Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds overcame a 1-3 start to the 2023 season and won six consecutive games to take home the Central Wisconsin Conference-Small championship and finished the season 7-4 and 5-2 in the conference.
The Thunderbirds ended the season after a back-and-forth 24-22 loss on the road to the Cambria-Friesland Hilltoppers in Level 1 of the WIAA playoffs.
“We had crossover games with some bigger schools, and we only had two seniors last year, once we got into conference play, we were able to win conference games and get the conference title,” Thunderbirds Head Coach Scott Erickson said, “We had an early out in the playoffs, and we thought we were better than what we performed there.”
There is reason to have high expectations this season, as the Thunderbirds return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.
On offense, quarterback Jensen Rice was named Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Conference players’ offensive linemen Ryan Doede and Brian Kroseberg, tight end Korz Loken, wide receiver Alex Robbins, Second-Team All-Conference running back Kyrylo Kopytsia and Honorable Mention Offensive Lineman Owen Wolberg.
Coach Erickson said about team offseason preparation, “We have kids who have stepped up, good offseason weight training, summer was great, so, we have a lot of potential.”
Rice threw for 700 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 959 and 15 scores to lead the Thunderbirds offensive attack.
Rice on keeping focused after winning a conference championship and Offensive Player of the Year, “We want a state championship, the jobs not finished until we win that, personal stats are just a bonus, it’s all about the wins and losses, it’s all about the team.”
On the defense, Doede, Loken, and Kopytsia were named First-Team All-Conference, and defensive back Charlie Tappa and linebackers Billy Myers and Grant Fredy were named to the Second-Team.
The Central Wisconsin Conference-Small is adding four new teams the Thunderbirds will have to adapt to the inclusion of Auburndale, Abbotsford, Edgar, and Pittsville, as well as playing existing rivals Assumption, Pacelli, and Rosholt.
“Some of them we’re familiar with, we’ve played Edgar before, they’re a perennially good team, even when they’re down there good.” says Coach Erickson, “We have our work cut out for us, but we have a lot of talent and a lot of good players.”
The Thunderbirds start their season off at home against Shiocton on Friday, Aug. 23.
