Crawfordsville football is hoping to get back on track in 2021.
With just two wins in the last four seasons, the Athenians are relying on a strong senior class to take the next step as a program.
“The players have done a great job working together this off season and our senior leadership has been really good,” Crawfordsville coach Kurt Schlicher said. “Our players have dedicated this season to their former classmate and teammate Michael Leak. Michael was a special kid who has left a lasting impact on our program.”
Those top returning seniors include Alex Hernandez, Evan Chaney, Nick Busenbark, Noah Adair, Ethan Powell, Ethan Patton, and Kaigen Fields.
The Athenians also return junior Zeke Cardenas, Kale Hutchison, Isaac Rogers, Brennden Busenbark, and quarterback Kaiden Underwood. As a sophomore Underwood threw for 1,168 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Fields was Crawfordsville’s leading rusher last season with 238 yards and caught 26 balls for 215 yards, while Hernandez has 26 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Hernandez had 61 tackles last season for the Athenians, while Patton had 55.
“We have several returning lettermen so experience should be a strength,” Schlicher said.
Crawfordsville also returns sophomores Ethan McLemore, Skyler Hampel and Kale Wemer.
And they also welcome seniors Austin Motz, JaMarion Cummins and Kyle Fruits along with juniors Javier Resto, Zach Bowman, Cole Smith, Calvin Dittmar and sophomores Ashton Wilson, Kaden Patton, Jordan Shrout, Landon Wright, and Jacob Russell along with freshman Anthony Lee.
“Our goal this entire offseason has been to just gain an inch everyday towards success,” Schlicher said. “We are stronger than we have been the past couple of years and hopefully that will help us develop into a tougher minded team on the field.”
