ST. CLOUD, MN — To put it simply, the past four seasons for St. Cloud Apollo have been dreadful. Fifteen consecutive losses dating back to 2024 and a 3-33 record since 2022. No matter how you spin it, that is four consecutive seasons of rough football. That is a toll that affects the coaches, the players and certainly the community, who have had to resort to traveling to Albany, Becker, Cold Spring or Holdingford to enjoy winning football on Friday nights in recent years. There is no hiding from it, and everybody on the team knows it. More football: MSHSL football is back. Picking each week one game in the St. Cloud metro This Apollo team is different than in years past, though. While even a winning record may not be in store for this season, the Eagles experienced a much-needed culture shift this summer. Which is certainly their biggest win in quite some time. “I didn’t feel the chemistry going on,” senior tight end and captain Thomas Herring said of his first three years at Apollo. “We were less of a team those years than we are this year. This year we’re trying to make sure everybody’s involved and just build the team bonding.” That swift change of team dynamic is one head coach Mike Beehler praises to the leadership of his three captains, which include senior linemen Michael Bueckers and Hayden Solberg along with Herring.
“Obviously, going 1-8, 1-8, 0-9 doesn’t feel good,” Solberg said. “It gives me fuel going to make the program better this year. I feel like we have a pretty good team. We have some good offensive linemen and we’re going to be a good running team this year.” The three captains have held players-only practices for the first time and have started tradition of getting food after practice in groups, with Chipotle and Chick-Fil-A being two of the go-to spots. The Eagles even had a pool party after their scrimmage. An improved culture led the way for improved attendance throughout summer practices. While Beehler still only has about 40 kids on roster, attendance was about 80% throughout the offseason. As one could imagine, recruiting athletes to join a 3-33 football team is not the easiest thing in the world. “That’s the tough part. When things get tough and we’re not winning, they want to quit,” Beehler said. “Some people want to be a part of a team; some people want to compete. Everybody had their reasons for everything, but I’m going to coach the guys that want to be here and want to compete their tails off, whoever that is.” SC Times POTY: Foley running back voted 2026 St. Cloud Times pre-season player of the year The motto throughout the summer has been, “no excuses.” A simple proverb to motivate a group that has certainly been down on its luck. “The guys have really bought into that motto,” Beehler said. “We’ve had talent. This team has talent, but talent only takes you so far. This year’s group seems a lot closer to one another; seems to enjoy being out here and around one another. They just work every single day, no complaining. They show up and they hold each other accountable; that’s the biggest difference.” Such accountability can be seen in a variety of ways from the team leadership: carpooling, group chats and sprints for absences to name a few. That type of care is why Herring, Solberg and Bueckers were “unanimously” elected team captains by their peers. The love for the game and desire to better the program is something each senior instill within themselves.
For Herring, that was deciding to continue to come back to the game he loves year after year despite a plethora of injuries, including a torn labrum, fractured tibia and multiple concussions. That is more serious injuries than wins in his first three years of high school football. “I just love football, and I love to compete,” Herring said. “I’ve been playing since I was a kid. Even if we’re unsuccessful, I love being on the field and competing. It is one of my favorite things to do — even playing board games with my mom — I hate to lose that, too.” The passion is there from the top-down to compete and win. It is inevitable not to sense its presence on the Apollo practice field. It is a palpable sensation as soon as the team gets its pads on and starts individual drills. Pads are popping, coaches are instructing and most importantly the players are executing, listening and coaching themselves. Walking on the field is not acceptable for Solberg, who will be the first one ready after a water break and instruct others to hurry up as well. It is a simple action that just about every team in the state will have at their practice, and such responsibility certainly comes with the distinguished “C” next to his name on the roster. However, those are the little details of practice that a winless team like the Apollo of yesteryear lacked. “If the kids aren’t buying what you’re trying to preach and get through to them, then it’s not going to work,” Beehler said. “Player-led team is where it starts, and so our three captains buy into that and have done so all summer. It starts from the top down with our seniors, and then it bleeds into the juniors, and if your best players are working as hard as they can and are here every day everything else will fall into place.” The Eagles are slated to start their season Sept. 3 at No. 37 Osakis. While a win may be a bit of a longshot for week one, this season will be one that can be immensely successful for Apollo. “I’d be happy as long as we’re out there competing,” Herring said. “We want everybody to compete, try their best and hopefully the record shows how hard we were trying.” This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: 'No excuses' for St. Cloud Apollo, coach Mike Beehler despite 3-33 record