Back from a serious shoulder injury, Chesterton defensive tackle Tyler Dhaemers meets his goal of being prepared for the start of his senior season

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

Preseason high school football forecasts amount to guesses based on experience level, past statistical performances, heights, weights and stopwatches.
The teams that exceed expectations tend to grade high on intangibles.
How much wearing the school’s uniform and playing under the Friday night lights in front of thousands means to an athlete can translate to better performance than the height, weight, speed and statistical profile would forecast.
Clearly, playing football for Chesterton means a great deal to senior defensive tackle Tyler Daehmers. It shows in the way he worked his way back from a surgery for a torn labrum suffered in the 2025 season finale and in the way he showed up for offseason workouts even when he couldn’t participate.
It’s obvious from the focus he shows in the weight room and on the practice field and in how he seems to have mastered the art of smiling through all the hard work.
Dhaemers appreciates the helmet, the uniform, the snaps and knows it won’t last forever, so if that attitude is contagious, that sort of thing can make a difference. So can unselfish play.
Statistics don’t always capture a defensive tackle’s contributions. His primary job is to occupy blockers to free linebackers to make the tackles.
“If I’m helping the linebackers and we’re winning, I don’t care what the stat sheet says,” Daehmers said after the first preseason practice.
Dhaemers spent much of last season starting at defensive end and moved inside for the sectional title game vs. LaPorte.
“I tore my labrum in the first quarter,” he said. “I first thought it was a stinger. I had that fuzzy feeling. So you move it around, go back in, and then you realize when you try to push someone you realize your shoulder isn’t in the place it’s supposed to be.”
January surgery followed by months of rehabilitation left him grateful to those who helped him meet his goal of recovering in time to play his entire senior season. He was cleared to practice fully in mid-July.
Dhaemers cited athletic trainer Bernie Stento, strength and conditioning coach Matt Wagner and doctors for helping him meet his goal.
He said the toughest part of playing D-tackle is constantly facing double-teams. The best part? Eating “like a monster” all the way to 235 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame.
On paper, the front seven in Chesterton’s 3-4 defense shapes up as a strength. Dhaemers is flanked by junior Chris Melton and senior Gabe Vaiola.
“It’s great to play with ends who can do everything,” Dhaemers said.
Senior Carson Hollingsworth is among those lending depth at end and tackle and Coach Mark Peterson said sophomore Ryan Bradford will get some varsity snaps at defensive end.
Zane Westerlund, a junior all-state selection last season, leads a promising linebacker group. Speedy, agile junior Mauro Semidei impressed when he was promoted from the JV in midseason. Senior Peyton Dilbeck shifts from cornerback to outside linebacker and has the speed to tee off on quarterbacks. Senior Charlie Cunningham has generated excitement during offseason workouts.
“Charlie has made a big step up,” Dhaemers said. “I always thought he would be a good varsity player. He has a lot of energy. I remember when we were in middle school, he broke his hand and played with a hammer (cast).”
Peterson and defensive coordinator Terry Chestovich need to see more of the secondary candidates perform in practice to solidify the cornerback and safety positions.
Dhaemers looks forward to seeing what the defense can do and said everyone on that side of the line of scrimmage has at least one trait in common: “We all love to hit.”