Team Preview: Lake Zurich
EDGYTIM.com previews the 2017 Lake Zurich Bears here. For more in depth preseason coverage including state wide team coverage along with daily recruiting news and updates, make sure to subscribe to the EDGY Nation today.
School: Lake Zurich
Mascot: Bears
Conference: North Suburban Lake
Team Twitter: @LZHSFootball
Head Coach: Luke Mertens
Assistant Coaches: Shane Williams, Aaron Towne, Jeff Bartlett, Nick Summers, Rick Erickson, Kelly Henkel, Will Koukal, Aaron Lewandowski, Christian Wollard
2016 results: 8-3 (8-1 North Suburban Lake Conference). The Bears made the 2016 Class 7A state playoff field. Lake Zurich defeated Harlem before losing to Fenwick in second round action.
2017 Lake Zurich Bears schedule
8/25 at Fremd
9/1 Montini
9/8 Waukegan
9/15 Zion-Benton
9/22 at Warren
9/28 at Lake Forest
10/6 at Stevenson
10/13 Libertyville
10/20 at Mundelein
Returning Offensive Starters
Enters, Matthijs, WR, Sr., 6'0, 190
Fitzgerald, Ian, OL, Sr., 6'6, 275
Gritsonis, George, RB, Jr., 5'7, 170
Hinsberger, Robert, WR, Sr., 5'10, 170
Lewandowski, Evan, QB, Sr., 6'4, 200
Manousaridis, Yianni, OL, Sr., 5'9, 210
Pemstein, Riley OL,Sr.,6'1,230
Stutzman, Joey, RB, Sr.,5'7,160
Returning Defensive Starters
Enters, Matthijs, LB, Sr., 6'0, 190
Farsalas, Jackson, DL, Jr., 6'3, 230
Katzenberger, Travis, DL, Sr., 6'0, 170
Sanborn, Jack, LB, Sr., 6'2, 210
Sayre, Jason, LB, Jr., 5'10, 180
Stutzman, Joey, LB, Sr., 5'7, 160
Newcomers to Watch
Dwyer, Lucus, LB, Jr., 6'1, 175
Burkley, Trenton, WR, Sr., 5'10, 160
Fabbrini, Jack, LB, Jr., 5'9, 155
Gallus, Michael, WR, Jr., 6'1,185
LePage, Austin, DB, Jr., 5'8, 160
Vrenios, Ryan, LB, Jr., 6'0, 165
2017 Lake Zurich Bears Summer Camp/7on7 plans
TBA
Did you know...that Lake Zurich has missed the IHSA state playoff field just once (2015) since the 2001 season.
Top Impact Player for Lake Zurich in 2017? The Bears will look towards three year starting inside linebacker Jack Sanborn (Wisconsin) as it's leader this season.
Biggest Concern heading into 2017? Will the Bears need to deal with the hazing scandal all season long? Have we seen everything that we will see in regards to the Lake Zurich hazing scandal from last season? Will the media attention ramp up again this coming fall?
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2017 Lake Zurich? No question the entire Lake Zurich hazing scandal has taken the headlines in regards to the football program and school. In steps well respected new HC Luke Mertens from Lakes . Mertens will have to take on several tasks including getting the Bears back onto the field and focused on the season. If the Bears can stay focused on the field in 2017, they have a loaded roster that could potentially make a deep state title run this fall.
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early regular season record prediction for Lake Zurich? 9-0/8-1