Legendary Hermantown football head coach Mike Zagelmeyer, on Sunday morning, offered his final thoughts on the Hawks' 28-21 Section 7AAAA championship game loss to Northeast Red champion North Branch.
Hermantown ended the season with a 7-4 overall record, including a 4-2 mark for third-place behind champion North Branch and Duluth Denfeld in the conference. The Hawks' impressive 10-6, come-from-behind win over the Hunters in a 7AAAA semifinal at Marv Heikkinen Field in West Duluth was a signature victory.
Hermantown, Duluth Denfeld and North Branch will be strong contenders in the Northeast Red and 7AAAA again next season.
"I thought the 2023 season will be one we all can look back on with pride and appreciation, whether it be the coaches, players or the community," said Zagelmeyer. "I truly believe that football is one of the great mediums in teaching young men the life lessons needed to grow in life and I think that the 2023 season was a great example."
As always, there were many peaks and valleys in the Hawks' season, Zagelmeyer said.
"We experienced some setbacks and we also experienced the joys of working hard and achieving a common goal," he said, reflecting on the team's explosive 5-1 start, followed by consecutive losses to non-conference Esko and Duluth Denfeld, and sectional wins against Rock Ridge and Duluth Denfeld.
"I thought there was a lot of individual player growth and team growth with this group, and I think that is a goal for every coach to see in their team upon the conclusion of the season," added Zagelmeyer. "I also believe that our team truly learned about sacrifice and dedication. They were able to battle through adversity and be better because of it. Like I mentioned to our team after the section final, I hope they are able to carry forward all the positive memories that were made this year for the rest of their lives."
The last game of the season is always painful and "it hurts for quite awhile," Zagelmeyer said, "but I prefer to try and look back on all the good times that were had with these young men. I believe that there were many more good times than there were bad times. The fifteen seniors on this team are going to be missed tremendously. With that being said, I think the future is extremely bright for Hermantown Football and hopefully there is a strong sense of community pride surrounding a fall Friday night in Hermantown."
The 2024 Hawks will be led by senior quarterback Alex Schott, a three-year starter and a top college prospect, senior halfback and linebacker River Freeman and 6-foot-4, 255 pound senior lineman Mason Humphreys, an ultra-elite college prospect.