The 2025 Heartland Huskie football team: BR (L to R): Waylon Tessman, Zane Swartzendruber, Rigs Newton, Nevada Gloystein, Colby Frisbe, Weston Panko, Braden Janzen, Brooks Burgess, Hayden Perez, Benjamin Thomas, Jagger Regier; FR (L to R): River Glinsmann, Hayden Powers, Wyatt Friesen, Brian Bearinger, Luke Janzen, Jack Goertzen – photo courtesy Cody Farrall
The Heartland football team is looking forward to starting its final season as the Heartland Huskies. Next year will begin a new era with the Hampton and Heartland football teams joining the H&H Bearcat sports cooperative.
“The team has been working hard the past two weeks, enduring some pretty bad heat with several early morning practices. I think we are more motivated because it will be the last year for Heartland football,” said Head Coach Ben Lindsay.
Lindsay is entering his 8th season as head coach and will be assisted by Blake Burgess and Conner Boehr. “Conner will be taking over as defensive coordinator and Blake will run the special teams and work with the offensive and defensive lines,” said Coach Lindsay.
There are 17 out for the team this year, and they lost three seniors from last year—Louis Alvarez, Sam Quiring, and Carter Siebert, who will be missed. Heartland went 0-8 last year and hopes to improve that record.
“Last year was one of the youngest teams I’ve ever coached, and it was one of the toughest schedules I’d ever had as well. Nevada Gloystein was one of the guys who really stepped up for us last year, and River Glinsmann got in as quarterback quite a bit,” said Coach Lindsay.
Glinnsman will be taking the starting role as quarterback, and Weston Panko will be their leader up front. Sophomores Brook Burgess, Waylon Tessman, and Brian Bearinger will be key players as well. Coach Lindsay sees some promise in several freshmen this season.
“We are a year older, and some of the teams we play have lost some key players, so we are looking to keep competing. If we can get to the 4th quarter and we’re still there, I like our shots.”
Some rival games that will be important for the Huskies are against McCool and Sutton. Goals for the team are always the district championship and making it to the playoffs.
The Huskies will open up their season this Friday night, hosting the Thayer Central Titans at 7 p.m.
