KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Spring football is now over down in Kalamazoo as Western Michigan wrapped it all up with the spring showcase on Saturday.
With starting quarterback Hayden Wolff out, it allowed one local product to get his shot.
That would be 2022 Mona Shores High School graduate Mark Konecny, who is on the WMU football roster as a preferred walk-on.
The former Sailor turned Bronco was the first quarterback on the field on Saturday, and he wanted to do whatever he could to stand out.
"You come in as a walk-on, you aren't going to get the looks that you want right away and that is part of it," Konecny said. "You've got to know that coming in like, 'Hey, this is the day I got my opportunity. I've got to take the most advantage of it because it might be the only one I get.'"
Konecny certainly took advantage. He was recognized after the spring showcase as one of a select few Broncos to receive a spring award from head coach Lance Taylor.
"He really had a great spring," Taylor said. "He grew a ton. I thought he did a really nice job. He has got to continue to work on stepping up in the pocket and staying on rhythm and timing. Not holding on to the ball too long and taking some of those unneeded sacks."
You might recognize the Konecny name. His dad, also named Mark, was the first MIAA football player to make it to the NFL. The Alma College alum played for the Dolphins and Eagles in the late 1980s.