By David Rice
JTV Sports
(August 23, 2023 2:00 PM ET) The late playoff loss in the 4th quarter of last season has left the Western Panthers hungry to do more this upcoming 2023 campaign.
Western finished 6-4 last year, making a sixth straight playoff appearance (7th in 8 years), and lost by a heartbreaking one point to Jackson late in the game.
With the Panthers returning lots of players, they look to compete for an Interstate 8 conference title. They come into the year with approximately 90 players total in the program and will carry a freshman team.
Third year head Coach Nick Rulewicz will rely on lots of experience but will also have new players in some parts of the field, including incoming junior Reed Myers at QB. Parma Western returns both eight on offense and defense, including four of five on the offensive line.
Strength and Conditioning coach Logan Kelley has also been a big contributor for the ‘Panther Championship Series’, which rewards players for community service, workouts/team activities, and honor roll.
Key returners for the Panthers include Landon Heavy (LB/FB), Mitchell Williams (LB/RB), Ben Parrot (WR), Alex Trudell (RB), and senior linemen James Messer, Aidan Duncan, and Noah Shaw.
Western opens the season with two tough games, @ Dearborn Divine Child (9-3, D4 District Champions) followed by the home opener against Detroit Country Day (D5 Regional Champions).
Coach Rulewicz: “Our goal is to make it to Ford Field and win a state championship. Show up and take it one game at a time, make it happen.”
Parma Western Panthers 2023 Football Schedule:
8/24 @ Dearborn Divine Child
8/31 vs Detroit Country Day
9/8 @ Battle Creek Pennfield
9/15 vs Richland Gull Lake
9/22 vs Jackson Northwest
9/29 @ Battle Creek Harper Creek
10/6 vs Hastings
10/13 @ Marshall
10/20 vs Coldwater
