Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Sitting alone in the end zone of the Regina practice field Luke Stein hurried to pull on his equipment as his teammates began their pre-practice stretching.

As he strapped up his shoulder pads Stein paused just long enough to motion toward a group of linemen that were running through warmups nearby.   

Using his helmet to point toward a group of Regals near the 10-yard line the lone returning starter on the Regina offensive line offered some perspective.

“Just a couple of years ago that was me,” Stein said. “Two years ago, I was the new guy and now I’m willing to step into a leadership role.”

Fortunately for back-to-back Class 1A runner-up Regina the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Stein is as capable as he is willing to be the leader on the rebuilt Regal fronts.

A three-year starter, Stein will anchor a young and inexperienced Regina front as the Regals seek their ninth consecutive state title game appearance.

“I think what Luke brings to the table is that knowledge and that experience,” Regina coach Marv Cook said. “He shows it in practice so all the young guys are gravitating to him.”

As a sophomore Stein gained valuable experience as the lone underclassmen on an offensive line that featured senior all-staters Jared Brinkman and Reagan Ries.

Stein spent his first varsity season with his eyes and ears open, soaking in everything he could from his older teammates.

“The guys a few years ago were incredible, Jared (Brinkman) and Reagan (Ries) were great for me,” Stein said. “They came every day ready to work and that is a big thing I learned from them.”

Stein put what he learned in his debut season to good use.

After playing left tackle as a sophomore Stein slid between center and tackle a year ago while helping Regina to a 10-3 record and a second consecutive 1A runner-up finish.

By the end of last season Stein had already become a leader up front for the Regals.  

“You could just see him late last year taking huge strides,” Cook said. “His last four games that he played for us offensively and defensively I thought he was as good as anybody. He was relentless on defense and making plays for us and on offense he was as solid as we’ve had.”
Stein pulled double duty for the first time in his career last fall, adding defensive duties to his workload.

He made 30.5 tackles and was third on the team with three sacks from his defensive end spot.

Stein had 19.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks in four playoff wins.  

“It was definitely a transition because sophomore year I only played offense I didn’t play defense at all and last year stepping up and playing both there is no rest,” Stein said. “You have to be in shape, once you get in shape, by the end of the year I was pretty comfortable doing it.”

Stein followed up his strong junior football season by earn a state medal in the shot put with a fifth-place finish at the 2A state meet in May.

After a strong summer Cook expects Stein to turn in his best season yet as a senior.

“To watch him take that track season and have the throwing year that he had it has been impressive,” Cook said. “We are hoping that he picks up where he left off and keeps improving.”

To make another state title run Regina will likely need a big season from Stein who is the only full-time starter returning on either line.

Juniors Russell Hingst and Mark Schomer each started several games on the offensive line a year ago and several other Regals gained valuable varsity experience in a reserve role.

Stein has faith the first-year starters can get up to varsity speed quickly.

“We don’t have any returning starting offensive lineman but we have guys that are willing to step up,” Stein said. “Those guys are going to be fine, they have the right attitude already.”

A consistent during the current string of six state titles over the past eight seasons for Regina has been a dominant offensive line.

Last year the Regal front five helped Regina roll up 196 rushing yards and 34.5 points per game.

“Alex (Kanellis) is an amazing coach and I think he drills you on everything to perfection,” Stein said. “He teaches things the right way so he has bene a huge part of our success.”

After coming up a win shy of a state title in each of his first two seasons, Stein is hoping to end his prep career with a win.

“We know how to play high level football, we’ve played it the past two years,” Stein said. “I don’t think our approach changes we just have to get better and be hungry for more.”