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Comets ready to move forward

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Joe Mason throws a pass during a Waupaca football practice at Comet Field. The Comets' home opener is Friday, Aug. 27, against Little Chute. Greg Seubert Photo

Waupaca to open season at Wrightstown

By Greg Seubert


COVID-19 complications and injuries put a damper on Bennett Hansen’s first season as Waupaca High School’s varsity football coach.

He and the Comets have put that season – which included an 0-3 mark in Bay Conference games and an 0-6 overall record – in the rear-view mirror.

“I’d say I learned about our players,” Hansen said before leading a team practice on Comet Field. “It was kind of like a bonus year, only playing six games. We were a younger team with a lot of senior injuries early in the year. I got to learn about the next crop of seniors. I got to know them pretty well because we relied on them heavily.”

Waupaca will open the season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at Wrightstown before hosting Little Chute Friday, Aug. 27, for the home opener.

“I’m excited to play who we’re scheduled to play,” Hansen said. “Last year, we found out we were playing Freedom on a Thursday and we thought we were playing New London. We actually scouted and practiced to play 10 teams.”

The Bay Conference has a different look this season. Besides Waupaca, the conference now consists of Fox Valley Lutheran, New London, Seymour, Shawano, Winneconne and Xavier. Two former Bay teams, West De Pere and Menasha, have moved to the Fox River Classic Conference’s North and South divisions, respectively.

“The teams in the Bay Conference now are similar to how we’re made up,” Hansen said. “To me, it’s a little more equal. The schools are all about the same size. We’ve got a chance now.”

He expects Xavier to contend for a conference championship after the Hawks posted a 7-1 record last year.

“They lost a lot of really good players from last year, but that’s a healthy program,” he said. “They’re ready to reload and they don’t have to rebuild.”

Several players on this year’s team spent time in the weight room during the offseason.

“We have a lot of guys committed to the weight room,” Hansen said. “I think it’s crucial not just for football, but for all sports. I preach to my guys that we’re going to keep lifting through the season because you’re always developing. If you’re not working on that development, you’re giving someone else an opportunity to pass you.

“You can come out ready if you lift,” he said. “You can look pretty sharp in your first game because you’re physically conditioned. If you don’t lift, it’s a roll of the dice.”

The 2021 version of the Comets has several seniors that saw playing time as juniors. On the other hand, the roster has only seven juniors.

“We need a few young guys that need to step up,” Hansen said. “We have some cracks that need to be filled because of our light junior class. If that happens and a lot of guys stay healthy because they worked on their conditioning, we have a good chance to be very competitive. We’re not necessarily big, but we have speed.”

The Comets have several players to replace, including tight end Hunter Marcom, now a freshman at Central Michigan University.

“Unfortunately, Hunter had an injury in week 1 and it kept him out through the main part of the season,” Hansen said. “When we got him back, he was obviously a very talented player. Last year, we had to learn to play without him very early in the season. That forced a lot of guys that we’re going to lean on this year to contribute. That was unfortunate for him and for us, but it was good preparation for the future.”

Returning players include senior Luke Schwenn, who shared quarterback duties last year with Logan Johnson.

“I wanted to give both of them a shot,” Hansen said. “I thought it might be Luke and he dealt with some injuries and it was back to Logan. It was kind of a revolving door. This year, Luke’s the guy.”
Other returning seniors include safety Alex Pankratz and running back/defensive back Vin Nikolai.

“We have some good, strong skill players,” Hansen said. “I’d say we have decent size up front. Our edge guys have put a lot of time in the weight room and they’re all three-sport athletes.”

Meanwhile, another senior, Evan Bogard, is playing football for the first time in high school and will line up as a tight end and defensive end.

“He’s a nice looking player,” Hansen said. “I don’t even think he knows how good he is. Having athletes of his caliber that decide they want to join what we’re doing is huge for our program.”
While there are experienced players on the roster, depth could be a problem, according to Hansen.

“We’re really hoping that some of these younger guys can put it together over these next two weeks because they might be needed,” he said. “You’re going to get hit, you’re going to give up a touchdown. How do you respond? Last year, there were times that we didn’t respond. We were waiting for it to go bad instead of trying to stop it.”

The Comets had qualified for the WIAA playoffs each season from 1991 to 2016, but haven’t made the postseason since the streak ended in 2017.
“A lot of people remember how it used to be,” said Hansen, a senior on the Comets’ first state championship team in 2006. “We didn’t have much success last year, but they’re ready to change that. They’re ready to turn that corner.”

Waupaca 2021 Football Schedules

Varsity

Friday, Aug. 20 – at Wrightstown, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 27 – vs. Little Chute 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 3 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 10 – at New London, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 17 – vs. Shawano, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 24 – vs. Freedom, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 1 – at Xavier, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 8 – vs. Winneconne, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 15 – at Seymour, 7 p.m.

JV1

Monday, Aug. 23 – vs. Wrightstown, 5 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 30 – at Little Chute, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 7 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 5 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 13 – vs. New London, 5 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 20 – at Shawano. 5 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 27 – at Freedom, 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 4 – vs. Xavier, 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 11 – at Winneconne, 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 18 – vs. Seymour, 5 p.m.

JV2

Thursday, Aug. 19 – vs. Wrightstown, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 26 – at Little Chute, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 2 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 9 – vs. New London, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 16 – at Shawano, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 23 – at Freedom, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 30 – vs. Xavier, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 7 – at Winneconne, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 14 – vs. Seymour, 4:30 p.m.

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