Glatthaar 38-yard TD run. But Elder scored twice in the third quarter, on a 43-yard TD pass from Rob Florian to Bill O'Conner and a 5-yard run by Pat Lysaght. The Irish scored late in the game to make the final score 21-7. Florian completed 11 of 17 passes for 180 yards, while Glatthaar picked up 138 yards on 17 carries.
The Panthers ended the regular season at Oak Hills, where an ever-improving Highlanders team gave them all they could handle. The Scots scored first, capitalizing on an early Rob Florian interception. But Florian recovered, and ran 49 yards for a TD to even the score on Elder's next possession. Florian tossed a 23-yard TD pass to Charlie Coffaro and another to Craig Carey, this one for 37 yards, and as the first hal wound down it appeared the Panthers were in control. But a late Oak Hills touchdown made the halftime score, 21-14, closer than many anticipated. A fired up Oak Hills team scored early in the third quarter to tie the game, and the Panther faithful had reason for concern. But late in the fourth quarter, an Eric Kenkel interception ended an Oak Hills scoring drive, and Michael Brown blocked a Highlander punt, setting up a D.J. Hueneman 26-yard field goal. The defense held off the Oak Hills offense, and Elder won the contest, 24-21. Bradley Glatthaar carried the ball 30 times and picked up 174 yards, but was held scoreless for the first time since Game 2.
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Elder finished first when the season-ending Harbin rankings were calculated, matching them with the Anderson Redskins (#8) in the first round of the playoffs. Other first-round Division I, Region 4 games were: Colerain (#2) vs. La Salle (#7), Moeller (#3) vs. Huber Heights Wayne (#6), and Mason (#4) vs. Clayton Northmont (#5).
The Panthers had faced the Anderson Redskins once before, in the first round of the 1996 playoffs. That game was played at Nippert Stadium (and the Panthers won, 24-6), so this was the first time the Redskins had ever visited "The Pit". A crowd of 10,000 watched as the Elder defense, led by Eric Andriacco's fumble recovery and interception, held the Redskins to 97 yards rushing and 7 points on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Rob Florian completed 9 out of 12 passes for 134 yards, and Bradley Glatthaar carried the ball 36 times for 140 yards and 3 TDs. (Glatthaars' ground attack gave him Elder's career rushing records for total yardage gained and number of carries, surpassing Kyle Koester's previous records.) The final score was 28-7, but the game was much closer than the score would indicate. Elder stopped the Redskins on their first possession, but the Panthers' scoring drive was stopped by a Redskin interception. But the Panthers stopped Anderson's subsequent drive, and the offense responded with an extended drive which culminated with Glatthaar's first TD, a 3-yard run. Elder scored again on their next possession (on Glatthaar's 2nd TD of the game), and led 14-0, but Anderson scored mid-way through the second quarter when QB Kurt Shoemaker reached the endzone on a six-yard run. The Panthers scored again before the half as Glatthaar scored his third of the game on a 4-yard run. Anderson refused to quit, and throughout the second half had extended drives, but the Panther defense stopped them on Andriacco's interception, a Nick Williams fumble recovery, Andriacco's fumble recovery, and a fourth-down sack. The Clayton Northmont Thunderbolts upset the fourth-seeded Mason Comets, 52-35, and would next face the Panthers.
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In their first-ever game at Miami University's Yager Stadium, the Panthers faced first-time opponent Clayton Northmont. On a cold, clear day in Oxford, Ohio, the Thunderbolts charged down the field on their first possession, reaching the three yard line before the Panther defense stopped them and their field goal attempt went wide. Elder was stopped on its first series, but on Northmont's subsequent possession, Alex Harbin sacked the Thunderbolt QB twice, and when Elder took over following a punt, Rob Florian hit Charlie Coffaro with a 63-yard TD pass, and the Panther scoring machine was in gear. While the defense held the Thunderbolts to a total of 10 yards rushing, the offense, led by Bradley Glatthaar, scored 4 TDs to win the game going away. Northmont was able to pick up 240 yards through the air, but were kept off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, when they scored on an 8-yard pass play. Glatthaar picked up 184 yards on 37 carries, while Florian added 94 yrds on 14 carries, and went 6-for-8 passing for 147 yards. Colerain topped Moeller, 30-23, in the other regional semifinal, so the Cardinals and Panthers will hold a rematch of last year's regional final.
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The Panthers and Cardinals returned to UC's Nippert Stadium in a rematch of 2002's regional final game. Last year, the Panthers were City Champs and had a record of 12-1 entering the game; this year the Cardinals were named City Champs and entered the game undefeated at 12-0. Almost 24,000 fans witnessed a titanic struggle with big plays and costly mistakes on both sides. Colerain committed the first miscue, when they fumbled the ball on the opening kickoff and it was pounced on by Joe Lind. The Panthers turned the error into a 31-yard field goal by D. J. Hueneman. Colerain took the lead near the end of the first quarter on an extended drive, culminating in a 17-yard run by Mister Simpson. Elder responded with a drive of its own, scoring on a 4-yard pass from Rob Florian to Kurt Gindling; Hueneman's PAT made the score 10-7. The Cardinals tied the score on a 29-yard field goal, but the Panthers took the lead just before the half when Eric Kenkel picked off an Erick Fitzpatrick pass and returned it 73 yards for a TD. The subsequent PAT attempt was blocked, however, and the teams entered the locker rooms with the score, 16-10. Colerain stopped the Panthers' opening drive of the second half, but Fitzpatrick fumbled on Colerain's first possession of the second half and Brett Currin recovered the ball for the Panthers. But a Panther fumble ended the subsequent scoring drive and Colerain scored on its next possession early in the fourth quarter, and the successful PAT put Colerain in the lead, 17-16. The Panthers responded with a TD from Bradley Glatthaar on a 3-yard run, and the 2-point conversion pass from Florian to Craig Carey was good, putting Elder back on top, 24-17, with 7:03 left in the game. Colerain drove to the Panthers' 14-yard line, and Fitzpatrick ran for the TD to bring his team to within 1, but the PAT attempt sailed just to the right of the upright. Bill O'Conner covered the Cardinals' onside kick, but Colerain was able to stop the Panthers on 3 plays and had one more chance. A long pass put the Cardinals into Panther territory, but with 4 seconds left on the clock a 55-yard field goal attempt fell short, putting the Panthers into the state semifinals for the second year in a row. Colerain dominated the Panthers in the game statistics, gaining 370 total yards to the Panthers' 198. Rob Florian was 7 for 12 for 74 yards passing and gained 40 yards rushing himself, while Bradley Glatthaar picked up 83 yards on 19 carries. The game was Elder's 499th football victory, and Coach Doug Ramsey's 70th of his career.
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In the other regional finals, Dublin Scioto beat Dublin Coffman, 24-14, Lakeward St. Edward defeated previously unbeaten Mentor, 13-10 in OT, and Toledo St. John's topped Wadsworth 15-12. The Panthers were matched with Scioto for the state semi-final, to be played Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Originally, the state semi-final game between the Dublin Scioto Irish (12-1) and the Cincinnati Elder Panthers (12-1) was to be played at Dayton Welcome Stadium, which has a capacity of 12,000. But the Elder faithful beseiged the OHSAA to relocate the game to a larger venue, and comissioner Clair Muscaro agreed, moving the game to Columbus Crew Stadium, which holds about twice as many. The Panthers sold almost 9900 tickets in advance, and 13,628 fans were in attendance as Elder dominated the Irish in every aspect of the game, winning 31-7. The Panthers took the opening kickoff to the Scioto 1-yard line, but were stopped on four attempts to score. The Irish were likewise stopped on their first possession, but when Elder got the ball back, they wasted no time, scoring on a 38-yard pass from Rob Florian to TE Craig Carey. The Panthers scored again early in the second quarter, on a Bradley Glatthaar 55-yard run. But the team seemed to let down, and allowed Scioto to get back into the game, giving up a TD after an extended drive which left only 43 seconds in the half. But Coach Doug Ramsey used the time to engineer one more scoring drive, culminating in a 6-yard TD pass from Florian to Carey, effectively putting the Irish out of the game. The Panthers dominated the second half, scoring 10 more points on a D. J. Hueneman 32-yard field goal and another Glatthaar TD, this time from 4 yards out. Elder outgained Scioto 411-218 in total yards, with Glatthaar picking up 207 yards on 28 carries and Craig Carey netting 132 yards on 4 receptions. Florian went 7-for 17 passing for 198 yards and two TDs, both to Carey. The game marked Elder's 500th football win since the first season in 1923.
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The Panthers returned to Canton Fawcett Stadium for the second consecutive year to meet Lakewood St. Edward to defend their 2002 state championship. The Eagles defeated Toledo St. John's, 44-7, in the other state semi-final game. The two teams had met twice previously, in 1996 and 1997, with Elder winning both games, 23-7 at home and 35-28 in 3 OT at Lakewood. The teams battled to a 0-0 tie in the first quarter. Elder capitalized on an Eagle fumble early in the second quarter. The loose ball was pounced on by Seth Priestle, and Rob Florian hit Craig Carey on a 7-yard TD pass shortly thereafter. The Eagles responded with a TD minutes later, and the teams were even at halftime, 7-7. But the Panther defense turned on the heat in the second half, and stopped the Eagles on every possession. Meanwhile, the Panther offense dominated the tiring Eagle defense, and scored 24 unanswered points, on 3 Bradley Glatthaar TD runs, and 3 PATs and a 28-yard field goal from D. J. Hueneman. Bradley gained 252 yards on 35 carries, setting a new rushing yardage record for a Division I state championship game. Bradley was also named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Rob Florian went 8-for 13 passing for 112 yards. Seth Priestle had a key interception which stopped a late Eagle drive. The 2003 Panthers become the first team to win back-to-back state championships since Canton McKinley in 1997-98, and the first local team since Moeller in 1979-80.
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ASSOCIATED
PRESS ALL-OHIO ALL-STAR TEAM
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First
Team Offense
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Bradley
Glatthaar, Corey McKenna
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First Team Defense |
Tony Stegeman |
Special Mention |
Drew Metz |
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First Team Defense |
Tony Stegeman, Drew Metz |
Second Team Offense |
Rob Florian |
CINCINNATI
ENQUIRER ALL-CITY ALL-STAR TEAM
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First
Team
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Bradley
Glatthaar, Corey McKenna, Tony Stegeman, Drew Metz
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Honorable
Mention
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Alex
Harbin, Charlie Coffaro, Craig Carey, Eric Wood, John Tiemeier, Michael
Brown, Mike Zielasko, Pat Lysaght, Brett Currin, D. J. Hueneman,
Eric Andriacco, Eric Kenkel, John Wellbrock, Kurt Gindling, Ricky
Stautberg, Seth Priestle, Steve Baum
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Player of the Year |
Rob Florian |
Coach of the Year |
Doug Ramsey |
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Player
of the Year
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Rob
Florian
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Coach of the Year |
Doug Ramsey |
Academic All-Star |
Charlie Coffaro |
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Best
Defensive Back
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Drew
Metz
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Best
Linebacker
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Michael
Brown
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Best
Receiver
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Kurt
Gindling
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Most
Improved Player
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Charlie
Coffaro
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Mr.
Panther
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Andrew
Putz
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Mr.
Z. I. P.
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Ian
Steidel
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First Downs Yards Gained Points Scored Yards Passing Yards Rushing Opp. First Downs Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Points Scored Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Receptions Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Carries Interceptions Fumble Recoveries
Final Regular Season Individual Leaders (10 Games)
Final Team Playoff Statistics (5 Games)
First Downs Yards Gained Points Scored Yards Passing Yards Rushing Opp. First Downs Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Points Scored Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Receptions Opp. Yards Gained Opp. Carries Interceptions Fumble Recoveries
Final Individual Playoff Leaders (5 Games)
Team Roster
Underlined players' names are links to their statistics.
Name Steve
Anevski Brian
Bailey Adam Baum Steve
Baum Guy
Beck Matt
Bengel Ken
Berling Nick
Berning Ryan
Brinck Joe
Broerman Dave
Bullock Alec
Burkhart Mark
Byrne Justin
Crone Kevin
Crowley Andrew
Curtis Andrew
Dinkelacker Alex
Duwel Tim
Dwyer Phil
Ernst Eric
Harrison Alex
Havlin Chris
Heaton Josh
Hubert RJ
Jameson Reid
Jordan Brad
Kenny Nick
Klaserner Chris
Koopman Danny
Kraft Nick
Kuchey Corey
McKenna* Mike
Meese Mark
Menninger Tim
Mercurio John
Meyer Mark
Naltner Alex
Niehaus Rob
Nusekabel Billy
Phelan Andrew
Putz Brandon
Rainier Nick
Rellar Bo
Richmond Jake
Richmond Jake
Rieth Scott
Roth Parker
Smith Jared
Sommerkamp Drew
Sprague Ben
Studt Joe
Super Tim
Teague Pat
VanOflen Jeff
Vogel Kurt
Weil Eric
Welch John
Wellbrock JT
Westerfield Mike
Windt Eric
Wood *Captain
Eric Andriacco
Michael Brown