Michigan Tech punter Brenden Lach attempts a punt during a game last season at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. The Huskies are searching for a new punter this season. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — With less than two weeks before the Michigan Tech Huskies football team hosts No. 16 Bemidji State to open the 2025 season, they are still solidifying their special teams. Sophomore kicker Avery Kucharski is back and healthy, but punter Brenden Lach graduated, leaving behind huge shoes to fill.

“For us, obviously, it’s been nice to have so many guys that have played a part of the punt unit before, whether it was Brenden was back there punting, or whoever’s going to be the punter, that understand kind of what we’re trying to get, how to protect it, how to get up and cover it and make sure that we’re taking advantage of net yardage there in that sense,” said Huskies special team coordinator Phil Milbrath. “Brenden was a very good weapon for us from that standpoint and getting the field flipped, and he’s had all the accolades and everything to go with it.”

There are two new faces fighting for the job in camp, junior Ivan Ermlich, a transfer from Ohio Dominican, and freshman Connor Byram.

“What’s been nice so far this fall camp is we’ve had two guys, Ivan Ermlich and Connor Byram, (junior) and a freshman, that have stepped into those roles,” Milbrath said. “They’ve been punting for us so far this fall camp and have done a nice job. So, what we’ve had to do essentially, is move our things around a little bit and make sure those guys that are now punting for us are kind of using the same cues and coaching points that Brenden used to use with us, and understanding it wasn’t just about how far we punt it, but rather, where are we punting this ball to make sure we’re maximizing when we’re on the field.”

Milbrath is proud of how both have stepped in and tried to get up to speed quickly.

“Obviously, it’s a hole to fill, but we’ve got two guys right now that have done a really nice job to this point at fall camp that have stepped in, owned that role, handled 100% of the details up to this point, and we’ll continue to put more on their plate as we work beyond getting through the second week here now,” he said. “It’s been a transition for sure, but just like every other position we have at Michigan Tech, it’s the next guy up, and those guys have put in the work to put themselves in position to compete right now.”

What Lach gave the Huskies most games was field position, which made all the difference.

“We talk about the importance of field position,” said Milbrath. We give them percentages, we give them breakdowns. I mean, ultimately, when you look at opposing offenses now, their probability to score touchdowns based on where they’re starting drives, all that type of information is given and taught to the guys before we even start drawing up.

“Like I said, the X’s and O’s, right? They get that importance. And then, as we work through practice, and we’re going through reps, and we go to film review and everything else, it’s the same things that we harp every day.”

Milbrath points out that punting is more than just the punter.

“I think it gets instilled in them, like, ‘Hey, great that we could punt it this far, but if it’s not to where our location’s covering right now, there’s a chance for breakdown, we’re making this guy’s job harder, this guy’s job harder,'” he said. “So, ultimately, it’s just working and having meetings, not just with the punters, but rather with the whole unit so that everybody understands as we’re talking together how important it is that we’re on the same page, and that’s ultimately going to give us what we want in there.

“Flipping the field, that net yardage, not just yards off the foot, the ability to cover. So, punt is a very unique unit, because you go from offense to defense all while the ball is in the air. You have to have guys that are around the punt that only can protect them, but once it’s gone, are they going to go make the plays down the field that help out? Ultimately, the punter’s average, and the net; the team’s net average.”

The players around the new punter know their roles, and Milbrath said that ultimately will help the Huskies continue to use punts to their advantage.

In the kicking game, Kucharski did a lot of good things as a true freshman last season. He was 11-of-16 in field goal attempts, including 3-for-3 from 30 to 39 yards and 3-of-4 from 40 or more.

He also handled kickoffs more and more effectively as the season went along.

“The thing with Avery, we roll him out as a true freshman last year, as our kicker, first game of the year, he kicks a field goal, just as time expires to put us into overtime against a quarterfinal team in Bemidji State,” Milbrath said. “So, obviously, the ability is there. We trusted him in those situations. He came through.

“The other thing Avery had to deal with a little bit is he had a little bit of a quad injury last year. So that kind of when we started to battle a little bit of inconsistencies in the middle of the year, he was open about it, honest about it, and we tried to do everything we could to make sure before we’re putting you back into every expectation that we had, we got to get healthy first and foremost, or else we’re just going to go backwards.”

Milbrath was encouraged by how well Kucharski dealt with his injury and the difficulties he had with the recovery mid-season.

“What I thought was really good from him is, throughout the year, he learned how to deal with those inconsistencies and just keep his nose down and keep working at becoming consistent,” said Milbrath. “Whether that had to be how he was focusing his eyes on certain parts, if he had to fix his alignment or change, just to have something consistent and work through that and continue to build on that, versus, ‘hey, miss a couple kicks, scratch the head now, and what do I do? I’m lost.’ More than anything, he stayed disciplined to what he knows how to do, and he kept his confidence and we kept our confidence in him.”

Kucharski showed maturity beyond his years, in Milbrath’s estimation.

“It’s to be expected, as a true freshman, to maybe have some of those ups and downs throughout a year when so much is put on your plate,” Milbrath said. “I thought that he handled that as well as any freshman kicker could handle that as far as, ‘Hey, I’m not going to let this throw me off when I have a bad kick, but rather worry about the next one.'”

Milbrath mentioned that Kucharski’s confidence grew as he continued to see action.

“So, from, from week to week, it was great to see him grow and kind of take ownership in that and then fight through a little bit of an injury, keep your focus down, keep your nose down to the grind, and ultimately end up making some big kicks for us toward the end of the year as well,” said Milbrath. “We’re really excited about what his sophomore year is holding for him now as he has gone through a whole offseason healthy into fall camp. He’s been really doing a nice job for us to this point. As long as he just keeps that focus the same place it’s been, he’s going to have a nice career here.”

Beavers loom

The Huskies open the season on Thursday, Aug. 28, with No. 16 Bemidji State at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. Opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m.