Wednesday, September 18, 2024
A 7-4 season, a 5-2 record in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large, and advancing to Level 2 of the WIAA playoffs before losing to conference rival Wittenberg-Birnamwood 16-14, still left the tradition-rich Amherst Falcons wanting more for the upcoming 2024 season.
“We have the same expectations every year, our goal is to punch a ticket to the playoff, go after the conference title, make a run in the playoffs,” Amherst Head Coach Mark Lusic said, “It’s been the same goal every year since I’ve been here.”
The Central Wisconsin Conference-Large comprises Amherst, Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Stratford, Weyauwega-Fremont, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, and newcomers Colby, Loyal-Greenwood, and Marathon. Seven of those teams participated in the playoffs a season ago.
The Falcons graduated 10 All-Conference players this past spring, including four players who played on both offense and defense.
Coach Lusic, on replacing the senior class from a year ago, “We’re going to have Michael Glodowski as the starting quarterback, we have Jack Seeger returning on the offensive line we expect big things out of him.”
Offensive First-Team All-Conference members, offensive lineman Balin Wojtalewicz and running back Nasiah Holland, Second-Team All-Conference wide receiver Spencer Cohen and Honorable Mentions kicker Beau Diederich, Offensive Lineman Rhett Loken, quarterback Michael Benjamin and wide receivers David Scott have graduated.
On the defensive side, Cohen was a First-Team defensive back and was joined on the First-Team by defensive lineman Gunnar Wierzba, on the Second-Team was Holland at linebacker, Diederich at punter, and defensive lineman Charlie Lehman and Honorable Mentions defensive lineman Loken and linebacker Ephraim Anglemyer.
“A lot of these guys are going to see the field, and many of them have already seen the field as sophomores and juniors,” Coach Lusic says, “A lot of these guys were given jobs last year, not this year you’re going to have to earn it this year.”
The lone returning All-Conference player, linebacker Sam Stuczynski, a Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Second-Team member, is looked on to be a leader and increase his production this season.
“I feel like this year I can improve in a lot of different ways, last year I was new on varsity and I know what to expect.” Stuczynski said, “I just need to keep practicing hard and I will get to where I need to be.”
The Falcons begin their season on the road against Saint Mary Catholic on Friday, Aug. 23.
