Rulewicz Looks to Continue Winning Tradition at Western

New Western High School football coach Nick Rulewicz, center, will count on senior players, from left, Dominic Honsinger, Trent Schnebelt, Carlos Ramos, Dalton Heavy, Lincoln Raczkowski, Braxton Nichols, Nolan Wheeler, and Cole Wilcox.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(August 10, 2021 10:54 AM) New Western High School football Coach Nick Rulewicz hopes to continue the culture in Parma.

The culture of winning and making the playoffs.

Western has made the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 for the fourth consecutive season in 2020 – despite a reduced schedule due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Panthers finished 4-1 in Interstate-8 Conference play, 4-3 overall for the season.

Rulewicz takes over for Dave Mifsud who resigned to move closer to family members. Misfud won his 150th game as a head coach last October.

“Dave built the culture of having fun and continuing to grow as a program,” Coach Rulewicz said. “We hope to continue to improve each day and each week and continue the streak of making the MHSAA football playoffs.”

Rulewicz has more than 20 years of experience coach football, first at Columbia Central, Hilldale College, Michigan Center, and finally at Western High School.

Rulewicz says the Panthers have new offensive and defensive schemes.

Senior Braxton Nichols – who plays on both sides of the line – said the defensive schemes are effective.

“The schemes are simpler but effective,” Nichols said. “They are a read and react scheme designed to cause havoc.”

Nichols is one of numerous returning players for the Panthers. Others include senior Dominic Honsinger (OL/DL), senior Dalton Heavy (RB/DB), senior Lincoln Raczkowski (RB/DB), senior Cole Wilcox (WR/DB), senior Nolan Wheeler (QB/DB), junior Caden Oliver (QB/DB), and sophomore Landon Heavy (FB/LB).

Honsinger said the Panthers would like to legitimately defeat Lumen Christi in 2021. Western earned a 2-0 forfeit over the Titans late in the season due to COVID-19.

“Winning via forfeit was not good enough for me,” Honsinger said.

Seniors Trent Schnebelt and Carlos Ramos are players expected to play bigger roles in 2021.

Junior lineman Landen DeRossett is expected to be an impact player for Western, according to Rulewicz.

Rulewicz said the football program is healthy at Western with 90 high school football players and 70 at the middle school level.

Western will be on the road against St. Johns on Aug. 26 but come home to face rivals Northwest on Sept. 2.

Western High School

2021 Football Schedule

Aug. 26 Western at St. Johns 7 p.m.

Sept. 2 Northwest at Western 7 p.m.

Sept. 10 Western at Harper Creek 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 Hastings at Western 7 p.m.*

Sept. 24 Western at B.C. Pennfield 7 p.m.