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Swendson To Coach Vikings Football PDF Print E-mail
Sports
Written by David Wolman   
Wednesday, 01 July 2009 08:00
Mike Swendson always dreamed of being a head football coach, but he was never in the right place at the right time.

Swendson now has a program to call his own. He was approved as Central Heights’ football coach during a recent USD 288 Board of Education meeting. He takes over for Kevin Tooley, who announced his retirement after 32 years of coaching, including since 1993 with Central Heights.

Swendson was already on the Vikings’ staff. He served as an assistant coach the past two seasons after spending the previous five years at Sedan, Kan. He can’t thank Tooley enough for the opportunity he gave him.

“He’s a wonderful man and a good coach,” Swendson said. “It was a pleasure to work for him. I was able to expand areas of coaching more than I did before.”
Swendson has been handed the keys, and he will now get a chance to utilize all of his abilities and retool a roster which advanced to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs the past two seasons. Skill positions such as wide receiver, quarterback, running back and fullback have the biggest voids to fill. Quarterback Jordan Welch, running back Bob Wolfe and wide receiver Adam Horstick are among those who were lost to graduation. Skye Mills, a senior, will take over the signal calling. The southpaw quarterback saw significant playing time as a sophomore after Welch went down with a knee injury, including the Vikings’ 35-28 first-round playoff victory over Galena. The offensive and defensive lines return many of their starters.
“I’m hoping this group of kids catches on to what we do,” Swendson said. “I want our seniors to go out with success.”

Hard work will be the key.

“They need to have a good work ethic, focus, determination and discipline, not only on the football field but in the classroom,” he said.

Swendson has been pleased with the effort he has received during the summer weight room sessions. He said attendance has constantly been between 70 and 75 percent.

“I’ve been impressed with the work ethic with most of the kids,” he said. “They’re not sitting around and talking. They’re working hard. There have been a lot of positives.”

Team camp will be from July 13-17. Fall practice begins in mid-August.

Despite having to replace key players, Swendson believes his team is capable of competing for the Pioneer League title, although the Vikings won’t have a deep roster.

“A lot of it will depend on injuries,” he said. “We’re in a tough league. Osawatomie and Wellsville are two teams who people say are the favorites to win the league. They’ve got kids with good speed. A lot of their kids started when they were freshmen and sophomores.”

As for competing for a third straight playoff berth?

“I think the district is winnable,” Swendson said. “We’ve got a chance if we stay healthy.”
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