GRAYLING — Year two for Michael Kososky is certainly looking up.
While Grayling has only produced one winning season in the last four, the Vikings aim to not only reverse that, but add some playoff wins as well.
Grayling has a bit of a youth movement on its hands, with nine seniors on a 23-player varsity squad that includes two underclassmen.
“I’m just excited to play with this lineup this year,” senior offensive lineman Vincenzo Frittelli said. “We have a lot of good juniors too. So next year I think they’ll be even better than we are this year.”
The 6-foot-1, 270-pound lineman likely gets joined on the line by the two underclassmen called up from junior varsity.
Freshman Greyson Bracken and sophomore Antonio Cousins are both expected to play along the line, with Greyson blocking in front of his older brother Remi.
Remi Bracken was the JV running back last year, and is not only expected to step into the running back role as a junior, but thrive in it.
“He reminds me a lot of David Milliken and Josh Aldrich and Jake Huspen,” Kososky said. “He’s probably the next guy in our in our running back crew that is going to see some significant numbers, significant touches this year for sure. It’s no secret. He’s going to get the touches.”
Frittelli said blocking for a back like Remi Bracken is almost easier.
“We’re only going to get better right now, but we’re looking decent,” said Frittelli, who has college offers from Alma and Olivet. “We can always rely on him. It’s easier knowing that you could make a block, and if you make a little mistake, he can still get through and do his job.”
Junior quarterback Jaden Peters takes on a new role after playing wide receiver last year while also serving as the backup quarterback to Myles Mead.
“Last year, I was just worrying about my role and my role only, just doing my job,” Peters said. “But this year, it’s more. I have to worry about other guys and worry about being the leader more. It’s been great. These guys are great. They’re pretty level-headed and they listen well. Everybody does their job.”
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior grew into the role in more than one way.
“He’s definitely sprouted from last year, not only height-wise but as a QB,” Kososky said. “He’s really put in the work in the off-season and honing his craft. I can see it out here, he’s hitting the targets. We have to catch the ball, and he’s making great reads. And when he needs to pull it, he’s able to run.”
Returning starters include defensive back and receiver Cole Smith, Peters (at receiver last year), Frittelli and senior receiver/linebacker Camryn Stade.
Grayling lost all-state receiver Austin Schartz and all-conference linemen Vaughn Gaertner and Brox Muscott. Starting linebackers Ryan Stade Noah Gabriel also graduated, as well as special teams standout Alex Moore.
“The goal is to just be better than we were last year and just keep making little bits of growth,” Peters said. “That that’s what it’s all about, is just the details, fixing the details. The ultimate goal is obviously be over .500 and make a run in the playoffs.”
The Vikings and Elk Rapids are the only Northern Shores teams to play Traverse City St. Francis this season, a team that was in the Lake Michigan Conference with most of the NSC teams for decades.
Grayling kicks off its season against Houghton Lake, a squad it hasn’t faced since 2013. St. Francis, Bath and Shepherd (who the Vikings defeated 21-20 to close out last season) round out the non-league foes, ending the campaign with road games against Bath and Shepherd.
“We play a tremendous schedule,” Kososky said. “We’re in the top 15 of toughest schedules. We play in a really tough conference. Competing and trying to make that playoff run like we’ve done in the past years, that’s the goal this year.”
The Vikings were ranked No. 14 in strength of schedule in Division 6 by high school football website Goosepoop, one spot behind Kingsley.
Frittelli, the only senior starter on the O-line, missed four games last season with pulmonary histoplasmosis, a lung infection.
“I want to make playoffs this year because we did it a couple years ago,” Frittelli said. “We didn’t get far, but I want to get farther than we have.”
Peters said playing quarterback at Grayling is special because of how much the Vikings throw the ball in their spread offense.
“I’m very fortunate that we get to, especially for Northern Michigan, throw the ball a lot more than most programs,” Peters said. “But our run game, we have a stud at running back, so it’s solid. You can rely on him a lot.”
Similarly, Kososky said the second year as head coach has made things come a little easier than last year, his first as head coach after Eric Tunney retired.
“I’ve been around a lot, but even this year, there’s always something new,” Kososky said. “I’m feeling more confident in what we’re doing, in what we’re installing. I’ve always been really involved in our stuff, so it hasn’t felt that much different. I feel more comfortable in managing all the things you have to manage.”