T-Birds expect target on their back
By Greg Seubert
Scott Erickson has been there and done that in 26 seasons of coaching the Iola-Scandinavia football team.
It’s a little different this year, however, as his Thunderbirds are heading into the 2019 season as a defending state champion for the first time.
“In past years, we’ve been conference champions and had been to state a few times, but when you win the whole thing, you really draw a large target on your back,” he said. “It’s a new challenge, but we’re up to it. We’re just going to keep trying to get better every day.”
The T-Birds capped a 14-0 season last November with a 43-14 win over Racine Lutheran in the WIAA Division 6 state championship game.
Not only did the T-Birds return home with the first state football championship in school history, Bryce Huettner also broke the state’s career rushing record during the season.
Replacing starters
Huettner, the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division’s offensive and defensive player of the year, is one of the holes that Erickson has to fill, as well as first-team all-conference players Carter Kurki, Kellan Wandtke, Keegan Singh, Alex Sharp and Carter Snyder.
“That was quite a class,” he said. “You had a lot of athletes and they were very smart kids as well. We play at a high level physically as well as mentally. We did some things last year that not a lot of high school kids can comprehend, but we have some kids right now that are pretty smart and for the most part, most of our concepts are going to be there again.
“When you lose the state’s all-time leading rusher and a good, quality athlete, it’s hard to replace, but we have some really good kids that between the two or three of them can give us quite an offensive power,” he added. “When you scouted us last year, you knew who you had to stop. We had two really good running backs, our quarterback ran a lot and our receivers were a big part of it. It’s not one or two guys, it’s quite a group to replace.”
Returning players
Returning players include senior Connor Kurki, who completed six of nine passes and threw a pair of touchdowns in the state final. However, he was on the sidelines for the opening day of practice Aug. 6 after a shoulder injury.
“We’re still not really sure on that, we’re still waiting to hear,” Erickson said. “You have a two-year starter coming in to start his third year, so there’s a readjustment that has to happen. We’re focusing on the positive part and what we can control. The guys we have here are working hard and getting better and we’re real happy with (backup quarterback) Marcus (Jaworski) and his progression, too.”
Other returning players include Will Cady, Cole Erdman, Taylor Ambrosius and Ed Bonikowske; juniors Jaworski, Kyle Heise, Brye Hardel, Parker Drath, Chase McClellan and Kade Honken; and sophomores Will Tappa, Parker Prahl and Isaiah Hoyord.
Smallest school in conference
Being the smallest school in the CWC-Large means plenty of playing time for young players, especially freshmen and sophomores.
“We’ve been the smallest school in this conference since we got in,” Erickson said. “We’re below 200 (students), but the quality of our kids and their effort is going to determine our success and it’s been that way for a number of years. That’s what we’re going to bank on again.”
Erickson takes a lot of pride in seeing his younger players improve over time.
“They get their opportunities, you see them from one year to the next and the change in some of them is tremendous,” he said. “Our sophomores have to be a big part of it. They have to contribute as a starter on offense or defense or on special teams. We’re counting on those guys. You’re counting on your juniors and seniors to be your main go-to people, but more so as leaders who are going to bring the younger kids along.
“That’s something that has been getting better the last seven, eight years,” he said. “Certain teams have seniors and everybody else. We try to go away from that model. We have seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen. Everyone’s important. Everyone’s a part of it and you count on each other to make you better.”
Learning from other coaches
Erickson has heard from coaches around the state after the T-Birds won one of seven championship trophies handed out at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
“We do some things that other people don’t and they want to know a little bit about it and I’m willing to share,” he said. “That’s how it was for me when I started coaching. Bill Collar out of Seymour and Ken Golomski out of Ashwaubenon were instrumental in building what we have right here and I still have good contact with those guys today.
“(Former Iola-Scandinavia football coach Steve) Fleckenstein was here watching practice this morning and I owe him a lot,” he said. “He gave me a chance 37 years ago when I started coaching. I spent 10 years with him as an assistant and he was my head coach when I was in high school. We have a history together. It’s pretty special to have your head coach come back, watch practice and love it like he does.”