Key components of the 2023 Springport High School varsity football team consists of, from left to right, Rylinn Hale, Kaden Dickinson, Coach Matthew Rohde, Benjamin Curtis, and Gabe Rainey.
(August 22, 2023 8:00 AM ET) Third-year Springport High School football head Coach Matthew Rohde said the culture needed to change with his program.
Rohde noted the Spartans were “no longer catering to kids to have high numbers.
“We want kids on the team that want to be there.”
While this statement may lead to fewer players, the opposite is true for the Spartans. Numbers are up according to the head coach and expectations are higher.
The Spartans were 8-1 at the junior varsity level and a number of those players are now on the varsity squad.
“Junior varsity wins are great, but pretty soon players are battling with someone bigger,” Rohde said. “Our theme is to ‘go before you’re ready.’”
Key returning players for Springport are seniors Rylinn Hale (QB/LB), Kaden Dickinson (OL/DL), Travis Riehle (OL/DL), Chyler Jones (WR/DB), Gabe Rainey (WR/DE), and Eli Dyer (WR/K).
Juniors Daniel Dysert (RB/LB) and Ben Curtis (WR/LB) also return for the Spartans.
New players expected to make an impact are junior Marshall Shoemaker (WR/DB), sophomores Kaden Woyame (WR/LB) and Thomas Scott (RB/LB), and freshman Jake Kregel (QB/DB).
Hale, Riehle, Dickinson, and Jones will serve as team captains for Springport this season.
Springport High School 2023 Football Schedule
Aug. 25 Stockbridge at Springport 7 p.m.
Aug. 31 Springport at Union City 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 Springport at Petersburg-Summerfield 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 Quincy at Springport 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 Reading at Springport 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 Springport at Bronson 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 Sand Creek at Springport 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Springport at Addison 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 TBA
