Securing playoff bid still high on Wolves’ goal list

 MANNING -- The goals of the IKM-Manning football team don’t change all that much from year to year, and that’s the mark of a good program.
 A: Improve each week. B: Make the playoffs. C: Advance as far as possible.
 Through the first eight years of their consolidation, IKM-Manning been remarkably consistent in achieving those goals. The Wolves have qualified for the playoffs seven out of eight times, compiled a postseason record of 10-7 and advanced to the Class 2-A semifinals at the UNI-Dome in both 2008 and 2009.
 Starting this fall, clinching a playoff berth will become about twice as hard for all teams across the state as the playoff field has been reduced from 32 qualifiers per class to just 16. The top two finishers in each district will qualify automatically, joined by two wild card teams per class determined by set criteria.
 Even so, the primary goal at IKM-Manning remains the same.
 Ranked 10th in 1-A by the Des Moines Register to start the season, the Wolves return about a half dozen starters from last year’s 6-4 campaign and have 14 returning letter winners on a roster of 48.
 The season begins with tough non-district games vs. East Sac County and at South Central Calhoun, followed by seven district games in a realigned Class 1-A, District 7.

IKM-MANNING FOOTBALL TEAM
 Front row, L-R: Nick Birks, Klayton Heiman, Coltan Lesle, Cody Chapman, Evan Dammann, Hunter Behrens, Ben Wegner.
 Second row, L-R: Chris Monson, Carter Irlmeier, Marshall Hansen, Luke Jorgensen, Alex Heiman, Nick Halbur, Colin Bandow.
 Third row, L-R: Grant Behrens, Zach Spoelstra, Keaton Allmon, Jeff Naberhaus, Eli Riessen, Austin Ahrenholtz, Jared Johnson.
 Fourth row, L-R: Chris Birks, Conner Kloewer, Teagan Garrison, Mason Fishback, Stephen Grimm, Ethan Carter, Ian Bornhoft.
 Fifth row, L-R: Travis Griffith, Jarod Henkelman, Nathan Blankman, Dane Blom, Tyler Henkelman, Wyatt Facile, Grant Stracke, Trevor Jons.
 Sixth row, L-R: Eddie Arkfeld, Jackson Johnson, Jacob Dentlinger, Parker Behrens, Rylan Hass, Matt Garrison, Brandon Miles, Raine Menough, Colten Brandt, Will Jorgensen.
 Back row, L-R: Lucas Brown (manager), Coach Larry Blake, Head Coach Tom Casey, Coach Cory McCarville, Coach Chris Behrens.
 Not pictured: Alex Lingle, Ben Lingle. (Photo courtesy of Todd Danner, Denison Bulletin/Review)