Waukesha West Ready To Begin WIAA State Title Defense

Continuity from year to year is a tremendous advantage for any high school football team, but this is especially the case when the squad is the defending WIAA Division 1 State champions.

As with any squad, the Wolverines lost integral members of its 2010 team to graduation this past off-season. However, the team retained quite a bit of star power and veteran experience and will be the odds-on favorite to repeat as the Classic 8 Conference champions – a title it has held in each of the past two seasons.

Despite his squad’s standing as the preeminent program in the Classic 8, West head coach Steve Rux knows his squad’s storybook season of 2010 has little to no effect on what will happen on the playing field this fall.

“That was 2010, this is 2011,” said Rux, who was named Classic 8 Coach of the Year following a 2010 campaign in which the squad went 13-1 overall and 6-1 in conference action. “We’ve got big challenges ahead of us.”

The Wolverines graduated a wealth of All-Conference performers from last year’s team, but bring back to key players in senior quarterback Brandon Berghoefer and running back/wide receiver/defensive back Joe Schoebert.

Simply stated, Schoebert is one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the conference. As a junior, he ran for 2,442 yards and 28 touchdowns on 308 carries en route to Classic 8 first team honors at the running back position. He added eight receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns as well.

“He’s got excellent vision,” said Rux. “I don’t think I’ve ever had running back that’s his size and has his natural ability to make a read and have the vision to know where to go with the football.”

“Whenever the ball’s in Joe’s hands, he’s able to do something with it,” said Rux.

The player who will feed him the ball via handoff or pass is Berghoefer, a mature signal caller blessed with an abundance of athletic gifts.

“Brandon is one of the most efficient quarterbacks we’ve ever had,” said Rux.

As a first-year starter as a junior in 2010, Berghoefer completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,358 yards and 11 touchdowns versus five interceptions.

“He doesn’t throw the ball into coverage very often, he’s a very accurate passer and he manages the game as well as any quarterback I’ve ever been around,” said Rux of the Wolverine quarterback. “He can make plays with his arms and he can make plays with his legs, but he’s also a leader.”

West’s offensive and defensive line takes a major hit with the departure of All-Classic 8 first-team offensive/defensive lineman and Central Michigan recruit Matt Losiniecki. Rux readily admits the squad needs more experience on the line of scrimmage.

“Now they just need to come together and start clicking,” he said.

However, the West coach feels the defensive backfield is a strength because most of those players return from last year, including Schoebert.

“Joe is really an incredible athlete,” said Rux. “He’s an excellent defender. He has good height and good range in terms of covering the pass down the field. He’s able to come up and make tackles like a linebacker would.”

Other returning All-Conference performers include senior offensive/defensive linemen Connor Stefanski and Nick Mader, linebacker Nick Wall and defensive back/quarterback/wide receiver Dan Konowalski.

The Wolverines will try to prepare for Classic 8 play by taking on a pair of opponents in early-season non-conference action. West opens up the season at home against Milwaukee Bradley Tech, a squad that finished second in the Milwaukee City Conference with a 7-1 mark and an overall record of 8-2 in 2010. One week later, the Wolverines will square off against a quality program in host Milwaukee Lutheran.

“Whether you win them or lose them, those two games, it’s a great challenge for us,” Rux said. “Each week is a challenge, and we just try to be a better team than we were a week before.”

Here’s a look at the other Waukesha schools in the Classic 8:

 WAUKESHA NORTH (1-8 overall, 0-7 in Classic 8 play)

Accomplished and experienced coach Carey Venne looks to turn around a Northstar program that has managed just five conference wins in the past four seasons combined. Venne has several decades of experience coaching high school football and is known for his efforts at the helm for Waterford and Cudahy high schools.

“We’re going to bring a little swagger too,” said Venne. “The whole idea is to change the mindset. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Senior wide receiver and All-Classic 8 performer C.J. Blackburn, senior tight end/linebacker Nick Isler and senior running back Dillard Love will be three players who are expected to make major contributions for this year’s Northstars squad. They will be asked to replace the production lost by All-Classic 8 Conference running back Joe Webb. The Northstars will also miss the leadership and line of scrimmage play from departed senior lineman Dustin Austin.

Blackburn is one of the top receiving threats in the Classic 8 Conference. He caught 23 passes for 459 yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2010. He also added 154 yards rushing and one touchdown on the ground.

North will open the season Aug. 19 (TODAY) at home against non-conference opponent Greenfield. According to Venne, there is every reason to believe the Northstars will play competitive football week in and week out. As for securing wins, the coach said that all depends on the attitude and effort of his players.

“It really depends on the physicality of the kids and how they handle adversity,” he said. “But there’s no reason why we can’t compete in every game we’re in.”

WAUKESHA SOUTH (3-6 overall, 1-8 in Classic 8 play)

Much like the Northstars, is looking to become a more well-rounded, competitive football team in 2011. The Blackshirts have totaled just one conference victory in the last three seasons, a 40-29 home win over Waukesha North last Oct. 1.

Waukesha South coach Steve Rusch has high expectations for his squad in 2011, but none different than he has any other year.

“A successful season for us is to take it one day at a time and one game at a time… do the best we can,” said Rusch. “Of course our goal, just like every year, is to make the playoffs. I would never expect anything less.”

The centerpiece South’s offense is senior running back Cory Broussard. As a junior, the Blackshirt back rushed for 1,121 yards and 14 touchdowns. Broussard will be without fellow backfield weapon Kyler Tofree, who rushed for nine touchdowns and caught 18 passes in his senior campaign of 2010.

Sophomore Isaiah Pitchford, as well as seniors Tyler Naumowicz, Ian Krause and Corey Nader are among the players Rusch expects to be major contributors this season.

“Where I think our strength lies is in our perimeter game,” said South head coach Dave Rusch. “We’re pretty young, but overall, I think our speed is going to work to our favor.”

South’s biggest test will come during a two-week stretch in late September. The Blackshirts will host Waukesha West on Sept. 23 before traveling to Hartland Arrowhead for a Classic 8 clash on Sept. 30. The team will open the season today on the road against Nicolet.

“It is a tough conference, so we have to come ready to go,” said Rusch.

WAUKESHA CATHOLIC MEMORIAL (11-3 overall, 5-2 in Classic 8 play)

Consistent and effective play has been a hallmark of the Crusaders football squad over the course of the past few seasons. The team has posted overall and conference records of .500 or better every season since 2006.

That being said, seeks to replace an immense amount of production lost by the departure of 18 seniors from last year. Only a handful of starters return from last season's squad.

“It’s (about trying) to put the same 11 guys on offense and defense, week by week and be able to consistently line up with the same guys playing each week,” said Memorial coach Bill Young. “How fast can this group progress?”

Senior running back Pete Karczewski, who totaled 1,874 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns en route to an All-Classic 8 Conference first team selection at the position, has been lost to graduation. Young said senior Casey Townsend is expected to shoulder the load for the Crusader ground attack this year.

“We expect some big things out of him,” said Young of Townsend.

Also expected to a key contributor for this year’s Memorial squad is senior quarterback Charlie Walsh, who posted a 3-0 record as a starter in 2010. Walsh’s main receiving targets will be junior Andre Bodden and senior Sam Tiahnybic.

Senior Caleb Krause, a four-year starter the team’s offensive center, is the top returnee on the offensive line. Justin Bauer also returns for his senior season as an integral member of the Crusader line.

“This will be the first year in really four years we haven’t been able to totally platoon,” said Young.

“The big deal is how fast can we get these kids up to varsity speed and put the same guys out there week in and week out, and then be competitive,” he added.

Memorial will open the season Friday at home against non-conference opponent West Allis Central.