Fulda opens high school football season, with new coach, at Westbrook Thursday
by Les Knutson
Sports Reporter
Without question, the graduation ceremony at Fulda High School three months ago took its toll on a fine Raider varsity football squad which won five games last fall, including an impressive 60-44 victory over Madelia in the first round of playoff action.
Receiving FHS diplomas at the end of the ’16-17 school year were seven seniors who were each key players in helping the Raiders fashion a 5-5 overall record, while going 4-4 in district games.
Quarterback/defensive back Justin Dierks, fullback/linebacker Brandon Everett, halfback/linebacker Jon Gehl, wide receiver/defensive back/ punter Aron Hulstein, offensive center/defensive tackle Austin Thier, offensive guard/defensive tackle Jarred Jans, and offensive tight end/defensive back Ben White all were big-time contributors to Fulda football during their playing days on the gridirion.
While those losses are huge, both in terms of talent and leadership, the cupboard is certainly not bare for new head coach Jonathon Curry, who has been a high school assistant football coach for seven seasons, including the last four years at Fulda.
A 2006 graduate of New Ulm High School, Curry was a team captain for the Eagles in football, basketball and baseball, earning All-Conference honors three straight times in baseball, as well as being selected Academic All-State in baseball as a senior in ’06. He later played college football and baseball at St. Olaf College in Northfield and was chosen to the MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team for baseball as a senior in 2010.
Curry, who was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders last fall, has been impressed with how practices have gone the first two weeks and is looking forward to Thursday’s (August 31) 2017 season-opener at Westbrook (7 p.m.) against the tradition-rich Westbrook-Walnut Grove Chargers, it what has developed into a good rivalry over the years.
“This year’s team is a group of very good, coachable, hard-working kids looking to make their mark with Fulda football,” Curry said. “They are working to build off of last year’s success and chart their own path.”
Four returning senior starters (both ways) will provide valuable game experience, physical strength and leadership for this year’s team.
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