The numbers were ridiculous: 1,623 rushing yards. 12.4 yards per carry. 24 touchdowns. The kind of season that gets you remembered in small-town football lore — and, for Hermantown junior running back Martin Sleen, the kind of season that makes opponents lose sleep in August.
At 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, Sleen doesn’t just hit a hole — he explodes through it, turning linebackers into speed bumps and defensive backs into desperate ankle-grabbers. The first hit rarely stops him; it usually just means the real run is about to start.
“Martin has the potential — if he remains healthy — to go down as one of the great, if not the greatest, all-time running backs at Hermantown,” said longtime Hawks coach Mike Zagelmeyer. “That is a pretty strong statement when one takes a look at our running back history which includes names such as Veech, Heckman, Illikainen, McGath, Madison, etc. Martin is the total package of speed, elusiveness and toughness.”
The Hawks opened training camp Monday with a clear offensive mandate: keep Sleen upright, rested, and ready.
“I strongly feel that Martin will be playing at a high level of college football once he leaves us here at Hermantown,” Zagelmeyer said. “He is a multi-sport athlete and understands the importance of that. He is humble and polite and won’t give in to all the bravado that is starting to circulate him now. He is just a great human. We do not plan to play him on defense, which allows us to keep him fresh.”
As Sleen goes, so will Hermantown. The Hawks are deep enough to win many games without him at full throttle, but not deep enough to replace him if he’s lost for any stretch.
Hermantown’s roster looks different from last fall’s 9-2 Section 7AAA championship run. Gone are quarterback Alex Schott, receiver Kale Smith, and linemen Evan Senst, Mason Humphreys, Aidan Adamski, and Andre Morton — all core pieces in a senior-heavy lineup. But the Hawks are not starting from scratch.
Junior Sawyer Senst, at 6-foot-4, takes over at quarterback after moving from linebacker, bringing a rare blend of size, toughness, and mobility.
“Sawyer’s a tough kid,” Zagelmeyer said. “He isn’t afraid of contact, which will help us.”
Sleen’s backfield partner is senior Jimmy Bartsch, a 5-foot-8 fullback who lives for the ugly yards between the tackles. Juniors Corban Peterson, Sawyer Johnson, and Owen Simonson give the offense fresh legs and versatility.
Out wide, Bode Madill and Landon Burg return to keep defenses honest, while junior tight end Grant Johnson is both a passing target and a punishing edge blocker.
The offensive line is the quiet strength of this team — big, experienced, and unafraid to get nasty in the trenches. Seniors Maximus Paczynski (6-3, 245), Jack McCaffrey (6-1, 281), Kordel Leyendecker, Kyle LaValley, Joseph Bergquist (6-1, 250), and Adan Sandoval-Luna give Hermantown both depth and power.
“We have a lot of experienced returners this year in a lot of skill positions and a line that wants to set the tone,” Zagelmeyer said. “I’m encouraged by the depth we have, and I think there are a number of players excited to get a chance and make an impression going into camp.”
Because Sleen won’t be touching the field on defense, the Hawks are leaning on other athletes to anchor that side of the ball. Johnson and Senst will play key roles, while Fletcher Wrazidlo, Lane Holden, and Zach Wunner bring back starting experience. Sophomore linebacker Ethan McCubbin is already turning heads in practice and could be a breakout name before October.
“Like every year, I wonder how the team will come together chemistry-wise,” Zagelmeyer said. “It always comes down to our seniors — how they lead, and how much support we get from the underclassmen.”
The Northeast Red is loaded again, with Grand Rapids, Rock Ridge, and North Branch all returning enough talent to make things interesting. But Hermantown is still the team wearing the target.
“There are going to be a lot of good teams waiting to knock us off,” Zagelmeyer said. “We need to rise to that challenge. But I like this group’s attitude, and I like our chances.”
The Hawks open at home Friday, Aug. 29 against Duluth Denfeld, a team they beat twice last season — 31-19 in the regular season and 41-21 in the section semifinals — and enter the 2025 opener as heavy favorites. From there, the schedule moves quickly with Proctor at home in Week 2, road trips to Duluth East, Cloquet, and Esko, a home date with Grand Rapids, a road swing to Rock Ridge, and a potentially massive Week 8 showdown with North Branch.
If Senst adapts quickly to quarterback and Sleen stays healthy, Hermantown could be looking at another trip deep into November — and maybe, just maybe, a run to U.S. Bank Stadium.
The program doesn’t discuss rebuilding years; the standard is too high. They lose players, reload, and expect to be playing for section titles every fall.
This year, the formula is simple: feed the ball to the best running back in the area, trust the big boys up front, and let the defense grow into itself.
Sleen’s name is already climbing the Hawks’ all-time list. A healthy season could put him in a class by himself.