After taking a year off from coaching, Joel Swanson is back at the helm of the Wrenshall Wrens boys basketball team. Swanson had been the longtime coach at Wrenshall before Bill Sandstrom took over the reins last year.
"Coming back after a year off, it should take some time to get things worked out and back into the groove," commented Swanson. "I missed coaching a lot during that year and when they needed a coach I decided to come back."
Swanson will inherit a team that lost five seniors off a squad that went 14-10. Gone include Jon Bartzcak, Evan Swanson, Chad Austin, Kyle Ziebarth and Nate Siem.
"We should be competitive," said Swanson.
Among the key players expected to lead the Wrens this season will be the two returning starters, John Moder and Jordan Berglund. Berglund was one of the top running backs in the area this past high school football season and Moder was the quarterback and is a talented athlete. Look for another pair of seniors, Josh Jacobson and David Conley, to also play important roles for the team this season.
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Swanson's goals for this year include beating their rivals, the Carlton Bulldogs, in their annual Little Brown Jug game. Last year, the Wrens were beaten in the first round of the sectional tournament by Floodwood.
"I will be coaching with Ben Carlson, our new sixth-grade teacher," Swanson stated. "Things should be interesting this season."
