“Jarrett Gronski?” the caller said. “Man, that seems like three years ago.”
DeMeyer got a good laugh out of that.
While it hasn’t been that long since Gronski was roaming the field for the Spartans, earning News Tribune and Superior Telegram player of the year honors after leading Superior to the Wisconsin Division 2 state semifinals in 2019, it has certainly felt that long as the days cooped up during the COVID-19 era have had their way of dragging things out.
Gronski is now at Bemidji State while Superior is undertaking an unprecedented spring season of Wisconsin high school football after the Spartans fall season was called off due to the pandemic.
“The last time we were on the field together was November 2019 — that’s how long these kids have been waiting,” DeMeyer said. “It’s been a long time coming, and these kids deserve to have a football season. We hit the ground running Monday (March 8) for our first practice, and they give us everything they’ve got every day.”
The preparation time has been limited as Superior opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday, March 26, at home against Eau Claire North.
Superior senior running back Carter Fonger joked that the Spartans are used to throwing snowballs in practice late in the season — not at the start of it. The players wear masks, but Fonger said it’s to the point players hardly even notice it.
“It’s just great being back on the field finally,” Fonger said. “Everybody is way better off being able to practice and play and do the things we normally would, rather than if we didn’t have football at all.”
DeMeyer said Cary Pallas, a maintenance worker with the district, has done an outstanding job overseeing the NBC Spartan Sports Complex, keeping it looking new while preserving the facility for future use.
Wisconsin-Superior soccer players have been there shoveling, and DeMeyer said his players might put in a shift, too.
“It’s been a team effort,” he said. “Whatever we have to do to make things happen this spring, we’re going to do it.”
Superior has six games scheduled. There will be no postseason, no conference championship to play for, either, but don’t think these games don’t mean anything. They mean a lot.
“Six is enough,” Fonger said. “It’s not what I like — I want more, obviously — but if we can get six games in, that’s success for us.”
Spartans quarterback Kaden Kimmes runs with the ball during practice Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Football will have a two-week overlap with the traditional spring sports, baseball, track and field, golf and tennis, and DeMeyer said coaches have bonded together toward a common goal.
“We’re just trying to give these kids an experience,” he said. “That’s ultimately what it’s all about right now, giving these kids the best experience possible. They’ve missed out on a whole lot in the last year and we’re just working together to give them the best experience we can.”
Senior Kaden Kimmes will start at quarterback. He split time at QB with Gronski in 2019 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. In seven games, he completed 23 of 37 passes for 463 yards, with eight touchdowns to only one interception. DeMeyer called him a “heckuva” quarterback, a special player and incredibly bright.
Fonger agreed.
“He’s our guy,” he said.
With a cumulative grade-point average pushing 3.9, Fonger is also smart and much more vocal than the lead-by-example Kimmes. In 2019, Fonger rushed 58 times for 454 yards — good for 7.8 yards per carry — and four touchdowns for a team that went 10-3. He will see more of the lion’s share of carries this season.
“Carter is a go-to guy. He’s a dude,” DeMeyer said. “He’s a kid who has paid the price. He is one of several seniors who have been waiting for this for a long time. He’s been waiting to show what he can do. He’s a special athlete and a special young man, but he’s been under the radar, for whatever reason.”
No fall season certainly didn’t help, but hopefully spring ball will.
Spartans running back Carter Fonger blocks a teammate during practice Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
“Wherever he goes, he will improve the culture of that program,” DeMeyer said. “He has impeccable character, and with the skill set that he has, he can do a lot of different things on the football field. It’s just a matter of someone giving him that opportunity.”
Fonger also plays linebacker, where he will be joined by returning starter Dane Polkinghorne. Seniors Ben Hunter (WR/DB) and Jake Edwards (WR/DB) and junior Ross Rivord (slot/DE) will also play both sides of the ball. Senior Lars Olson is a returning starter at defensive end.
Superior lost players due to COVID and the fact the Spartans are playing in the spring, as well as an injury up front. DeMeyer said the offensive and defensive lines “will be by committee” while at the same time emphasizing how important line play will be.
“We go as they go — we know that — and we tell them that,” DeMeyer said.
Fonger also runs track, and with all the sprints and drills he is getting in football practice, that should help prepare him for that. While not tall, the 5-foot-8, 193-pound Fonger has that rare combination of muscle and speed. He can squat 490 pounds and bench press 335 pounds while still having the speed to run the 100 meters in 11.3 seconds.
Fonger’s older brother, Conner, played tailback and slot for the Spartans and was also explosive. He is playing baseball at Minnesota-Crookston.
The younger Fonger would like to play college football. He has received college interest from Carthage College, an NCAA Division III program in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as Wisconsin-Stout and St. Scholastica.
“Some schools have said they want to see another year of film,” Fonger said.
Members of the Spartans football team take part in a tackling drill Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Steve Kuchera / skuchera@duluthnews.com)
Spring should provide that. Fonger said he has always wanted to play scholarship football, but Division II interest so far has been minimal.
“I know I can play at that level,” Fonger said, “but it’s a matter of, will anybody give me a shot? Even a preferred walk-on, that’d be amazing. That gives you an opportunity to go there and earn it. Show them what you’ve got.”
And Fonger has no problem with that.
“Absolutely not,” he said.
DeMeyer feels the same way, and this spring might be Fonger’s opportunity to prove it.
So no matter what comes out of this, don’t tell the Spartans it doesn’t mean anything.
“They’ve got great energy,” DeMeyer said. “We’re having fun together, through the cold and the rain and the snow, warm weather, in the gym, in the weightroom, wherever we’re at, it’s an awesome feeling to be back out there with this crew and to see them having so much fun. They deserve that.”