Nearly 60 Glen Lake youth football players flew the American flag proud during a “Salute to Service” Jamboree against Harbor Spring Saturday.
The Laker youth football team finished the season undefeated in 2024 for both the 3rd-4th grade team and the 5th-6th team.Glen Lake youth football participates in a league hosted by YMCA of Traverse City.
“They allow us to host the last game at home to do this ‘Salute to Service’ game where we recognize local veterans who have impacted student athletes in one way, shape or form,” Glen Lake fifth and sixth grade coach Luke Moeggenberg said. “The whole goal behind it is to create a connection between our sport and the freedoms that we’ve been given through the sacrifices that our veterans and current active service men and women have given us. It’s a nice way to get the kids involved in what our freedoms are and bring the whole community together.”
Moeggenberg and Sam Shimek along with several assistant coaches lead the youth program. The goal of every season is safety and improvement first. Technique, and fundamentals are the start to building a passion for any sport, according to Moegenberg.
Glen Lake youth football numbers are strong with 60 athletes across both teams.
“Any time we can get a young boy and start to create them into being young men, that’s great and we thrive. It’s more than just the sport of football. We teach them different respects and values and common courtesies that we would expect out of our own kids. We tend to let that help, shape, and mold these young boys into being young men,” Moeggenberg said.
The entire Glen Lake youth football program thanks the incredible support and sacrifice of parents involved.
“They are constantly willing to help out … They’re constantly being involved in these kids’ lives. And to me, that is what makes or breaks a quality program is having parents that are involved in their children’s lives. We are very blessed in that manner,” Moegenberg said.
