Ponies Football kicks off the 2023 season with the annual Spring Meeting on Sunday, May 21 at 6:30 PM in the Stillwater Area High School Auditorium. We look forward to seeing all current 8-11 graders (2023 season 9-12 graders) in attendance with at least one parent or guardian.

In 2022, Stillwater repeated as sub-district champions. The Ponies went 5-0 in those games - again. For just the third time in school history, the Ponies have won three consecutive conference / sub-district championships. The team, which finished 9-2, claimed its first Class 6A Section Championship beating Lakeville North 42-7. The season ended in the State Quarterfinals, falling to defending State Champion Lakeville South. Based on 2022 participation, our program should grow. We say goodbye to an impressive senior class - undefeated in 9th, 10th, JV, and a two-year varsity record of 17-4 - with 30 players and welcome a freshmen class which had 64 8th grade participants. If kids stay out in grades 9-12, 200 total players is within reach. The Red and Black will be led by captains Bryce Rosewicz, Tanner Schmidt, Sam Young, and Grayson Zurn.

The Junior Varsity finished 5-2.

The sophomore team showed depth with as many as one to six players starting in a varsity game throughout the season. The team still finished 6-2 overall.

The Ponies freshman team won the sub-district (5-0) and finished 7-0-1 overall.

The vast majority of our 9-11 grade athletes participated in a winter sport or workouts with ETS via Pony Strength. Each winter sport in which we had participants enjoyed a successful season.

The spring brings huge sports participation by football players, primarily in track and field, baseball, and lacrosse. An additional 11 football players are in Pony Strength while some have trained at the Lumberyard with ETS Coach Derrick Schmidt. We also had a group of linemen train position specific drills March-May. After the spring season, we look forward to players coming together for summer Pony Strength and Pony Camp.

Summer Pony Strength and Pony Camp registration takes place through Community Education. Additional information and links for registration can be found on poniesfootball.com.

The Ponies Touchdown Club is the program’s booster club. Created in 2012, it seeks to raise funds, organize events, and assist the needs of the Stillwater Ponies Football Program. The PTC, which is in its 12th year of operation, has helped transform the program in many ways.

To better understand the PTC’s impact on the program, it is important to know what the school district provides our football program. For the most part, that includes most of the coaching staff, home game officials, away game busing, and helmet reconditioning. Most of the rest must be procured in other ways. The PTC works to increase the safety of our players, give them the best opportunity to grow and develop away from the field, properly coach them on the gridiron, and ensure a quality experience overall.

The primary fundraiser for our program is the Pony Card sale which is conducted by the coaching staff and the players. However, additional funds are needed and have been accomplished by the PTC. The Ponies Game Day Program, All American Sponsors, memberships and some other small initiatives have accomplished far more than we can list here.

In 2022, we replaced the varsity uniforms in part with a jersey campaign supported by extended family, friends, and football alumni and a successful Pony Card fundraiser. In 2023, our focus returns to helmets. In the PTC’s infancy, a major emphasis was placed on purchasing “five star rated” helmets. From 2012-2015, most of the program’s helmets were replaced. By law, helmets must be replaced after 10 years of use. In recent years, we have purchased some helmets to reduce the impact of many helmets coming off the shelf. Nevertheless, in just 2023 alone, we have to purchase 45 new helmets, and more in the future. 

The football program has our players in the best equipment possible. Participation in our limited fundraising initiatives and membership at any level by all families can ensure this tradition continues. Please support our players!

Our players and coaching staff are excited to inch closer to the 2023 season. See you at the spring meeting!