By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school football preview capsule for the Aurora Greenmen’s 2022 season.

Head Coach: Bob Mihalik, 21st year; 182-63 career record.

Coaching Staff: Brian Wervey, linebackers and defensive coordinator; Victor Ricketts, offensive line; Jay Price, defensive backs and safeties; Brendan Gallagher, wide receivers; Jim Slagle, defensive line; Aaron Rataj, running backs; Nick Cooper, cornerbacks.

2021 Recap: 9-3 overall record; 5-2 Suburban League; 3rd in Suburban; Lost in second round of playoffs to Dover in overtime (43-42).

Returning Lettermen: 26.

Lettermen Lost: 21.

Offensive Outlook: Historically, Aurora has built its offense around sensational line play.

This year, the Greenmen return a pair of starters to the line and, ironically, they are the only two returning starters for the entire program— for either side of the ball.

“We can have a successful season if our lack of Friday night experience does not hurt us,” Aurora head coach Bob Mihalik said.

Quarterback: Senior Matt Geier (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) steps into the starting role for Aurora after the graduation of Alex Moore.

Geier did see some action last year when Moore was recovering from an injury.

The backup will be junior Brandon Liepins (6-2, 200).

Running Backs: A quartet of new faces will fill out the backfield, with senior Alex Tenorio (6-2, 230) and junior Enzo Catania (6-3, 225) at tailaback and Mate Orgovan (6-1, 185) and junior Justin Burick (6-0, 210) at fullback.

Offensive Line: Three-year starter Joey Arnold highlights the group.

Arnold is 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds and has received multiple college offers across all divisions.

The team’s other returning starter is center Quinn Gorman, a 6-foot, 225-pound senior.

Starters at the guard positions will be junior Rocco Courtad (6-1, 260) and senior Jaedon Keba (5-11, 190).

Right tackle is still a position battle for Aurora, with senior Rob Lewandowski (6-4, 265) and junior Jaxson Rhea (6-4, 215) working for the spot.

Senior Michael Salhani (5-10, 190) will be a backup at right tackle, while senior Eric Fredrickson (6-0, 240) will be the team’s backup center.

Receivers: The group of receivers will be inexperienced, but appear to have some depth to help out the offense.

On the outside will be senior Cade Fromwiller (5-11, 190), senior Zach Anzells (6-0, 180), junior Dom Trivisoono (6-0, 180) and junior Dylan Crasi (5-11,1 65).

Lining up in the slot will be senior Zach Nemet (6-1, 165) and senior Sam Retton (6-1, 190).

Scheduled to start at tight ends are senior Ben Iammarino (6-1, 195) and junior Jayce Unverferth (6-3, 195).

Defensive Outlook: With no pun intended, this entire group will be green.

Aurora returns no starters at any position, leaving plenty of competition and voids to fill.

Cornerbacks: The starters will be Aznells and Trivisonno, but Nemet and Crasi, along with seniors Madon Ganzhom (5-11, 175) and Jacob Cici (6-1, 175) will all see action.

Backups are senior Armen Perez (6-0, 170), junior Michael Phillips (5-10, 140) and sophomore Ben Lukasik (5-11, 150).

Linebackers: Catania and Fromwiller will start at outside linebacker, while Retton will get the starting nod at middle linebacker.

Backups include Liepins, Tenorio and Unverferth.

Defensive Line: Expect Arnold, Courted, Burick and senior Michael Sahlani (5-10, 190) to all rotate at tackle.

The ends will include Gorman, Iammarino, Orgovan and sophomore Alex Booker (5-10, 185).

Kickers: Trivisonno will be the team’s starting place-kicker and will handle both kickoffs and field goals/extra points.

Felipe Machado, a senior, may see some time as well.

The long snappers are Unverferth and sophomore Reid Acomb (5-10, 190).

Geier will handle all punting.

Punt returners are Anzells and Lukasik.

Kick returners will be Anzells, Lukas, Retton and Nemet.

From the Coach’s Eyes: “We have not had to coach effort all off-season. These kids are hungry. Competition is wide open everywhere.”

Underclassmen to Watch: Two sophomores have opened some eyes, according to Mihalik, and include defensive end Alex Brooker and safety/kick returner Ben Lukasik.

Team Captains: Joey Arnold, Zach Angels, Cade Fromwiller, Matt Geier, Quinn Gorman.

“Their leadership has been great, because we have not had to coach effort.”