Wega-Fremont roster includes 12 seniors

By Greg Seubert

It’s been nine years since Weyauwega-Fremont’s football team last qualified for the WIAA state playoffs.

Whether the Indians can get back to the postseason for the first time since 2007 remains to be seen, but coach Pat Fee is convinced his squad is headed in the right direction.

“We have a real good group of upperclassmen,” he said. “When you look at a program and building it up again, you’ve got to have that. Our seniors have a couple years of varsity experience. They know what it takes and they know what the results were the last couple of years. Their expectations are higher because they want to climb that ladder.”

The Indians are coming off of a 2-7 record that includes a 2-5 mark in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference under Fee, who replaced longtime coach Tom Chase last year.

“Expectations in the second season are always a little easier,” he said. “We’re ahead of schedule just because they’re not learning the whole thing. We’re not reinventing the wheel again. Last year, it was new for everyone.”

The team’s 12 seniors include Trevor Flease and Logan Bosquez, who split time at quarterback last year.

“Trevor Flease is a dynamic kid,” Fee said. “We’ve got him in a place where he’s going to see some real opportunities on offense. Logan Bosquez has become a great team leader for us as our quarterback.”

Offseason time in the weight room has paid off for several players, according to Fee.

“The weight room was just tremendous for these guys,” he said. “We went from not being as strong and physical as we could have been. They saw that last year and wanted to do something about it. They put the work in. Our strides are really good that way. Now we need to put that to good use on the field.”

CWC 8 teams Amherst, Iola-Scandinavia, Shiocton and Bonduel have a combined 18 playoff appearances and three state championships in the past five seasons.

Cole Hudziak tackles running back Ean Marker during a recent practice at Weyauwega-Fremont High School. Greg Seubert Photo

“I would argue that our conference is probably the best small-school football conference in the state,” Fee said. “If you’re a competitor, that’s where you want to be. You want to be in the best conference, beat the best and become the best. If you’re a competitor, you want to play in this conference and fight for titles. If you qualify for the playoffs out of this conference, it’s anybody’s game when you get to that second season.

“We need to get back to that and that’s one of our team goals, but we’re concentrating on us right now and getting to that point,” he added. “They want a winning season and to be a playoff-qualifying team. That means you’re playing pretty good football.”

Manawa is moving from the CWC 8 to the CWC 10 this season, which means CWC 8 teams need three conference wins to make the playoffs, instead of four in recent years.

“We’re looking at having to beat a higher-echelon CWC 8 team and that’s how programs turn around,” Fee said. “I’ve been here long enough to be at the top of the mountain and at the bottom. We know what it takes. The kids have high expectations and I think they’re ready for that serious challenge.

“We need to take care of ourselves and not worry about the other teams right now,” he said. “If we can get that solved, then the success will come. I know that’s happening.”

Weyauwega-Fremont 2016 Football Schedule

Varsity
Friday, Aug. 19 – at Adams-Friendship, 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26 – vs. Brillion, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 2 – vs. Bonduel, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9 – vs. Amherst, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 16 – at Pacelli, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30 – at Manawa, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7 – vs. Shiocton, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 14 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 7 p.m.

Junior Varsity
Thursday, Aug. 18 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 25 – at Brillion, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 6 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 12 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 19 – vs. Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 26 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 3 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 10 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.

Middle School
Thursday, Sept. 1 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 8 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 13 – vs. Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 20 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 27 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 6 – at Rosholt, 4:30 p.m.