Team Preview: Sterling
EDGYTIM.com previews the 2017 Sterling Golden Warriors 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: Sterling
Mascot: Golden Warriors
Conference: Northern Illinois Big 12 West
Team Twitter: @_shsfootball
Head Coach: Jonathon Schlemmer
Assistant Coaches: Shad Bailey (OC) Greg King Dave Campbell Donnie Dittmar Geoff Devine Mike LeMay Jeff Neubauer Dan Rodriguez Joe Schneiderbauer Ben Rodriguez Adam Gee Brad Capes John Ybarra
2016 results: 11-1 (9-0 Northern Illinois Big 12 West Conference). The Golden Warriors made the 5A state playoff field and defeated Westinghouse and Rich Central before losing to Sycamore in the quarterfinal round.
2017 Sterling Golden Warriors schedule
Week 1 - @ Sycamore
Week 2 - Pekin
Week 3 - @ RI Alleman (Augustana College)
Week 4 - @LaSalle Peru
Week 5 - Geneseo
Week 6 - @ Yorkville
Week 7 - Rochelle
Week 8 - @ Ottawa
Week 9 - Dekalb
Returning Offensive Starters
Trey Morse/QB/6'2"/185/2018
Nyrel Sullivan/RB/5'10"/170/2018
Nolan Sullivan/H-TE/6'1"/200/2018
Alek Duran/SLOT/5'11"/180/2019
Tyler Willman/LT/6'5"/245/2018
Michael Eberhardt/C/5'10"/230/2018
Tyler Hanrahan/RG/5'10"/220/2018
John Rahn/RT/6'2"/270/2019
Returning Defensive Starters
Jayden Villegas/OLB/5'11"/200/2018
Marcus Shetter/OLB/6'2"/190/2018
Sebastian Heeren/6'/205/2018
Marquez Williams/6'/185/2019
Alek Duran/5'11"/180/2019
Newcomers to Watch
Jacob Capes/6'5"/260/OL/2019
Turner Garcia/6'3"/170/DB/2018
Peyton Sharp/5'9"/200/DL/2018
2017 Sterling Golden Warriors summer Camp/7on7 plans
NIU - June 24th
Oswego East - July 27th
Top Impact Player for Sterling in 2017? Senior RB Nyrel Sullivan,. The Golden Warriors have no shortage of talent back this season, yet for Sterling to make a deep run in 5A they no question will need a potent running game. Sullivan is a nice combo of speed and power and brings experience to the table along with big play potential on nearly every carry this fall.
Biggest Concern heading into 2017? Can the 2017 Golden Warriors live up to the hype? No one who follows 5A will not have Sterling ranked exceptionally high in the preseason polls. Can Sterling, who has never advanced past the state quarterfinal round in school history finally break the quarterfinal slump? Lots of high expectations on this group in and around the greater Sterling area in 2017.
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2017 Sterling Golden Warriors?
With it's entire starting offensive line back in 2017 plus a strong group of offensive skills in the fold, the Golden Warriors have a chance to be very dangerous in 2017. While the Northern Illinois Big 12 West is a strong conference year in and year out Sterling has to be considered the hands on favorite. If the defense can fill in a handful of key spots (defensive line) and build some needed depth? This team could finally make a deep, deep run in 5A in 2017.
EDGYTIM's Way Too Early regular season record prediction for the Sterling Golden Warriors? 9-0/8-1