TEAM PREVIEW: Frankenmuth Eagles
There are problems. And there are good problems.
Frankenmuth head coach Andy Donovan was faced with the same dilemma that few other Michigan high schools were faced with last week when practices officially got underway. When Monday, Nov. 5 rolled around, Donovan saw just a handful of guys walk into the gym due to a football playoff run that placed the Eagles in the Division 5 Regional Finals.
Frankenmuth’s outstanding season on the gridiron came to a close Saturday when they fell to Portland, and Donovan enjoyed watching his guys muscle their way through the playoffs. But, with most teams having already having a week of practice in the books, he’s now eager to get his full squad in the gym and get to work.
“Playoff football runs like this don’t come around all the time,” said Donovan. “I love watching those guys compete on the football field. It’s a good problem to have. But, needless to say, I’m anxious to have them inside with us.”
Frankenmuth head coach Andy DonovanThe Eagles string of football success hasn’t had an effect on Donovan’s winning ways, though. In his eight years at the helm, Frankenmuth has hung five Tri-Valley East Championships, including three straight in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. But last season it was neighboring foe Bridgeport who brought that run to an end, sweeping the Eagles in conference play and keeping the TVC East crown for themselves. In their third meeting, the Bearcats dealt Frankenmuth their third loss of the season when they ended their postseason push in the District Semifinals.
Back for their final year under Donovan and hoping to bring an end to Bridgeport’s time at the top are Thomas Brooks (2019), Carson Bell (2019), Cody Kueffner (2019) and Tyler Somerville (2019). But first, the Eagles will first have to find a way to fill the voids left on their roster by 2018 graduates Mario Whitley, Sam Gray, Stanley Trombley, Zach Jacobs, Josh Moore and Karrington Riggins.
The biggest void of all was left by Whitley, the All-State standout who averaged 25 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.0 assists in his senior year. He finished his career with 1,644 points, 823 rebounds and 216 steals. Whitley opted out of his commitment to play for Saginaw Valley State University and instead went the JUCO route, signing on with Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri.
Frankenmuth is also hoping for breakout seasons from newcomers Corey Thompson (2020), Kyle Zehnder (2020), Derek Humpert (2020) and Seth Messing (2020).
“This league has been Frankenmuth and Bridgeport (at the top) for quite a while now,” Donovan said. “But (Essexville) Garber returns has a group of seniors that have a lot of varsity experience and Millington returns two all-league caliber players. So, we will see what happens. Our goals are just to compete for that league championship and get better as the season rolls on.”
This school year will also mark the last for the Tri-Valley Conference’s East division that fans have come to know and love.
After several realignments, the TVC will undergo one more next school year when Frankenmuth and Bridgeport shift to the Central Division where they’ll compete against the likes of Swan Valley, Freeland, Alma, Birch Run, Garber and Standish-Sterling. The Eagles will also say goodbye to rival Millington, who will join the West Division.
BREAKDOWN
TEAM: Frankenmuth Eagles
CONFERENCE: Tri-Valley Conference – East Division
COACH: Andy Donovan (9th season)
CAREER RECORD: 125-50
2017-18 RECORD: 10-2 Conference (2nd) , 18-3 Overall
2017-18 POSTSEASON FINISH: District Semifinal loss to Bridgeport, 70-63
DATES TO REMEMBER: 12/21 vs. Flint Powers, 1/11 at Bridgeport, 2/1 vs. Bridgeport, 2/19 at Flint Hamady.