Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Regina

Head coach: Marv Cook (14th season, 148-19)

Assistant coaches: Jason Dumont, Ed Hinkel, Brad Beane, Mark Mitchell, Phil Arendt, Mitch Wieland, Tom Nosbish, Jim Poynton, Dustin Elsburry, John Naeve, Doug Vincent

Last season: 9-3 (Class 1A semifinals)

Returning starters: Alec Wick, Sr., WR/DB; Ashton Cook, Sr., QB; Levi Quinlan, Sr., RB/WR; Theo Kolie, Sr., RB; Jack Keller, Sr., OL/DL; Josh Gaffey, Jr., OL; Sam Aitchison, Jr., WR; Aiden Udell, Jr., LB; Andy Wiese, Jr., OL/DL

Other returning letterwinners: Jack Wagner, Sr., HB/DE; Jack Goedken, Sr., LB; Drew Demory, Sr., OL; Carson Jensen, Jr., WR/DB; Blake Chambliss, Jr., WR/DB; Caden Shetler, Jr., OL; Jackson Hamilton, Jr., LB

Newcomers to watch: Jackson Mills, Sr., OL/DL; Danny Maloney, Sr., WR; Noah Kron, Jr., RB/LB

Playoff history: 16 appearances (1972, 2004-2017, 2019). Regina won state titles in 2005 (1A), 2010, 2011 (2A) and 2012-2015 (1A).

District: Class A, District 6

Circle the date: September 4 at Mid-Prairie. Throughout its recent string of success that dates back more than a decade Regina has made a habit of challenging itself against opponents from larger classes. The Regals will do that again this season when it bumps up a couple of classes to take on a talent-rich Mid-Prairie program in week two. Class 2A Mid-Prairie is coming off a 6-3 season a year ago after back-to-back 3-6 seasons in 2017 and 2018.

Headliner: A two-time all-state selection senior Alec Wick is coming off the best season of his career. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Wick was a first-team Class 1A all-state pick last season after ranking second in 1A in receptions (79), receiving yards (1,161) and touchdown catches (14). Wick hasn’t lost a step after a hip injury ended his season in the quarterfinals and will attempt to cement his status as one of the best in Regina history with a big final season.

Unsung hero: Seniors Ashton Cook and Alec Wick give the Regals one of the best quarterback/receiver combos in the state and attract much of the attention on an explosive Regina offense but senior running back Theo Kolie quietly emerged as a major threat in the running game a year ago. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Kolie averaged six yards per carry last season while leading Regina with 922 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

Keep an eye on: Knee injuries the past two seasons have kept Nick Wagner off the football field but the senior tight end and defensive end his healthy and seeking to make up for lost time with a huge senior season. Wagner adds a unique element on both sides of the ball for Regina. A 6-foot-3, 245-pounder, Wagner can change the game at defensive end and will do a little bit of everything from catching and running the ball to blocking on offense.

Biggest question: Can Regina add to it’s title count? A state title is always the goal at Regina but the Regals haven’t won a title since claiming a sixth straight crown in 2015 and have not played for a championship since 2017. After a rare playoff miss in 2018 Regina returned to the UNI-Dome last season falling in the 1A semifinals. With nine starters back led by Cook, Wick, Kolie and lineman Jack Keller and Josh Gaffey and with a healthy Wagner the Regals are definite title contenders in their first season in Class A.

Quotable: “It always is the goal to win a title,” Regina senior coach Ashton Cook said. “We have a culture here at Regina and we want to live up to it and we take pride in that. That’s always the goal here.”

2020 Schedule

Aug. 28: Pleasant Valley

Sept. 4: @Mid-Prairie

Sept. 11: @North Cedar

Sept. 18: Wapello

Sept 25: Lisbon

Oct. 2: @Columbus Junction

Oct. 9: Highland

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