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