The Daily Standard
Story Archive
COLDWATER - Bryce Couchot and Rudy Kremer may have been teammates at Coldwater, but now they'll be on opposite sides in college.
The Cavaliers kicker and center signaled their college intents on Wednesday, choosing campuses 22 miles apart on U.S. 224.
Couchot will head to Tiffin University while Kremer will be slightly closer to home, heading to the University of Findlay.
The two teams are part of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The teams have faced off 38 times since 1986.
"It's definitely cool. We've known each other for the longest time," said Kremer about the bond between him and Couchot. "We've always been good friends. It will be interesting being rivals. I've already talked smack to him. He knows it's all jokes. It'll definitely be fun."
"Game on," said Couchot with a smile.
Coldwater's Bryce Couchot (center) will attend Tiffin University next fall and play football for the Dragons.
"Went to a camp in July and they kept inviting me back," said Couchot, who is eying a major in cybersecurity. "Love the campus, they've treated me exactly as I was (treated at Coldwater)."
The Dragons went 7-4 this season and 6-3 in the G-MAC, beating Findlay 23-21 in the season finale at Donnell Stadium in Findlay.
"I've seen how they operate. They want to win and strive for greatness," said Couchot. "They grind and stick it out. As a player, that's exactly what you want to see and want to achieve."
Couchot is the latest in a long line of standout Coldwater kickers over the years. Couchot holds the school records for kick points (point-afters and field goals) in a season (108) and career (246) and is tied for most kick points in a game with 11. Over his last two seasons, Couchot converted on a school-record 99 consecutive point-after attempts. Couchot also has the school record for most field goals in a game with three and has kicked two field goals in a game on four occasions. Couchot trails only Jeff Pax in season field goals (nine for Pax, eight for Couchot) and carer field goals (21-20 in favor of Pax).
"Kicking is a mental game," said Couchot. "It's one kick a a time. You miss? You forget it about it because that miss doesn't move the next one forward."
Coldwater's Rudy Kremer (center) will attend the University of Findlay next fell and play football for the Oilers.
"It's a close school. I've followed them ever since I started playing football and had a dream of playing college football," said Kremer, who will major in accounting with a emphasis on sports business. "Findlay's always been a top pick. I really loved everything on my visit there. It was a nice point."
Kremer likes what the Oilers are doing, as the team went 10-2 this past season, the most wins for the program as an NCAA program, and 8-1 in the G-MAC to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs and the program's first-ever home playoff game.
"We're looking to keep that success rolling," said Kremer. "I'm trying to come in and help them out to build the program up. The goal is a national championship."
Kremer's career at Coldwater changed in 2024 after the death of teammate Cale Wenning. Kremer, penciled in to start at guard, moved to Wenning's position at center in the Coldwater Cav-Gun offense. Kremer took to the position and helped the Cavaliers win the Division VI state title in 2024 and reach the state semifinals this past season.
"We've have one of the best coaching staffs in the state," said Kremer. "Coach (Chip) Otten is amazing. He's already preaching life skills that we can take into our own lives and to further our sports careers. At Coldwater it's about helping each other out and be a great teammate, toughness, discipline and playing with a whole bunch of fun."
