By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The clock started ticking in April, when Chase Spreen was officially hired as the 13th head coach in Bedford North Lawrence’s storied history. Back then, the clicks were soft, the passing of time barely distinguishable. Six months later, each digit counts down with all the subtlety of a cannon blast.
The initial alarm rang on Monday with the first official practice session for the 2025-26 season, and there’s too much urgency to hit the snooze button. In only 17 days, the Stars will begin the Spreen Era with their opener, and there’s too much work yet to do for the luxury of rolling over for a few more minutes of slumber.
Unlike opening days of the past, there was a different vibe in BNL Fieldhouse as Spreen welcomed 15 athletes for the debut workout. Perhaps it’s because BNL is coming off a 7-16 season, a rare winter of struggling and discontent for the flagship program, as the precursor to the coaching change. Spreen was all business. Time to get serious.
“Urgency is a big word I use, making them understand how important that is to compete at a high level,” Spreen said. “What makes the transition easier is we have kids who played significant roles as young players, so they know what to expect. They set the tone over the summer. Then we have younger players who understand there is a level of urgency to this.”
If they didn’t know, or had forgotten, the Stars will soon be reminded. Spreen spent nine seasons as an assistant, helping BNL hangs its most recent state championship banner in 2023. Two seasons later, BNL is building back after suffering its first losing campaign since 2006. That will start with the proper foundation.
“We’re a team that has always relied on execution,” Spreen said. “We stressed things to the max from an execution standpoint, and that will not change.
“Mentally and emotionally, we’re throwing a lot at them. For some of them, it’s a review. At the same time, we have a short period of time to implement all of our stuff, it requires a lot of focus, mental focus. People get hung up on the physical challenges early in the season, but for them it’s a lot of the mental capacity, to absorb some of the stuff we did over the summer and be ready for the next step.”
BNL’s summer work was crucial. The countdown to October actually began in June.
“The summer was great,” Spreen said. “We beat a couple of really good teams, we found some things we need to build on. There are some pieces here, some kids who know how to win. They’ve been a part of things, from a winning standpoint, so they know what it takes. I know I won’t have an issue, as far as the demands, from those kids. As long as they’re willing to accept coaching, we will accomplish some big things this year.”
BNL will divide its preseason a work into three sections. First is the practice grind en route to the annual intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 30. Next is the tinkering prior to the IHSAA sanctioned scrimmage at Columbus North on Nov. 4. Finally, after only one day to digest the pros and cons from that workout, the Stars will journey to Sullivan for the grand debut on Nov. 6.
“These first two or three weeks are extremely important, not only from a physical standpoint to get everyone in shape, but to get everything in offensively and defensively,” Spreen said. “We will just take the scrimmage as a chance to go compete against somebody. It will be here before we know it.”
