The Kingsford Flivver Flash

For the first time since 2002, the Kingsford Flivvers have completed a perfect 9-0 regular season! On Friday night they downed the Marquette Sentinals by a score of 27-17.

In this episode we also take a look at the playoff picture for the Flivvers and other U.P. Schools.

In this episode, we go through the nine-week regular season schedule for the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams.

The schedule is also available on our social media pages!

GO FLIVVERS!!

In S24 E2, we go over the long-standing tradition of the Dickinson County Football Camp, otherwise known as the "Tom Wender" camp. We also cover the U.P. All-Star Football game which is happening this weekend and look at Week 1 of the 2024 football season.

Week 2 found our Freshman playing their third game of the season against Bark River-Harris. Our JV and Varsity both took on the Houghton Gremlins for the first time since 1994!

The 2023 football season is in full swing with our Freshman already two games deep, our JV playing their week 2 game tonight, and our varsity having its week 2 game in before the long weekend.

The “Yooper Football Camp” had over 80 high school football players participating from schools all over the U.P. and Northern Wisconsin. Coaches from Michigan Tech University, Northern Michigan University, and St. Norbert College were in attendance as well as high school coaches from around the area. Highlights include the “Celebrity De-Cleater” and a watermelon eating contest!

Kingsford High School Principal, David Lindbeck, Assistant Principal Matt LaLonde, and Athletic Director Chris Hartman join in on a great conversation about leading the Flivvers from the administrative side of the house. All three guests have playing, teaching, and coaching experience, and all hail from the U.P.!

Mr. Lindbeck: West Iron County Class of ‘95

Mr. LaLonde: Kingsford Class of ‘02

Mr. Hartman: Negaunee Class of ‘95

Jonah graduated from Kingsford in 2014 after which he spent one year at Michigan Technological University. After taking a year off, he resumed his education at Lakeland University where he played four years of football and graduated with a degree in criminal justice. He is currently almost finished with his master's degree in education and is student teaching this spring in 8th grade U.S. History.

Michael graduated from Crystal Falls - Forest Park back in 2012 where he played football, basketball, golf, and ran track. He was also very active in various clubs while in high school. He received a BS in athletic training from Northern Michigan University in 2017 and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Baylor University in 2020. He was an assistant coach for the Kingsford JV’s in 2021 and an assistant freshman coach in 2022.

Brian Olson played on the 1993 Kingsford State Championship team as a Junior. After graduating from KHS he headed to Concordia University to play Tight End. He was able to play with his brother and against Coach Novara! He now teaches science at Kingsford High School and enjoys cheering on the maize and blue!

“MR. C” as he is fondly referred to by his middle school students played running back and linebacker for the Flivvers in the early 1990’s. After graduating from college, Tom returned to his beloved Kingsford where he still works today as a 7th grade Social Studies teacher. Over the past two seasons, he has cheered on his son, Charlie, who after hanging up the Maize and Blue will continue his football career at Northern Michigan University.

Charlie appeared in Episode 20- FRESHMAN! (Audio Only) and also Season 22- Episode 2 as a Senior (Video and Audio).

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Coach Harry cut his teeth playing football for his dad at Iron Mountain High School and through hard work and grit, earned a position as an offensive lineman for the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. After college, he coached various positions at Kingsford and was a part of the State Championship coaching staff in 1993. He returned to his alma mater and assisted them in winning a State Championship in 2000. He returned to Kingsford in the early 2000s and coached at all levels, developing boys into young men.

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Coach Groleau graduated from Kingsford in 2009 after wresting and playing football all four years. He developed a love for coaching and is currently the Kingsford Flivver Wrestling coach. He has taken Kingsford wrestlers downstate and they competed at the highest level of state competition.

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This is our 100th episode of, THE KINGSFORD FLIVVER FLASH!! It’s fitting that we sit down with the current head coach for the Flivvers, Mark Novara. Mark has been around Kingsford Football for over 30 years as a player, coach, and now parent. He played Quarterback and Defensive end for the Flivvers and competed in a state championship in 1992. He continued his College Career at Lakeland University and also played overseas. He has coached at Kingsford for over 20 years in various positions and took over as the head coach in 2019.

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Cole just finished his Senior year of football and is currently playing basketball. Throughout his Flivver career, he has had his fair share of struggles and successes. He worked hard in the off-season to earn his starting spot on both sides of the football and will continue his football career at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI.

The Flivvers were defeated by the Gladwin Flying G’s in round two of the MHSAA playoffs. We also take a look at U.P. teams still in the hunt for a state championship as well as conference honors.

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In 2021, the Stags got the best of the Flivvers in Round 1 of the playoffs down in Kingsley. This year the tables were turned in that Kingsley had to travel to Kingsford to take on the #2 seeded Flivvers. The Stags led at the half 30-14 but the Flivvers battled back in the second half to win 34-30. This will send the Flivvers downstate in round two to take on the Gladwin Flying G’s!

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Week 8 found all three Flivver teams on the road. The Freshman headed to Plymouth, south of Green Bay while the JV and Varsity headed BACK to Petoskey to take on Hopkins who drove up from south of Grand Rapids.  All three teams came home victorious!

The final game for the Freshman found them in Bark River against a stout JV team where they dropped a close game. The JV Flivvers headed down to Menominee where they secured their 6th win and the Conference Championship going 4-0 in the GNC.

Menominee (4-4) travels to Kingsford (6-2) TONIGHT for the last home game of the year! With both teams jockeying for playoff positioning, it should be a great game!
ALSO- The KHS band will put on their annual LIGHT SHOW complete with music, lights, and fireworks!

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All three teams headed to Petoskey for week 7 action. After an early departure and a long bus ride, the Freshman came away with a big win while the JV’s struggled to get anything going and came away with their first loss of the year. The Varsity came away with a win and a bunch of playoff points! Week 8 sends our Freshman south of Green Bay and our JV’s and Varsity back to Petoskey to take on Hopkins.

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The Freshman and JV’s had a doubleheader at Flivver Field this week and came away with a pair of wins! Our Varsity took its first of three trips downstate and came away with a victory. Next week all three teams are headed to Petoskey!

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The Freshman and JV’s had a bye this week while the Varsity took on Wausa West. Week 4 finds all three teams playing a GNC Rival- Marquette.

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The Freshman and JV Flivvers came away with victories against Tomahawk, WI, and Gladstone. The Varsity was in a GNC dogfight that was tied until the 4th quarter!
Week 3 finds the Freshman and JV’s without a game while the Varisty hosts Wausau West.

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The Flivvers came away with a pair of wins in week 1 with the Freshman taking on Escanaba and the Varsity Flivvers hosting Green Bay-East.
Week 2 sends the Freshman to Tomahawk, WI, and the Varsity to Gladstone while the JV hosts the Braves in their only home game of the season.

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It’s a VERY exciting time of the year when all three Flivver Football teams are preparing for the regular season!
Click here for a football schedule: https://www.kingsford.org/Athletics/Sport/25

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Connor came to the U.P. after attending college in Kentucky to work at ABC 10 UP Sports- Home of FRIDAY NIGHT FRENZY! Connor covered not only the Flivver Friday nights, but football games all over the U.P. He was gracious enough to sit down and tell us about being a sports broadcaster. From choosing what games to cover, lugging the camera around the sideline, cutting clips,  and how to make viewers feel like they were sitting in the stands while the game unfolded.

Follow Connor on Twitter:  @SturgillSports

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Lance is a junior at Kingsford and has been around sports his whole life. After hanging up his cleats after his freshman year of football, Lance has been the go-to person for filming our games. Starting with a tripod and a handheld, Lance has helped advance the Flivver Football film room using multiple cameras, online tools, and sideline devices making him a valuable asset to the Flivver Nation.

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We have the honor of three seniors sitting down with us today and talking about their experiences in the Flivver Nation. Charlie, Isaac, and Bryce have been friends since elementary school and have been playing football together for a long time. We talk about some of their favorite memories, their plans for the future, and advice they have for future Flivvers.  

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There are a lot of great things going on this summer in the Flivver Nation! We have players in the weight room and working on their skills. We also have players taking advantage of the AdvantEDGE Speed Camp on campus every Wednesday through the summer. Schedules are being finalized and players are able to choose their lockers. 

Link to FLIVVER FEST on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlivverFest/ 

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We talk GNC championships, playoffs, and post-season honors!

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Week 3 brought three wins to the Flivvers! Week 4 brings on Marquette...

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Our JV and Varsity played Gladstone in week 2.

All three teams have games for Week 3.

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We have kicked off the 2021 Football season with a couple of wins!
Flivver Freshman and Varsity both had big games this week. Looking forward to this week when the JV and Varsity take on the Gladstone Braves.

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Zack became a Flivver between his sophomore and junior years. His family is from the area and he said it felt like everyone was coming home. Zach plays tight end and receiver for the Maize and Blue and will be continuing his football career at the DIVISION 1 level.

Instagram: @zach_person
Twitter: @zachperson11

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Our Flivvers were able to coach up some youngsters in the community during the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools youth football camp!

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Don Edens was a Flivver star athlete during his playing days and returned to Kingsford as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. He was instrumental in improving our athletic facilities, one of which is the Field House that bears his name. In Episode 7 we take a quick tour of the weight room used by the Flivver Nation.

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Summertime not only means rest and relaxation, but also being in the weight room, going to football camps, and preparing for the 2021 season!
We were able to catch up with six Flivvers as they prepare to hit the field this fall.

Recorded on 6/10/21

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Dr. Tim McGuire and Athletic Trainer Morgan Schmidt help Kingsford Football players prevent and recover from injuries. They are both very committed to their profession and took time out of their busy week to join us on the Flivver Flash!

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Curtis graduated from Kingsford in 2002. He played football, basketball, and ran track. He spent his time in Maize and Blue under center as a quarterback. He attended Northern Michigan University, worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections, and is now the Dickinson County Juvenile Probation officer.

Curtis lives in Breitung Township with his wife, two boys, and daughter.

Recorded on 3/24/2021

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