Mio Thunderbolts Look to Improve from 2022

The Mio Thunderbolts were 4–5 in 2022, a record they want to build on and improve from in 2023.

They have lots of production to replace, with new starters all over their offense. Head coach Calvin Fox is confident in the players he has to be able to replace that production.

“We’ve got some good running backs this year, so hopefully we’ll make that back up,” he said. “It’ll be tough to put four or five hundred yards up in the air this year.”

With all the new players expected to contribute this season, coach Fox says they will take a more balanced approach as opposed to airing it out as often as they did last year.

“Teams struggled to defend the pass, so hopefully that’s what they’re focused on and we’ve got some good young athletes, some juniors that are good hard runners, so we hope to punch back with the running game,” he said.

One of the players who will be key to the offensive balance is junior Gavin Knepp, who will play all over the field this season. It’s something he thinks of as an advantage as potentially a secret weapon.

“Last year we had Austin, Gage and Nathan, they were like our main offensive guys, and since they were all seniors, they’re all gone, so it’s new quarterback, new wide receiver, new everything, so hopefully they just don’t know what’s coming,” said Knepp.

The Thunderbolts have just two seniors on the team, and one of those seniors, Chance Kamen, has stepped up into a leadership role for the younger players on the team.

“We’ve been playing for a long time,” said Kamen. “When we were freshmen we had to play on varsity.”

The goal for the Thunderbolts is to win the North Star League this season, and this group has the confidence to do it.

“That’s our goal,” said Fox. “Week by week, do our best.”

The Mio Thunderbolts open up their season on Friday, August 25th against the Alcona Tigers.