Page 6 Fall Football Preview • Thursday, August 28, 2025 sailor. mnsun. com
ST. LOUIS PARK ORIOLES
Connections, by land and air, are plenty
JASON OLSON jason. olson @ apgecm. com
Coming off a 4-6 record in 2024, St. Louis Park coach Jason Foster believes not only is a flip above. 500 possible, but a section run is well within the possibilities come late October.
The optimism heading into the season is well-founded with 11 starters back on both sides of the ball, including do-it-all senior Mason Helfmann and junior quarterback Everrett Arnold.
Helfmann was the District Defensive Player of the Year, team MVP and All-District selection as a linebacker and running back. He had 66 carries for 399 yards and three touchdowns, adding 16 catches for 116 yards and one more touchdown. Defensively, he led the team with 133 tackles, including 17 for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He is gaining increasing interest from college programs, with one offer from St. Thomas.
Arnold passed for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns while running 87 times for 279 yards and three more touchdowns.
A trio of seniors will be on the receiving end of Arnold’ s throws, including Tight End Logan O’ Dea and receivers Cooper Schultz and Ryan Oliesky.
Arnold said he’ s focused on developing more chemistry with the receivers, especially on his deep balls, so far in training camp.“ Just to be on
( SUN PHOTO BY JASON OLSON)
St. Louis Park captains from left are Ted McCarren, Everrett Arnold, Mason Helfmann, Josh Rickord and Logan O’ Dea.
the same page as them so we can excel on Thursdays and Fridays,” Everrett said with one year of varsity experience under his belt.“ It’ s been easier for sure, I don’ t have a full new receiving corps.”
Helfmann, Arnold, O’ Dea, Ted McCarren and Josh Rickord give the Orioles five solid captains to lead by example on and off the field.
McCarren, also a senior linebacker, will be joined by two classmates in the secondary: Dominic Barth and Josh Rickord, along with junior Finn Brooberg, who started last season.
Rickord made 58 tackles and grabbed an interception to garner All-District Honorable Mention and earn the 2024 Team Defensive Player of the Year award.
Helfmann wasn’ t the only defensive player to catch the attention of the other District coaches, as Barth was named the District Defensive Back of the Year. He made 47 tackles, five for loss, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and returned one for a touchdown.
Helfmann said he plans to expand his offensive plays.“ I’ ll definitely be evening it out on both sides,” Helfmann said as he plans to limit his time on the sideline.“ Busy and hard. It’ s not fun
[ building on his conditioning to handle the workload ], but it needs to get done.”
Senior linebacker Larry Lucero continues the impressive play of Park’ s linebackers, bringing speed and aggression to frustrate opponents.
Look for sophomore receiver Jayden Post to continue to develop as another target for Everrett with great hands and size to go with precise route running.
Developing linemen will be an ongoing area to overcome as the season moves along, with junior center Bennett Johnson as the lone returner,
See SLP | PAGE 24
QUICK HITS
Head Coach Jason Foster Fifth Season
Last Year’ s Record: 4-6
Key Returning Players
Mason Helfmann had an incredible season on defense in 2024 for the St. Louis Park Orioles. He finished with 134 tackles, 19 of them for losses. With 6 1 ⁄ 2 sacks, two fumbles and three interceptions, he was a true ball hawk.
Helfmann added to his value with 399 rushing yards, 15 pass receptions and four touchdowns.
Starting quarterback Everett Arnold returns. He passed for more than 1,100 yards with eight touchdowns and added three rushing touchdowns.
Schedule
Aug. 28 at Minneapolis Southwest 6 p. m.
Sept. 4 Kennedy( at TCO Performance Center) Sept. 12 Mahtomedi Sept. 19 at Cretin-Derham Hall
( University of St. Thomas) Sept. 26 at Park Center 6 p. m. Oct. 3 Jefferson Oct. 10 at Tartan Oct. 15 St. Francis
Game times 7 p. m. unless otherwise noted