Council Rock South football’s Mike Stock headed to Millersville

NORTHAMPTON – While he also considered a couple of other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools, Council Rock South fullback/linebacker Mike Stock has decided on Millersville. Stock also looked at Kutztown and West Chester but decided his heart lies with the Marauders.

“It came down to what Millersville had to offer with the (football) program,” said Stock, who will play linebacker at Millersville. “I just loved everything about it.

Most of all, Mike likes the way the coaches are really turning the program around.

“If you look at their record the past couple of years, they’ve been 1-8, 2-7,” explained Stock.

“But I see a rise in the program coming soon.”

Stock likes what he sees in head coach Greg Breitbach, who will be entering his fourth year at the helm this fall.

In 2014, Breitbach’s first recruiting class accounted for 48 games started. Off the field, Breitbach’s changes included an overhauled strength-and-conditioning program and the introduction of the Marauder Scholar Program, which establishes goals and rewards for the players.

At his former coaching stop, Breitbach helped the University of North Dakota (UND) transition from a Division II powerhouse into a Division I conference champion.

As the UND offensive coordinator, Breitbach helped the Fighting Hawks gain a share of the Great West Conference title with an 8-3 record. It was the first Division I Conference Championship in school history.

Ultimately, Stock didn’t want to go to a Division I school and sit.

“I knew I wanted to play my freshman year or at some point my sophomore year,” said Stock.

“I didn’t want to go Division I and sit on the bench so I decide to go D-II so that I could get a chance to play earlier.”

Stock also liked the proximity of the upstate campus to Bucks County.

“Millersville is only two hours away so it was a really good fit for me,” he said.

Now that the decision has been made, Stock is glad the recruiting process is over.

“It’s a tough process trying to decide which school I was going to go to.” He said. “Now that I know it’s a huge relief; I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Mike says CR South head coach Vince Bedesem and his assistant coaches have prepared him to take this next step to the collegiate level.

“This program has prepared me very well. The work that I had to put in throughout the offseason, during the season – the practices – have prepared me very well for college.”

While the Golden Hawks have not made it to districts during Stock’s time with CR South, Mike says a significant highlight of his high school career was helping his team to a 40-29 win over CR North the last game of the 2014 season.

Stock also did a lot of the blocking his junior year for former running back Vincent Alimenti, who rushed for 2,774 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2014 before taking his game to California University of Pennsylvania.

During Stock’s last year on Rock Way, the Golden Hawks went 6-4 and just missed a berth in the District 1-AAAA tournament when South dropped the last game of the season to sister school North. CR South was 1-2 vs. North with Stock on the team.

In his last two years for the Hawks, Mike tallied 148 tackles and four sacks. A football and basketball player, he earned six varsity letters at CR South.

Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter