HIGH-SCHOOL

Opportunity knocks for hard-working Albany Huskies

ALBANY — Another Babe Ruth World Series baseball berth has bumped into the Albany football team's preseason practice time. 

As far as head coach Mike Kleinschmidt is concerned, it'd be a fine new tradition for the Huskies, whose tradition-laden program (20 state berths, including state titles in 1989 and '97 and runner-up finishes in 2000 and and '05) went 7-3 last season.

"We have a template already in place," Kleinschmidt said. "Those kids are in shape and competing at a very high level. We just want them to go out there and win it."

The 15-and-under baseball team's success also opened up opportunities for football, which returns a wealth of experience after losing nine seniors, the smallest senior class in Kleinschmidt's 17 seasons as head coach.

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"High school football in general, the numbers have gone down," Kleinschmidt said. "Every program will tell you that. But the kids we have here now are really quality and ready to go."

While the football team went through its first week of practice, the Babe Ruth team took third at the tournament for the second straight year, this time in Bismarck, North Dakota.

The team is coached by Al Amdahl, Albany's head baseball coach. He's also the football team's defensive coordinator.

Kleinschmidt took over the defensive duties during Amdahl's absence and the Huskies didn't appear to miss a beat.

About 10 players from the baseball team are expected out for the football squad, which didn't seem bothered by baseball's post-season success bumping into football practice. No one in purple seems concerned.

"Everyone's working hard, getting better every day, coming together as a team," said Cameron Gaebel, a senior tight end/defensive end. "It should be a fun season."

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Gaebel is one of the keys, a returning all-sub-district selection who is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. He caught 14 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns in what should be a balanced offensive attack for the generally run-happy Huskies.

"We have a lot of guys who are coming back and returning," Gaebel said. "We have a decently big group of seniors and that'll help a lot."

Alex Seiler returns at quarterback. He completed 54 of 92 passes, a 58.7 completion percentage, with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He's the son of former Albany and St. John's University quarterback Willie Seiler.

"I like how our team's looking," Seiler said. "Everyone's working really, really hard."

Albany has four running backs who saw a lot of action in 2018. They include Will Mergen (366 yards on 51 carries, a 7.2 average with 2 TDs); Nolan Rueter (51-299-5.1-2); Ben McLachlan (34-191-5.6-2) and Dylan Wenning (21-118-5.6-2).

They'll run behind a large, experienced line anchored by Jeremy Wolbeck (6-4, 270, Sr.) and Devin Ritter (6-2, 275, Jr.). 

"It feels good," he said of all the experience the Huskies return. "We've got to just keep on working, put in the dedication."

He agreed it's more than just a good senior class, which has 15 players.

"You've just got younger guys who have been around the game more and have more experience," Wolbeck said. 

Once again, they'll be a threat in the ever-competitive East Central North. New London-Spicer, last year's East Central North champion, has switched sub-districts to the East Central South.

Princeton has moved in and will be the largest school in the East Central North, which includes Zimmerman, Foley, Milaca, Little Falls and St. Cloud Cathedral.

"Every team is going to be good," Seiler said of the sub-district. "We expect they're going to be the best we're going to play when we play them."

Kleinschmidt agreed. 

"You're better off talking about who's not good in the sub-district," said Kleinschmidt, who listed off an asset for every team. 

The Huskies think they can do well in the sub-district and the section, if they keep working. 

"I think (it's) just practicing together and getting more chemistry with each other and getting the best out of each other when we play," Seiler said.

Follow Tom Elliott on Twitter @sctimestom or call 320-259-3661. Send an email to telliott@stcloudtimes.com.

Equipment sits on the sidelines during practice Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, at Albany High School.

Albany Huskies

• 2018 record: 5-1 East Central North, 7-3 overall. Albany lost 27-0 at New London-Spicer in the Section 6-3A semifinals.

• Head coach: Mike Kleinschmidt. Assistants: Al Amdahl, Brian Bierbaum, Aaron Boyum, Zach Dingmann, Dave Huberty, Scott McLachlan.

2019 schedule

(All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated)

Thursday, Aug. 29 — at Glencoe-Silver Lake

Friday, Sept. 6 — at Little Falls

Friday, Sept. 13 — Zimmerman

Friday, Sept. 20 — at Foley

Friday, Sept. 27 — Milaca

Friday, Oct. 4 — Princeton

Friday, Oct. 11 — at Litchfield

Wednesday, Oct. 16 — St. Cloud Cathedral

3 things to watch:

• Don't be surprised if the Huskies pass a bit more than usual. They generally run up to 90 percent of the time, but quarterback Alex Seiler has a strong arm. 

• Defensive end Cameron Gaebel (6-4, 205, Sr.) was second on the team in tackles (34 solo, 20 assisted, 9.0 quarterback sacks, 6.0 tackles for loss) and will be mentioned on every opponent's scouting report for the Huskies.

• Running back Will Mergen (5-9, 150, Jr.), a tough wrestler, should get more carries with Gabe Zierden, last year's leading rusher, now playing football at Concordia-Moorhead.