The Menominee Nation High School Football Preview Spotlight is presented by Bay Bank with locations in Keshena and Green Bay.
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With only a handful of upperclassmen on the roster, Menominee Nation football enters the season with a clear goal: growth and development.
Head coach Kodiak Mahkimetas says the team’s youth is both a challenge and an opportunity. “We’ve probably only got two or three seniors, and the rest are predominantly freshmen and sophomores,” he said. “When I say young, we mean young, young. But they’re all willing to learn.”
That willingness is key for a program still establishing itself in the eight-man football ranks. Mahkimetas says the focus this season is on teaching consistency, execution, and football IQ. “Just doing their job, executing, that would be the very big thing,” he said. “We want them to get good looks, not just run into things blind.”
The Eagles have struggled to find wins in recent years, but Mahkimetas emphasizes progress over the scoreboard. “We’re very early in a program, so the goal is to keep developing and get better every year,” he explained. “Do a little bit better, a little bit better, and eventually, hopefully, we can be like a lot of these other programs.”
Among the key players to watch is senior first-year wide receiver Edmond Tucker. He has impressed the coaching staff with his speed and determination. “He’s not as big as a lot of the other kids, but he’s got heart,” Mahkimetas said. “Even if the ball’s not there, he still tries to get it. He still takes that shot.”
With a roster built on underclassmen, Menominee Nation knows this season is about laying the groundwork. “It’s development, progression, just growing into stronger, better, faster, more skilled players,” Mahkimetas said. “If we can come out of this year executing and improving, I’ll be happy as a coach.”