2025 Preseason Preview –  Faribault High School

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After finishing 4–5 last fall, Faribault enters the 2025 season riding a wave of renewed energy and internal momentum. Despite the youth of this roster and a lean senior class, this group feels the most prepared it's been in three years. A complete offseason in the weight room and on the field has established confidence and program-wide buy-in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faribault wants to win in November. That means controlling the line of scrimmage, running the football, leaning into a physical identity and playing fast on defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some players to watch for:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nate Lockerby </strong>– <strong>OL/ DL </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A towering presence at 6'6", 280 pounds, Lockerbie is physically built to anchor a line. He's on the cusp of breaking out this season. He'll be a tone-setter for this offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='898254' first='Bitan' last='Gatwech'] – OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gatewech, a 6'5, 260-pound DL, is a versatile force upfront. He's powerful and can dominate with bullrushes or win with speed-to-power rushes. He's the complete package as the No.2 DL prospect in Minnesota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='924234' first='Jose' last='Garcia'] </strong>– <strong>OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garcia stands out for having one of the best get-offs the Fairbault coaching staff has seen in 30 years. Garcia's presence and effort have helped set a cultural standard for the rest of the unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others worth watching upfront include: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faribault's depth in the trenches is built on a promising group ready to contribute on both sides of the ball. <strong>Jonathan Westenberg</strong> is one of the most vocal risers, expected to “make some noise” this fall. He's joined by <strong>Thomas Keeley</strong>, a developing interior lineman projected to play a key role up front, and <strong>Sam Dietz</strong>, a returning defensive contributor who adds stability to the rotation. <strong>Ronan Thomas</strong> brings added chemistry and cohesion to the unit, while <strong>Eddie Notino</strong> offers versatility and two-way potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1651471' first='Conner' last='Lockerby']</strong>, the younger brother of Nate and a three-sport athlete, is already 6'2” and 260 pounds. With his oldest brother Devin playing guard at North Dakota State, the family pedigree is strong, and Conner looks poised to follow suit. <strong>Evan Gustafson</strong> rounds out the group, giving Faribault a full 10-man core of linemen expected to rotate heavily throughout games with minimal drop-off. Together, this unit gives the Falcons the kind of size, depth, and flexibility rarely seen at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faribault enters 2025 with an identity built from the inside out. The offensive and defensive lines are deep, hard-working, and connected, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='924234' first='Jose' last='Garcia'] and Nate Lockerby, and backed by a promising core of juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->