Getting to Know You: Sioux City North Stars

SCNorth_StarsAfter making the 2013 playoffs, the North High Stars aim to go further up…to win a district title. Jon Niemic moves over from assistant to head coach for North. The Stars cupboard isn’t bare at all, with talented senior QB Daniel Tillo and TE Robert Neustrom on offense. The defense will be anchored by a veterans at LB (Zach Kraus, Taylor O’Neill, and Patrick Strait), and DB (Deion Clayborne and Anthony Rasmussen). The key to the Stars’ success will be addressing the offensive and defensive lines, which have new starters.

North Stats

2013 Record: 4-6 overall, 2-3 Division 2

2014 Class & District: Class 4A, District 1

Coach: Jon Niemic, first year

Returning Starters – Offense

Daniel Tillo, QB, 12

Robert Neustrom, TE, 12

Cory Schoenherr, WR, 12

Edgar Cortez, OL, 12

Xavier Scarlett, WR, 12

Deion Clayborne, HB, 12

Returning Starters – Defense

Deion Clayborne, DB, 11

Anthony Rasmussen, DB, 11

Taylor O’Neill, LB, 12

Zach Kraus, LB, 12

Patrick Strait, LB, 12

Robert Neustrom, S, 12

Returning Letterwinners: 16

Coaching Staff: Travis Binder, Angelo James

Offensive scheme: Spread pass

Defensive scheme: 4-2-5

Interesting stories about the squad, players, or upcoming season: Daniel Tillo is one of the better multi-sport athletes in 4A, if not in the state. Tillo took the Stars to the 2014 Boys State Basketball tournament. Robert Neustrom also plays in different sports at North. Both players are Division 1 caliber players according to Niemic. North’s goals this season is to win the (Sioux City) city championship, capture the district title, and advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1998, when they defeated Bishop Heelan Catholic, 14-6 in the first round and lost in the quarterfinals to Ames, 7-0, in overtime.

2014 Schedule (District games in bold)

Aug. 29 @ Council Bluffs Lincoln

Sept. 4 (Thurs.) Fort Dodge

Sept. 12 @ Sioux City East

Sept. 19 Sioux City West

Sept. 26 @ Council Bluffs Jefferson

Oct. 3 Ames

Oct. 10 @ Ankeny

Oct. 17 @ Southeast Polk

Oct. 24 Des Moines East