Menhart has another brother combo
CARMICHAELS — During its 12 straight years in the playoffs, Carmichaels has had some definite constants in its football rosters. Big, bruising offensive linemen, speedy, athletic skill players and savvy, well prepared head coaches are all calling cards of the Mighty Mikes for more than a decade. Another hallmark of the program is a slew of talented brother combos.
From 2001 to 2008, the Lapkowicz brothers (twins Jeff and Jared, along with younger brother Joby) powered the Mikes’ potent passing game. In 2009, Jon Krall took over the starting quarterback position and, in typical Carmichaels fashion, his twin brother Seth quickly established himself as the team’s top receiver.
The pair really broke out as juniors last season, with Jon throwing for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns. Seth pulled in a team-high 41 catches for 474 yards and seven touchdowns.
Along with the Kralls, two other sets of brothers will be counted on to power the Mikes to a 13th straight trip to the WPIAL playoffs. Senior Zach Mundell and younger brother Josh, a sophomore, will be active as offensive and defensive skill players. Meanwhile, the junior/senior combo of Jake and Luke Cumpston will be counted on to play major roles on the offensive and defensive lines.
“I can’t ever remember having this many sets of brothers on a team at one time,” said Carmichaels coach John Menhart, who is heading into his 16th season over two stints as the Mikes’ head coach.
Going into his second season since returning to the Carmichaels sidelines after a six-year hiatus, Menhart believes that the principles of family go far beyond the players who share the same last name on the backs of their jerseys. He feels his team has reciprocated that closeness and dedication in this year’s camp.
“This is the first camp ever where we went a whole camp and didn’t have a single kid miss at all,” Menhart said. “Family is always first. Football better not be the first thing on their priority list. When they are on the field we ask for that, but after that, family is first.”
Menhart admitted that the previous statement isn’t entirely true, as he had one player miss one day of practice. However, sticking with the family-first theme, that individual was excused to be with an ailing relative.
Carmichaels’ belief in team kinship extends beyond the field.
“I always have the seniors to my house and have a steak dinner before the season gets going,” Menhart said. “The season flies by so quickly. Before you know it, I’ll be asking them if they got their deer when deer season comes around. That is when I know the season is really over. The older I get, the faster the season goes by.”
While the idea of a football team as a family is forever engrained in American culture, it would be hard to find a more honest and genuine example than the Mighty Mikes. It is that same concept that has helped the program become one of the most consistently successful squads in the WPIAL, a tradition they’ll look to continue in 2010.