Lakeland Thunderbirds Football Season Preview

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Lakeland Thunderbirds Football Season Preview

Coaching Staff
Dan Barutha – Head Coach (7th year at Lakeland)
Justin Nimsgern – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Dave Wineburner – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
John Kafura – Special Teams/Defensive Line
Matt Schoeneman – Offensive Line
Jason Hacht – Defensive Backs
Sid Hunter – Linebackers/Head JV
Steve Wiczek – Running Backs/JV Offensive Coordinator
Brad Krisch – Tight Ends/JV Special Teams Coordinator
2. Offense Key Returners
Brayden Wiczek (QB) – Third year starter, 2-time team captain, Honorable Mention All-Conference QB last year
Rocky Wagoner (RB) – Second year starter, team captain, four-year letter winner, 2nd Team All-Conference RB last year
Max Masayesva (WR) – Third year starter, 2nd Team All-Conference WR last year
Zane Amershek (C) – Second year starter, only lineman not to miss a snap in practice or a game last year, Honorable Mention All-Conference OL last year
3. Defensive Key Returners – rotating more players on this side than in previous years to try and two-platoon as much as possible
Garrett Tobias (DL) – Third year starter & coming off ACL tear Week 3 last year
Sean Gardner (OLB) – Second year starter & really strong presence on the field
4. Conference Outlook
The Great Northern is a tough conference week in-week out. We play a variety of teams with a variety of styles and it makes it interesting on a weekly basis. All the teams are good in the conference and anyone can beat anyone on any given night. We certainly respect every team we play, especially our conference foes. Mosinee will be good for sure with their dynamic playmakers returning despite a new head coach & they play really strong defensively. Medford is tough yearly because they just maul teams at the point of attack and are physical. Rhinelander continues to be strong and have really done a nice job rushing the football. Ashland plays good defense and has a really good scheme. Hayward had some athletes last year who made really good plays. Merrill is tough up front and aggressive. Antigo uses misdirection well and gets after you on defense.
5. Keys to Offensive Success
Maintaining control of the ball & game, running the football effectively to open playaction shots over the top, and being able to wear down teams using our increased size up front.
6. Keys to Defensive Success
Rotating our defensive line consistently and making sure our one-and-a-half way guys stay that way rather than becoming true two-way guys again like in years past. We need to rally to the football & force turnovers.
7. Behind the Scenes
Aaron Amershek (Booster club president) – raises money for program through ad sales fundraiser, gets parents & families involved in team dinners, runs & sets up help for concession stand, provides food for program picnic & get food for all varsity/JV road games, runs T-Bird Football Booster Club facebook page
PJ Root (Film technician) – films all practices, sideline &/or endzone filmer for all varsity & JV games
Zach Furtak (Trainer) – keeps our players healthy & communicates needs with coaching staff, travels to all road games & is at all home games and practices
Kailey & Ellie Barutha (Jack of all trades) – give Gatorade & bananas first two weeks of camp, makes graphics for program, willing to do anything at any time needed for the program & players
Tony Border (statistician) – takes care of all game stats
8. Program Basis
Our program is built on four pillars in this specific order: Discipline, Commitment, Effort, & Pride. These four pillars are established through the way I try and live my life on a daily basis. Discipline & really self-discipline is the first because without self-discipline of doing the little things right, none of the other pillars can be achieved. Once discipline is in place, then commitment can shine through. When you commit to something, you see it through in the thick & thin and do the best you can knowing other people are relying on you. After commitment, then you can provide maximum effort into what you’re trying to achieve. Finally, we play with pride for our school, communities, families, and each other. Only when the first three pillars have been met can someone truly understand what it means to have pride in their work. All four of these pillars serve as the foundation of our program to build better men through the game of football.
How we measure success is strictlyy hrough the process. We are a process & not outcome focused program. We consistantly & constantly teach Football IQ to our players, grade our competitions with a report card based upon the three most important stats for winning & losing games, and worry about doing the little things needed to win games the right way with regard to letting the scoreboard take care of itself.
9. Coach’s Comments
Our program is centered on creating a family where anyone who joins can be built into a better version of themselves than they could achieve alone. With our school district being very unique in its size and makeup, family is the critical center of our program for all players, coaches, and families involved in it.

2022 Central Wisconsin Fall Sports Schedules: Links to School Schedule Updates

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David Keech
Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]