A Chat with a Former Comet

Coming from a high school that is also in the Mid States Activities Conference, I have been able to meet students that went to the other schools in the conference. One of these students is 2014 Coleman graduate, Lars Murray.

Through a mutual friend that attends Alma College with Lars, I was able to get in touch with him and ask him about his time as a Coleman Comet. He started his high school football career on the Junior Varsity team as a freshman, from there he moved to the Varsity team as a sophomore. He saw a lot of playing time, starting as a linebacker on defense and then wide receiver and running back on the offensive side. He was able to obtain all conference honors two years in a row the linebacker position.

During his 3 year stint, he play under Coach Chad Klopf; for their records he said, "During my sophomore year we went 7 and 3, 4 and 5 my junior year, and again back up to 7 and 3 for my senior year"

Lars and fellow teammates entering onto the field though a tunnel made by the cheerleaders 

His favorite memory from playing at Coleman: "making the playoffs my sophomore and senior year, while getting the opportunity to host a playoff game my senior year." Even though Coleman is a small school with a limited football program, the opportunity to host a home playoff game is a huge deal for the community.

Lars currently plays football at Alma College, where he is a two year starter at wide receiver. There he received an MIAA Academic Honor Roll award, saw action in ten games, has caught nine passes for 120 yards and scored one touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown at Hope College on October 24 where he recored a season-high 39 yards on three catches. He caught a pass in all of his last five games.

(curtesy of Alma College Athletics)

He says that because of his commitment to the football program, he hasn't been able to attend very many Coleman games. However, he "still talks to the coaches and follows the scores of the games very closely."

He went on the say that the last few years at the high school the football program has been a "rebuilding stage, which all programs go through at some point". He told me he is, "very confident that Coach Klopf will get the program back to the prominence because he is a very determined and dedicated coach with a great plan."

We finished up our conversation with touching on the possibility of 8-man football. His take was that it is a very real possibility because of the steady decrease of enrollment. He ended saying, "high school football is all about giving students an opportunity to be a part of something that is meaningful and teach life lessons." 

Thank you Lars for giving us the opportunity to get a new perspective on the Coleman Comets football program, we wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors!