The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010 • 1B

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2B • The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010

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 The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010 • 3B

Captains set the tone for ‘Together As One’ season

By JIM METCALFE
jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS — When a player is selected team captain, that

says something about the respect his or her teammates hold
for the person.
From putting in the extra time to perhaps being willing to
change positions, they are to provide the good leadership a
team needs to be successful, in-season and out.
When you consider that the St. John’s football team’s
motto for 2010 was “Together As One”, that carried much
more meaning for this group.
The St. John’s football team sent out the senior quartet
of quarterback Jordan Leininger, tailback Evan Burgei, left
tackle Austin Vogt and free safety Tyler Bergfeld — all key
cogs of the 2008 title-winning crew — to represent them in
the coin flips all season long.
They led in more ways than that.
Leininger moved from tailback, where he had been a
2-year starter and rushed for 2,985 yards in 2-plus seasons, to
under center to replace 3-year starter Wes Ulm.
“I had played quarterback some on varsity as a freshman
and I was the backup the last two years, so it wasn’t that
big an adjustment. They are two different positions and two
difference perspectives, so I had to get used to that all the
time,” Leininger began. “The running was a little different; I
had to make the quick decisions on the option, for example. Austin Vogt Tyler Bergfeld
However, the biggest difference was the passing game, read-
ing coverages. As I got more comfortable there, Coach (Todd
Schulte) got more confident in calling passing plays. I kept
getting better at knowing what I was doing.”
Burgei also gained a better feel for the position as he
moved from defense — a 2-year starter at cornerback — to
offense to replace Leininger at tailback.
“I’ve been the backup my last two years at tailback, so it
really wasn’t that much of an adjustment. I enjoyed playing
defense but I didn’t play much there this year; the coaches
wanted me to focus on just playing tailback and staying
fresh,” Burgei began. “They emphasized that if I was fresher
against a tiring defense late in games, I had the advantage.
That’s what happened against Ada (a 42-14 victory in the
regional semifinals). I was fresher and their defense was
tired, so I had two long touchdown runs late in the game. I
like having the ball in my hands more. It makes you feel like
you’re really contributing more. I like to make plays and be a
difference-maker.”
Still, it meant certain things had to be done differently in
the off-season.
“I always knew I had it in me to be a tailback but I had to
bulk up a little bit more to take the pounding. I needed to make
sure I was in good shape so I could get through the season; I’m
pretty beat up now,” Burgei continued. “Fifteen games is a lot
of games and I wanted to stay healthy. Not only did I work on
my speed and quickness but I also got a lot stronger in the off-
season. I got better as the season wore on. Playing tailback in Jordan Leininger
Evan Burgei
this offense is not only about being strong and fast but it’s also
never let us look ahead,” Leininger asserted.
about learning your proper reads, getting a feel for the defense “You couldn’t have a better feeling “Our coaches did a great job of preparing us well all sea-
and what they’re doing. As I got more playing time and more
reps at practice, I got more comfortable in the position. as a high school athlete than winning son. We didn’t have a lot to worry about each week; we were
“As well, we had a great offensive line. I think it will go a state title in your final season.” ready to go,” Vogt chimed in. “For example, (offensive line
down as one of the best-ever at St. John’s. They were creating coach) Coach Desenberg focused a lot on technique. He told
holes all season long and it’s much easier to run when you – Tyler Bergfeld us that when things got tough and we were tired, technique
don’t have to deal with a lot of traffic.” would be the key. As a group, we’ve been able to develop
Vogt was asked to play more both ways as a defensive Recker, Neil Miller, Dave Desenberg, Dan Metzger, Dr. Jerry really good relationships with our coaches.”
tackle, especially when injuries started to take out some of Burgei, Jerry Jackson, Sean Hulihan, Adam Lee, Dick Clark Last season’s loss in the final five seconds of the state
the D-linemen. and Jay Leininger; came in for high praise. finals weighed heavily on the minds of those returning from
“I didn’t mind that at all. I’ve always wanted to play more “The coaches are great, too; you can have the most won- that team.
defense anyway,” he asserted. derful athletes but if you don’t have the coaching, you aren’t “Definitely, we’ve been thinking about playing at state all
The coaching staff: Schulte, defensive coordinator Steve going anywhere. They kept us focused on the job at hand and See CAPTAINS, page 6B

Cheerleaders
& Mascot

Assistant Coaches: Kneeling, left to right, Adam Lee, Neal Miller, Jay
Leininger, Dan Metzger, Jerry Jackson. Row two: Assistant Head Coach
Steve Recker, Dave Desenberg, Dick Clark, Sean Hulihan, Jerry Burgei.

662 Elida Ave., Delphos

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Open Daily 5:00 am to 9:00 pm

Varsity Cheerleaders: Lexi Miller, daughter of Mark

& Christine Miller; Stephanie Metzger, daughter
of Cindy Metzger & Carl Metzger; Carissa Shafer,
daughter of Andrea Shafer & Jeff Shafer; Samantha Mr. Don
Huysman
Ginter, daughter of Joel & Cindy Moorman & the late
Michael Ginter; Taylor Mueller, daughter of Lisa
Mueller & Randy Mueller; Meagan Hempfling,
daughter of Chuck & Sue Hempfling; Mascot is
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4B • The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010
Title No. 6 comes in dominating fashion
By JIM METCALFE program’s history.
jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com Schulte’s unit fell three
times in the state semifi-
DELPHOS — St. John’s nals: 2000, his second sea-
had a chance to capture state son, when the team’s state
football title number six — all record 57-game winning
in Division VI — last fall. streak was sliced by MAC
The Blue Jays came up colleague Marion Local (who
short, dropping a bitter 24-21 themselves went on to back-
decision to first-time cham- to-back titles in Division
pion Norwalk St. Paul in the VI); 2002, when they fell in
finals. the swamp at Mansfield to
This season, the Jays got eventual Division V champ
back to the title game and Smithville; and 2003, falling
gave no doubts about this to eventual titlist Columbus
championship as they rolled Gahanna Academy in over-
up a 15-0 record. time at Tiffin.
It handed 12th-year head Schulte now stands at
coach Todd Schulte his fourth 127-32 in his 12 seasons,
crown at the helm of the Blue including a 34-5 mark in 39
Jay gridders. playoff encounters, for an
He added a title to previ- overall .799 record. He has
ous ones in his first cam- put together four perfect reg-
paign — a perfect 15-0 in ular seasons.
1999, replacing Vic Whiting; He continues the job begun
in 2005, when his team went by Whiting, who took over in
13-2 and got red-hot in the 1988 and laid the foundation
playoffs; and 2008, when a for what was to come.
sophomore-laden lineup ran His 94-28 mark in 11 sea-
off the last seven in a row. sons included two back-to-
Last season’s 14-1 state back Division VI crowns and
runners-up was also the first a 28-0 mark: in 1997 and
second-place trophy in the 1998.
CONGRATULATIONS
BLUE JAYS!
WHAT A GREAT SEASON!
YOU’VE MADE US
ALL PROUD.
I&K
DISTRIBUTORS
1600 GRESSEL DRIVE, DELPHOS, OHIO
419-692-6911
SENIOR BAND MEMBERS
Trevor Sabryna Alex
Kroeger Ashby Schnipke
son of Tom and daughter of Dave son of
Lori Ashby & Jeannette Scott & Lisa
Passmore
Katie Ashley Tyler
Knoderer Hoffman Koester
daughter of daughter of son of
Brian & Ann Jim & Diana Mark & Sherri
Meghan Megan Sidney
Ryba Klausing Bradley
daughter of daughter of daughter of
Michael & Mary Linda Guthrie Lindsey & Kaye
Thank you Blue Jay Marching Band
for the fantastic entertainment!
Charlie & Marg Ashby
His .770 winning percent-
age included a 10-2 playoff
record and a loss to St. Henry
in the 1994 state semifinals
— the team’s first-ever berth
in the state semifinal football
round — to end up 12-1. That
was the team’s first-ever per-
fect regular season.
That puts the number of
team or individual state cham-
pionships in the school’s his-
tory at 23: eight for boys and
girls track and field; six for
football; five for girls basket-
ball; three in boys hoops; and
one in boys golf.
The program now stands
with a 331-260-3 mark (.557
winning percentage) in 56
campaigns and 594 games.
Before Whiting’s tenure,
the program had a 110-200-3
mark in 33 seasons.
Only one of the previous
nine coaches had an over-
.500 mark: Tom Zimmer
(9-8-1) in 1956-57.
The coach in the first sea-
son of 1955 was Bob Arnzen,
finishing 3-4-2.
George Rafferty (1965-
71) finished 31-32 (14-10 in
Chris
Goodwin
son of
Steve & Sandy
Jamie
Klausing
son of
John & Nancy
Dani
Hale
daughter of
Dan & Amy
their four years in the Tri-
County League, with one title
in 1968 and a runner-up the
next year) in his stint. Prior
to this, the Jays played an
independent slate.
William Rocco had the
next-best mark in his three
seasons as head coach (1958-
60) — 12-16-1.
Ed Zalar went 15-22 in
1961-64.
All those seasons were
either in the Tri-County
League or as an independent.
The Jays entered the
Western Buckeye League in
the 1972 season with a new
head coach, Ray Funk. After
resigning after the 1978 sea-
son, his mark stood at 19-50-
1 (16-46-1 in the league, with
one runner-up in 1977).
Rod Moorman, a former
player for St. John’s who
played collegiately at Toledo,
ran the team for five sea-
sons.
Three of those were still in
the WBL: 2-27-1, including
2-25 in the WBL.
The Jays then got into the
Midwest Athletic Conference
and Moorman went 15-5 for
an overall mark of 17-32-1,
including 9-3 in the MAC and
Freshman
Kneeling, left to right: Kellen Schoemaeker, J’Dan Risner,
Nate Schroeder, Kyle Pohlman, Andy May, Ben Wrasman. Row
two: Coach Dick Clark, Tyler Jettinghoff, Cody Looser, Ryan
Schumaker, Spencer Ginter, Jason Wittler, Luke MacLennan,
Coach Jay Leininger.
SINCE 1928
Hamburg Pickle On Top!
Bellefontaine at Kibby
a runner-up finish in 1983.
Tom McCurdy then was
the head man for three sea-
sons (84-86) and amassed a
3-27 mark (1-17 MAC), fol-
lowing by the 1-year 2-8 (0-6
MAC) stint of Tom Sawyer
(1987).
Whiting took over for the
1988 campaign and began
the turnaround. He finished
49-22 in the MAC: four
undisputed titles (1998,
1997, 1994 and 1991); one
runner-up (1993); and a tri-
championship (1989).
Schulte has a 71-26 MAC
mark with four outright titles:
2010, 2009, 2000 and 1999.
All told, the Jays were
14-10 in the TCL; 18-71-1
in the WBL; 122-74 in the
MAC; and 39-7 in the second
season.
This year’s team did it
with 14 returning starters,
including fourth-year letter-
men/starters in left tackle/
defensive tackle Austin
Vogt (25 pancake blocks; 13
total stops), free safety/wide
receiver Tyler Bergfeld (28
catches, 541 yards, 10 TDs;
23 tackles, 4 picks; 10 kickoff
returns, 29.3-yard average, 1
score; 26 punt returns, 7.8-
team
Makes Your
Go Flippity Flop!®
Elizabeth at Market
Allentown at Cable
yard average), right guard/
right defensive end Derek
“Dozer” Klaus (15 pancake
blocks; 45 solos, 21 assists,
10 sacks, 33 quarterback
harassments; 1 pick) and
tailback-turned-quarterback
Jordan Leininger (162 rushes,
1,234 yards, 12 scores; 83-of-
158 passing, 1,398 yards,
19 TDs, 3 picks, 162.7 QB
rating). Leininger ended up
fourth on the school’s career
rushing list with 4,219 yards
(with a 6.9-yard average)
behind Zach Weber, Chad
Schulte and Matt Shumaker
and became the third-lead-
ing scorer with 392, passing
Shumaker and trailing Weber
and Schulte. Bergfeld ended
his career 50 grabs for 1,091
yards and 17 scores, good
for sixth, fifth and fourth,
respectively, on the Jays’ all-
time list. He also now stands
second in interceptions for a
career with 18, only trailing
the 20 of Randy Grothaus.
Klaus is now third — behind
older brother Rocky — sacks
for a season with 10.
Among the 21 seniors, six
more were in their third sea-
sons of starting, led by center/
See TITLE, page 6B
 The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010 • 5B

Schulte knows his place in Blue Jay football lore

By JIM METCALFE
jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com
DELPHOS — Winning never gets old.
Just ask St. John’s and its football pro-
gram.
The Blue Jays finished off another suc-
cessful season with a perfect 15-0 mark and
the program’s sixth Division VI state title.
The man at the helm for four of those
titles, 12th-year head coach Todd Schulte
(127-32 mark), knows his place in the tradi-
tion that has become St. John’s football.
He is the main man at the helm but he gets
a lot of help.
“I know I get my name in the paper and I
get the wins and losses but it wouldn’t hap-
pen without my assistants. When we talk
about team around here, we talk about being
a family,” he began. “It starts with the players
and coaches that have come before and are
here now. They were and are great kids and
are respectful. I tell today’s parents all the
time that it is the kids’ credit we are in the
position we are. The Xs and Os don’t work
without the Jims and Joes. It’s the players and
coaches that have gone before that have laid
a great foundation that I know I am part of
trying to maintain and build more.
“My whole staff are good men and good
coaches; they are as committed to making
this team the best it can be week after week as
I am. They are great around the kids and they
are quality men off the field. They wouldn’t
be around if they weren’t. They have sacri-
ficed time with their families and personal
time to do this.
“We have 21 seniors and these kids have
given four years to this program. Several of
my coaches have been here longer than I
have. My wins and losses don’t happen with-
out their work. I know I can trust them to do
their jobs so I can focus on mine. We’ve also
worked to establish a good relationship with
the players.”
Success in any sport has become much
more that the physical part, according to
Schulte.
“Games are won and lost long before you
take the field; you’re not just going to step
on the field Friday and win games. We as a
coaching staff are committed to preparing our
players the best we can from watching and
breaking down films on Saturday mornings,
putting together game plans and scouting
reports and work on the field from Monday
to Thursdays,” he explained. “I tell people
that is where games are won and lost and that
is where I and my staff most help our players
win; if you don’t practice and prepare well,
mentally and physically, that is how you will
tend to play. I think that is one of the things
I am better at than I was; preparation. There
are things I used to think were important that
I don’t anymore and others that I didn’t think
were important then that I do now.
“Each of us tries to do things — camps,
clinics, whatever is needed — to become
better professionally as coaches. We owe the
kids that because we ask them to do whatever
needs to be done to be better players and a
stronger team. We’re always looking for a
better way to do the same thing, to say it in a
different way that is just as effective. Every
year, we tweak our system on both sides of
the ball to see if we can do it better without
changing the base.”
Building those relationships, as well as a
team, is a two-way street for Schulte.
“The players work so hard all year around
— if you want to compete and be successful,
no matter the sport, there really is no off-
season anymore — and I and my staff don’t
want to take short-cuts, either; we work as
hard as they do in our way; we don’t want
to let them down, just as they don’t want
to let us or themselves down,” he said. “I
think we can all sleep well at night knowing
we’ve done everything in our power to get
these kids ready for the game. Sometimes, it
doesn’t always work out. As long as I and my
coaches have given our best and the players
have given theirs, I can live with that.
“I think I am also more patient as I grow
and mature as a coach. If things aren’t going
so well, I think I am willing to stay with the
game plan and let the game come to us. As
well, sometimes a pat on the back does more
than a stern lecture.”
Each season can build off the one before.
Take, for example, the loss to Norwalk St.
Paul in last fall’s Division VI finale. That loss
in the last five seconds was plenty of motiva-
tion for 2010.
“We had a great off-season and summer in
the weight room and in conditioning. Losing
last year in the finals was all the motiva-
tion these guys needed to work hard and
improve in all the tangibles: speed, strength,
quickness,” he continued. “It wasn’t just the
kids that were on the field in that game. Tt
wasn’t just the Chris Pohlmans and Jordan
Leiningers, the stars; it was everybody. Those
that didn’t play wanted to work as hard as
those that did. We had constant reminders —
which you can’t help because people were
talking about it for a long time; the kids didn’t
run away from it, either. The kids carried that
work ethic over into preseason conditioning,
two-a-days and into the season.”
Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing in this
run to the state title.
“In our first scrimmage, we had it handed
to us by Elida. That was a wake-up call and
I saw an entirely different team in our scrim-
mage with Celina,” he observed. “Still, the
first game against Lima Central Catholic, I
was as nervous as I have ever been. Despite
everybody we had back and all the work that
the kids out in during the offseason, I wasn’t
sure what to expect and what I’d get. I was
pleased with how we did against LCC and
that kind of set my mind at ease some. That
set the tone for the whole season. We learned
something after that scrimmage and then it
just carried forward. We set a goal to improve
every week and get better in each phase and
we did that. The players responded well and
maintained their focus all season. That was
not an issue.
“We had a tough schedule, both league
and non-league (six teams made the playoffs).
LCC and (Jeromesville) Hillsdale both made
the playoffs and the first goal of every season
is to win the Midwest Athletic Conference.
You find it very easy not to look ahead; as
I and the coaching staff remind the players,
look ahead in the MAC and you get beat.
Once we got through that, won the title and
stayed finished the regular season perfect, we
could then focus on the playoffs. The kids
were very focused. It wasn’t hard to figure
out that in order to win in week 15, you had
to win in the four weeks before. These kids
showed a great level of maturity to handle the
expectations and the pressures.”
When it came down to the keys to this sea-
son, it was his very experienced and talented
senior class that led the way.
“I was most impressed with how this group
handled the off-season and season, especially
the seniors. When you think that several
of these guys were thrown into the fire of
varsity as freshmen and a few more were
thrown in as sophomores; they were going up
against juniors and seniors and juniors and
seniors in the MAC are men and they held
their own very well,” Schulte noted. “As I’ve
always stressed, you only go as far as your
seniors take you. These guys did a great job
of providing the necessary leadership and the
underclassmen followed their lead.
“For example, Jordan (Leininger) came
to me about moving to quarterback and his
remark was ‘I’d rather win a state title than be
a first-team All-Ohio tailback’. Or when Joey
(Grubenhoff) got hurt in our last regular-
season game with a torn ACL but was deter-
mined toi make it back for the finals. That’s
what you need to know about this group.
“They got stronger, quicker and faster
every season. The seniors aren’t the end-all
and be-all of a team but they provide the
experience and the intangibles teams need.
They were great teammates, not only to their
own classmates but all the other classes as
well. That really made this team special.”
He hopes that it is not the end of the grid-
iron trail for most of those 21, either.
“I believe there are a number of seniors
that are capable of playing at the next level,
whether it be Division I, II or III. They are
going to help some team,” he said.
As for the future, Schulte is optimistic but
knows what the program faces.
“We have to wait 28 days before we can
really talk the kids about next season but the
excitement is already there; I was up here
(Tuesday) to do some work and there were
at least 30 kids in the weight room. That is
a great sign; winning a title gets them juiced
up,” Schulte added. “We’ll get together then
and start preparing for next season. You want
to challenge each and every kid to become
the strongest in the room, to be better than the
guy next to him. After all, they will be com-
peting with one another for open spots and
if you have that type of mindset throughout
your program, you’re going to have a lot of
competition once it’s time to suit up again. At
the same time, you’re competing against all
the other teams on your schedule to try and
become the strongest, fastest, quickest and all
the other things.”
“What I think will be a great motivator for
the underclassmen is the question that will be
asked a lot: ‘what are you going to do without
these 21 seniors’? It’s a legitimate question
and they are going to hear it constantly. I
think they have already started to provide an
answer; the weight room. That is where it’s
going to start; getting stronger, more physi-
cal, quicker, more athletic, all those things
that we will need to get to have a chance.”

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It all starts here.

CONGRATULATIONS BLUE JAYS!

6B • The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010
Captains (Continued from page 3B)
year, ever since the loss last
year in the finals. That left a
bitter taste in our mouths and
we knew what we had to do to
get rid of it,” Vogt continued.
“We’d been business-like
most of the year but the day of
that game, it was emotional. I
think all of us seniors realized
that this was the final time
we’d put on the St. John’s
football uniform. In previous
years, we always had next
year but this was it. Tell you
the truth, I’m not sure what
would have happened or how
we’d have reacted had we lost
that game.
“It was shocking that we
beat Shadyside so badly.
When we looked at them on
film, they were athletic at
quarterback and their defen-
sive line was big and athletic.
They even came out and did
some different things but
once we handled that, they
went back to their normal
stuff. All we had to do was
follow our rules and tech-
niques and we were fine.”
Motivation came from
within and from without,
according to Bergfeld.
“We didn’t need to have
any meetings in the off-sea-
son. It was understood what
we wanted to do and what we
had to do it,” he explained.
“We wanted to get back to
the state finals and finish
the job we didn’t get done
last year. Everybody did the
extras. During basketball sea-
son, it’s hard to make time to
lift as much as you’d like but
I did what I could. The same
thing with baseball because
you have so many games.
In the summer, it was busy,
between agilities, lifting,
basketball camps and ACME
games. Basketball helps your
agility and conditioning.
“There was a constant
reminder, though. It was Chris
Pohlman’s idea to put the
picture of Norwalk St. Paul
in our locker room celebrat-
ing their title and and three
places in the weight room.
It was a constant reminder
for us during the winter and
summer of what we had left
undone. I don’t think any of
us wanted to experience that
again.”
However, for Vogt, it was
a scrimmage that seemed to
bring them back to the job
at hand.
“When Elida handed it
to us in a scrimmage, that
Title (Continued from page 4B)
defensive end Alex Recker
(16 pancakes; 28 solos, 23
assists, 2 sacks, 16 QB harass-
ments; 38 punts, 36.4-yard
average, 15 inside the 20),
left guard Joey Grubenhoff
(16 pancakes; returned from
a severe knee injury in week
10 to play in the finals), Mike
linebacker/TE-FB Chris
Pohlman (77 solos, 54 assists,
3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 for
TDs; 81 yards rushing on 10
runs and 24 yards receiving
on 2 catches) — the repeat
Division VI Defensive Player
of the Year; cornerback-
turned-tailback Evan Burgei
(218 rushes, 1,673 yards, 27
scores; 10 grabs, 119 yards,
2 TDs), strong safety/WR
AJ Klausing (36 solos, 15
assists, 1 pick; 7 catches,
192 yards, 2 tallies; 11 punt
returns, 9.5-yard average)
and outside linebacker Dylan
Dancer (55 solos, 48 assists,
1 pick, 5 fumble recoveries,
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was an eye-opener. If we had
continued down the path we
were on, I’m thinking we
might have been a 5-5 team,”
he observed. “We had gotten
a little complacent, thinking
it was going to be easy this
year with all the veterans
we had back. When we got
back from that scrimmage,
we had a meeting as seniors
and talked about what we
wanted to accomplish and
what we had to do to get
there. We got back after it
the next two-a-days practices
and never let up.”
If that wasn’t enough, the
Midwest Athletic Conference
was another reminder to not
look ahead.
“The MAC prepares you
so well for success in the
playoffs. As long as you can
get through the MAC, you’re
in good position,” Burgei
noted. “It’s the best small-
school conference in the state
and you have to get better
and play well week in and
week out. It beats you up,
too.”
For Bergfeld, it was also
necessary to not let any dis-
tractions take the focus on
the ultimate prize, such as
ignoring Internet forums and
such.
“I don’t pay attention to
the Internet. I know some do
but I don’t look at that stuff,”
he said. “It doesn’t bother
me what someone might say.
I just wanted to go out and
play football. We did our
jobs and we got rewarded
for it.”
As for the future, all four
have short-term and potential
long-term goals.
“I had to report for basket-
ball (Wednesday), so I took it
easy the last couple of days;
I sat on the couch, slept and
watched TV. Still, I don’t
need much time to recover;
I’m ready to go,” Bergfeld
explained. “I’ve gotten used
to it the last three years. Once
basketball is over, then it’s
baseball. I like all three pretty
well. I’m not sure now of
whether I will play a sport in
college. I think it depends on
how basketball and baseball
go and how my body holds
up. It would be nice but if I
decide not to, I’m happy with
just being a student.”
“I’m thinking of playing
basketball for the first time
since my freshman year. I’m
not sure but coaches are tell-
1 TD). Pohlman’s 250 solos
passed Keith Recker’s 243
as the all-time leader in that
department, as well as jump-
ing from fourth to second in
total stops (behind Recker’s
479) with 430.
Five more seniors were
in their second seasons as
varsity players: noseguard
Cody Brinkman (48 solos, 43
assists, 7 sacks, 9 QB harass-
ments), defensive tackle
Kasey Bonifas (13 total tack-
les; injured late in the season),
guard/end Vinny Wiley (13
solos, 8 assists), safety Tyler
Ditto (43 and 19, 4 picks) and
wide receiver Joe Haggard (5
grabs, 68 yards, 2 tallies). As
well, first-time starters were
right tackle Seth Knebel and
tight end Justin Grothouse (9
catches, 145 yards, 1).
The final five seniors were
WR Brad Gerberick (2 grabs,
22 yards), defensive tackle
Jacob Rode, defensive end
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ing me they like to see play-
ers perform in other sports
and show different skills; I’m
still thinking about it,” Vogt
commented. “I know I have
to stay in shape and work
on my footwork and quick-
ness, as well as getting faster,
stronger and more athletic. I
play baseball in the spring and
that won’t change. I’d like
to play college football and
Bowling Green, Kent State
and Ball State are really inter-
ested. Butler has offered but
since they are Division I-AA,
they really can’t offer money.
They are trying to work out
some kind of package.”
“College football isn’t out
of the question but I want to
go to an engineering school,”
Burgei stated. “It would be
nice to play at the next level
but if it doesn’t happen, I’m
OK with that, too. So far,
Dayton is the main one that
has expressed interest but
I’m hoping more will become
interested. I am taking a few
days off to let an injury heal
up before I start getting ready
for track and field.”
“Bowling Green State
University and Toledo have
expressed interest. As well,
I-AA and Division II schools
are looking,” Leininger
observed. “I’m being told
different things: some are
saying they want me as a full-
back, others as a slot receiv-
er, a safety or even an outside
linebacker. It just depends
what they are looking for and
what they need. I had to do
some different assignments
this year as the quarterback,
like leading on the ‘O’ and
blocking. I have included
some of those plays in my
highlight tapes I’m sending
out to those schools.”
Two of the players:
Bergfeld and Leininger; had
older brothers that played for
the Jays.
“Bart was on a state semi-
final team in 2004, so he
didn’t win a title. Still, he
experienced some success,”
Bergfeld noted. “We didn’t
give me a lot of advice but
he gave me some. With his
work, he didn’t have a lot
of time. He played college
football at Dayton and had a
pretty nice career.”
Leininger had his older
brother, Jay, currently an
assistant coach, who was
part of the 2008 title team
as well.
Reed Hesseling (18 tackles)
and center Nate Hoffman.
For the fourth time in the
last six seasons, the Jays had
a pair of 1,000-yard backs (in
15 games).
Junior kicker Josh Rode
(70-of-73 extra points, 3-of-4
field goals, 79 points; break-
ing his 4th-place mark of
66-of-71 last season), full-
back Jordan Bergfeld (95
rushes, 733 yards, 13 scores;
10 receptions, 128 yards,
1 tally; 6 kickoff returns,
20.8-yard average), wideout
Tanner Calvelage (7 catches,
150 yards, 1) and guard Alex
Wehri (6 pancakes) were vital
cogs for an offense averaging
42.7 points and 379.3 yards
(282.6 rushing; 7.5 yards per
play) in 2010 and will be key
players for 2011. Rode’s 136-
of-144 mark in EPs puts him
only behind Charlie Webb’s
146-162 and Michael Bitler’s
192-of-210.
AB
“He claims we are tied to us. We worked hard for it. ries from last year but those
with titles. As a freshman, “We learned a lot about will always be on our minds,
they won in 2005, so he life as well; the coaches of how we let it get away,”
claims that,” Leininger said. constantly emphasized that Leininger added. “That loss
“The biggest thing he does success was a mindset; if put a load on our shoulders
is be there when I have a you believed in yourself and that we thought about all year
bad play or something else worked hard to get there, and winning the title will help
goes wrong. He comes up then you’d achieve your take some of that off our
to me on the sidelines and goals. Everyone got along so shoulders; it’s lightened the
calms me down, helping me well and we really did work load. We were on a mission
keep my head on straight as one. That is the biggest for 12 months and got it done.
and move on to when I go memory I will take from this Once we got through the reg-
back in.” season.” ular season, we could focus
Another, Burgei, has a “You couldn’t have a bet- on the playoffs. We felt we
father, Jerry, who played col- ter feeling as a high school had a good chance if we took
lege ball at Michigan. athlete than winning a state every opponent seriously; we
“He doesn’t talk a lot title in your final season,” prepared well from practice
about that except to stress Bergfeld ended. “Personally, and film study and put that to
constantly to work hard and I enjoyed the blowout, though good use on the field.
have a good work ethic. He none of us ever imagined “I can’t really express what
talks about what hard work it would be by 71 points. I I feel about my teammates,
did for him and can do for don’t like close games. It’s especially the seniors. We
me,” Burgei explained. nice to have a 35-0 lead. It’s really never had any issues
“He doesn’t say a lot to me nice that we kept getting bet- this year; they were great.
because we have such good ter each week and then hit our We had a lot of great leaders
coaches but at the start of the stride during the playoffs; we on this team; that can’t be
playoffs, he told me to play took our play and intensity overlooked.
your B-plus game until the up another notch. It was fun “This year has taught me
finals; that’s when you want to be able to do that.” how much football is like
to play your A-plus game. Perhaps Leininger life, of how you have to work
You don’t want to have any summed it up best. for success and things won’t
regrets and you want to leave “It’s definitely a different be handed to you. If you are
it all on the field.” feeling winning a title versus willing to put in the time
This season won’t be for- being runner-up. Winning it and the effort, you will be
gotten soon — if ever — by will help erase the memo- rewarded.”
the captains.
“A great feeling. It’s some- Family traditions passed from father to son
thing I’ve wanted to do since
I was young — win state as a
senior — and it was a goal all
season for us,” Burgei added.
“I was a starting cornerback
for the 2008 team but I was
a sophomore. It’s not quite
the same as doing it your
senior year. That’s the way
to go out; winning state in
your last game in your final
season. This feels likes it’s
more ‘my’ and ‘our’ title; it’s
a more personal title.
“What a nice time to be
playing your best and play
your best game. That’s what
we did against Shadyside.
That’s a perfect way to go
out.”
Vogt focused more on the
unity.
“We did it as one. Our
motto ‘Together As One’
was perfect for us,” he con-
cluded. “We had never gone
unbeaten as a class — though
we’d won a lot of games —
and we finally all got back
together in our senior season
and went unbeaten. This is a
goal we’ve had since junior
high. We’ve had a lot of Tom Morris photos
success as a class and this is St. John’s senior Alex Recker, left, poses with his
a best way to top it off. We father, defensive coordinator Steve “Peanut” Recker,
deserved this; no one gave it with the state championship trophy.
Defensively, they gave up
10.1 points and 214.2 yards
(73.9 rushing; 3.9 yards per
play) and forced 23 more turn-
overs than the offense gave
up. Besides the seniors that
will be graduating, juniors
Kyle Neumeier (team-leading
78 solos and 57 assists at out-
side linebacker), cornerback
Ryan Densel (32 and 9; 5
picks, 1 for a score), corner-
back Calvelage (17 and 6; 3
picks) and junior linebacker
Austin Sheeter (19 and 14)
will need to be prime-time
players next fall.
They rushed for 4,239 yards
(7.2 per rush) and threw for
1,450 (16.7 per completion,
with a 52.4 completion per-
centage and 4 interceptions).
The defense ceded 1,108
yards rushing (2.5 per rush)
and 2,105 yards passing (10.1
per completion, with a 53.6 St. John’s senior Evan Burgei shares a moment
completion percentage and with his father, assistant coach Dr. Jerry Burgei, with
25 picks). the title trophy Friday night.
CONGRATULATIONS BLUE JAYS!
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 The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010 • 7B

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8B • The Herald • Congratulations Jays • December 2010

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