Park football players get a jump on fall

Park High football players got a taste of live action Sunday as the Wolfpack took on players from Hastings, Prescott, WI. and St. Paul Johnson in 7-on-7 drills.

The Wolfpack are busy preparing for what will be an upgraded, and demanding, 6A schedule this season. Park opens at home against Lakeville South, and then plays Eagan, Eastview, Hopkins, Burnsville, Woodbury in the new Maroon South Division, then Anoka and Prior Lake.

“I’m hoping that they learn to compete,” said Park head coach Rick Fryklund “I’m hoping they learn the drills and techniques that we want them to do. I’m hoping that they enjoy the game of football and playing with their brothers on the right and their left. That’s what my biggest takeaway from summer is.

Here’s what three Park veterans had to say about what they’re learning in camp: Senior left tackle/defensive end/kicker Treyton Bammert-Mueller: “First of all, it’s building new team chemistry with the new receiver corp. It’s helping out the younger kids because some of the older kids aren’t coming because they have other sports or stuff.”

Senior running back/ linebacker Micah Runion: “We’re just learning, just getting down the plays, getting reps against other teams, just the competition overall. We have a new offense this year; we’re going back to the spread.

Senior tight end/defensive end Jack Theis: “(The hardest thing) is just getting out of bed and waking up early every morning. But once you get there it’s always fun. You get to be around all your friends and work together.”

The new schedule will be challenging, Theis agreed.

“I hope that we can just compete every game and just make every game a fun game and make it entertaining for the people watching.”

Park will have another 7-on-7 session this Sunday, July 18, this time squaring off against players from Hastings, Simley and Prescott, WI. The session starts at 6 p.m. at Wolfpack Stadium.

DJ Brown of the Wolfpack turns upfield after a catch and run during drills Sunday. Photo by John Molene

Park defender Chris Kujawa chases down a St. Paul Johnson opponent during 7-on-7 drills Sunday. Photo by John Molene