Mundelein in pursuit of winning idenity
Mundelein boasts a pair of similar returning offensive linemen - very similar.
Seniors Ben and Jake Hertel are identical twins. Ben stands 6 feet 2 and weighs 185 pounds, while Jake is the same height and about 10 pounds meatier.
"I still really can't tell them apart," Mustangs coach Bob Stone said with a laugh. "One's got a knee brace; the other one doesn't. That's how I know."
At a practice this week, two Mustangs were wearing "Quebrado" jerseys. That would be brothers Will and Eric.
And then there was slimmed-down assistant coach Jeff Harding, who's lost 60 pounds and is preparing to run the Chicago Marathon.
Hey, if the Mustangs are hard to recognize this season, that might be a good thing. What they'd like to do is shed their losing ways and evolve into a team that will at least be competitive on most nights, even in the rugged North Suburban Lake Division.
They went 1-8 last season in their first year under Stone and scored just 49 points, 25 of which came in a Week-7 win over Zion-Benton.
Year 2 under Stone could have its advantages.
"Yeah, I think we're both used to each other," the coach said. "The kids have retained so much from last year."
The offensive line might be a strength with the Hertel twins and fellow veterans Eric Barraza (6-2, 280) and Dan Deardorff (5-11, 220).
Senior quarterback Brian Santiago also returns after seeing his season cut short last year after a concussion and shoulder injury.
Lining up behind Santiago will be senior Mike O'Donoghue, senior fullback Tyler Adams and junior wingback John Devito.
Three new players will aid the wide-receiving corps. Senior Blair Metzger did not play last year, while Stone said Matt Hiestand is back at Mundelein after living in Colorado his sophomore year. Hiestand is the son of Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Junior Brian Grant is a varsity rookie.
"I think we have some really good wide receivers," Stone said.
The defense has a veteran look with cornerback Kyle Maranto, safety O'Donoghue, safety Andy Ahonen, tackle Christian Pedraza and nose Wade Rykyto.
"A lot of juniors played last year," Stone said.
The Mustangs host Buffalo Grove tonight and travel to Aurora to face Marmion Academy (3-6 last year) in Week 2.
The importance of the first two weeks can't be stressed enough.
"You really have to try to build some momentum," Stone said. "Especially because we come out of the two nonconference games and our first conference game is Stevenson, and they'll probably be the conference favorite going into the season."