Bluejays head coach gets first look at team talent

The Three Lakes-Phelps varsity football team hit the practice field last week for summer camp drills and workouts, giving new head coach Pat George an early look at available talent. George replaces Justin Szews, who led the team during the past two seasons. While he will be new to the head coaching position, George is not new to the football program at Three Lakes High School, where he served as an assistant coach, leading the defense for many seasons, until he retired from the role in 2023.

Some of the current returning letter-winners actually played under coach George in the past, including senior players Garrett Mandli, Owen Liebscher, and Zach Weavers; along with junior Sam Koshuta, who was one of the team managers at the time. The Bluejays went 9-2 during the 2023 season, losing to Florence in the second round of postseason action.

Many other returning players from last year participated in the summer camp last week, including Jack Westfall, Bentley Bills, Logan Running, Peter Cruckson and Wyatt Gentile-Donner. The practice location at Three Lakes High School was different than in prior years as the school district puts finishing touches to improvements around the varsity football field, such as new goal posts, fencing, parking lot, concession area and public restrooms.

Another new item on the agenda for the Bluejays is the fact that they will be playing in a new Northwoods-East Conference. This is the third conference change in the past four years, and six of the eight teams in the conference will be different compared to last season.

Assistant coaches Rich Martin and Scott LeBuis will be returning to the team and were on hand last week working the players through drills and exercises. Team spirit was high for the coaches and the players, as they prepare for a season that is currently scheduled to begin on August 21 in Three Lakes against the Bobcats of Florence High School. Formal team practices will begin next week.