These guys are working really, really hard, so that’s a lot of fun. And they just enjoy being around each other.”

Head coach Rick Fryklund

Park will have its defense up for sure this season – nine of 11 starters return – and with a host of All-District players back in the fold, optimism is high for the Wolfpack this season.

As usual with every new season there is some turnover at key spots. But despite some losses, Park football has a number of returning standouts to build around.

Now seniors, running back/defensive back Zack Carr, running back/linebacker Kody Aikens and linebacker/defense end Aidan Boche each earned all-district honors last season. In addition, linebacker/running back Keon Moody, linemen Jairus Boston and Robert Schmitzer received all-district honorable mention.

Those six – along with a number of other starters returning -- give the Wolfpack a very solid nucleus to build around this fall. The defense is loaded with nine veterans back. Only the two cornerbacks will be new to the lineup.

“I’m not going to get into what I expect, but it’s pretty fun to coach this group,” said head coach Rick Fryklund. “A core of about nine guys have started since they were sophomores in this group. Obviously, it’s fun to have a core of guys that will be starting in their third year. Fun to have a big senior class. These guys are working really, really hard, so that’s a lot of fun. And they just enjoy being around each other.

“I don’t know what any outcomes will be, but this process over the summer sure has been fun,” Fryklund continued. “Defensively I will say we have nine returning starters so that makes things easier to adjust … Right down the middle is where we return our nine guys so our d-linemen, our linebackers and our safeties are all returning starters. That makes it a little bit easier to sleep at night.”

Last season was a difficult one for the Wolfpack in terms of wins and losses, as Park went 2-7 overall and 2-3 in the Metro-Maroon district play. The Wolfpack had solid wins over Burnsville (48-6) and Eastview (28-16) and were competitive in most games but struggled mightily in three consecutive losses to end the season, falling to Mounds View (12-37), Stillwater (17-45) and Minnetonka (7-47).

The Wolfpack will get a quick chance to end that streak this fall as the schedule is less daunting.

Park was very balanced on offense last season, averaging 136.4 yards rushing, while passing for 164.3, for a total average of 300.7 yards per game.

Defensively the Wolfpack struggled at times, allowing opponents 241 yards rushing average and 92 yards passing for a total of 333 yards allowed per game.

Senior quarterback Miskir Esayas completed 106 passes in 186 attempts for 1,213 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Junior Esten Erickson now steps into that role after getting his feet wet last season. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 122 yards in four games, for an 8.1 yards per attempt average. Sophomore Jon Nesdahl will also see some time at quarterback.

Junior running back Kody Aikens led Park in rushing with 608 yards on 99 attempts, for a 608 average. Senior receiver/kick and punt returner Naod Tewelde gained 273 yards, junior running back Zack Carr 211 and Esayas 127. Park spread the ball around passing wise last season with six players totaling more than 100 yards in receptions.

Graduated wide receiver Don Batts was the team’s top receiver with 25 receptions for 388 yards, a 15.5 average and three touchdowns. But senior Matthew Kamande returns at wide receiver.

Two starters are back on the offensive line and two running backs who started or saw considerable time in the backfield.

Defensively the Wolfpack were led by junior outside linebacker Aidan Boche. who had 41 solo tackles, and 30 assists for a total tackle count of 71.

Carr had 53 total tackles. Senior defensive back Anthony Giadyu 43, Aikens 42 and junior linebacker Keon Moody and junior defensive tackle Jairus Boston 37 each. Junior defensive end Robert Schmitzer had 30 tackles and led Park in tackles for losses with seven. Junior linebacker Eric Lange Jr. had 32 total tackles last season and three tackles for losses.

Carr, Aikens and Boche earned all-district honors last season, while Moody, Boston and Schmitzer received all-district honorable mention.

Park opens the season Thursday, Aug. 28 at White Bear Lake, starting at 7 p.m. The first home game for the Wolfpack is the following Friday, against Stillwater.

Based solely on how each team did in 2024, Park’s schedule sets up favorably, with only one opponent -- Forest Lake -- having a winning record in 2024.

n White Bear Lake (3-6 last season), Stillwater (4-5), Forest Lake (7-3), Hopkins (3-6), Wayzata (4-5), Coon Rapids (0-9), Roseville (3-6), Eastview (2-7).

Park hasn’t had a winning season since going 6-2 during the 2017 regular season. This group aims to change that.

“If this group continues to work the way they are, that will be very satisfying,” said Fryklund. “It has been a whole lot of fun to coach this group.”

Wolfpack football 2025

Thursday, Aug, 28 at White Bear Lake 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5 Stillwater 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12 at Forest Lake 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 19 at Hopkins 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 26 Wayzata 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3 Coon Rapids (homecoming) 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10 at Roseville 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 Eastview 7 p.m.

The five Park football captains were asked about their season expectations, goals and team strengths:

Keon Moody, senior linebacker/running back

“My expectations for this year is for everyone to be together, be a family and execute everything well. A goal for me us going into any game with the mindset that we can win. We can win any game.”

Eric Lange Jr., senior linebacker

“For me personally I just want to say that at the end of the day that I knew I worked my hardest every single day. And then for the team, I’d just love to see that we go into every single game knowing that it’s a winnable game and that we put all 100 percent of what we’ve got into the field.”

Mitchell Dimock, senior linebacker/defensive back

“I mainly play defense so I would love to say defense is better, but we have some good battles during practice. I think we all have a really good relationship with each other, and I think we’re going to be a really tight group of guys by the end of the year.

Lance Hayes, senior linebacker/athlete

“I would like to say that at the end of the day that I gave my best to all my teammates and that we all ended up happy at the end of the season. Just that we can all look at each other and say we gave 100 percent and we’re happy with the outcome.”

Jairus Boston, senior defensive tackle

“This year I just expect us to keep the same energy every game, every week. We didn’t have a good season last year, but I felt like the more we lost last year the more the energy on the team went down. So, what I hope this year is no matter what happens, no matter the circumstances we keep that same bond, that same family, we just keep on rolling.”