Freeland senior Ben Wellnitz ‘had to go back to football’ - mlive.com

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FREELAND, MI – Ben Wellnitz has spent more than 10 months waiting for another chance to play football.

That, plus a soccer game after practice, made Tuesday a busy and happy day for the Freeland senior and co-captain.

Wellnitz joined high school football players from around the state Tuesday in returning to practice for the first time since the Michigan High school Athletic Association postponed the football season with the expectation of playing football in the spring.

But on Thursday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave the MHSAA permission to play football, creating opportunities for high school football in the fall for Michigan high schools.

“I had joined the soccer team because I’m not the type of person to do nothing, especially since I’m a senior," Wellnitz said. "But when they started football again, I was ecstatic. I knew I had to go back to playing football. I loved soccer and enjoyed being on the team, but I always wanted to play football.”

Freeland coach Kevin Townsend encouraged the football players to join other programs after football was postponed.

“When football was postponed, I told our players to find somewhere to compete, whether that’s cross country or soccer,” Townsend said. "Ben is a competitor. It doesn’t matter what sport. He’s a great low-post player in basketball, a great 800-meter runner in track.

“He put on some weight since last year through hard work. To have it taken away from him, he was absolutely devastated because of all the hard work he put in.”

So when football was postponed, Wellnitz switched lanes, trying out for the Freeland boys soccer team. He made the team and played in the Falcons' 4-2 season-opening win over Midland Calvary Baptist. Wellnitz also played Tuesday night after football practice in the Falcons' home opener against Birch Run.

Freeland beat Birch Run, 8-0, with Wellnitz scoring a goal.

“But that’s probably my last game … it’s too much with football although they asked me to keep playing,” Wellnitz said. "I enjoyed playing soccer. I liked the other guys on the team. I liked the coach (Brandon Coleman). I’m thankful they gave me the opportunity to play.

“But when football came back, I knew I had to go back to football.”

Wellnitz, a tight end and linebacker for the Falcons, wants to make up for an unfortunate end to his 2019 season. In the Falcons' 35-6 win over Shepherd in the first round of the Division 5 playoffs, Wellnitz caught a two-point conversion.

“But when I came down, all my weight fell on my collarbone and it broke,” Wellnitz said. “I was done for the season and I missed a month or so of the basketball season too. I didn’t need surgery. It healed on its own. But I made the catch.”

Townsend was happy, but not surprised, to see Wellnitz return for the 2020 season stronger and healthier.

“He had a little surgery on something else, and every time one of my players has surgery on something I try to put together a little gift pack,” Townsend said. "So I texted his dad and asked what he wanted. He texted back that Ben wanted cinnamon apple sauce, Goldfish crackers, Nature Valley wafer bars, protein drinks.

"I asked him if I could get him some candy bars or Skittles or something like that. But Ben had put his mind to getting his body ready for his senior season.

“I told him and all the other players that today is a gift that we didn’t expect. Enjoy it, because it could be gone tomorrow. Enjoy what we have today.”

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Freeland senior Ben Wellnitz ‘had to go back to football’ - mlive.com
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