Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Weyauwega-Fremont Warhawks are coming off back-to-back winning seasons led by head coach Colton Zimmerman and quarterback Kameron Zielke.
The Warhawks posted a 6-4 record overall and a 4-3 in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large before being eliminated by conference rival and eventual WIAA Division 6 State Champion Stratford in the first round of the playoffs by a score of 49-0.
Zielke was named Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Honorable Mention at quarterback for the second year in a row and has proven to be a versatile and dynamic playmaker in all three phases of the game. Zielke passed for 979 yards and ten touchdowns and rushed for 582 yards and nine touchdowns. He recorded four interceptions as a defensive back and returned both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in 2023.
Zielke on staying focused after a strong 2023 season, “Stay motivated and ready for this year, and that’s definitely what happened, I have more motivation to work even harder than last year and my guys have worked harder than we have in the past.”
The Warhawks began the season at 6-0 behind play from Zielke before he tore his ACL in a matchup against Shiocton, which kept him out for the remainder of the season.
Coach Zimmerman on Zielke’s off-season rehabilitation, “What’s great about Kam is, after the initial shock, he’s a kid who thinks what’s next, how can I get better and with his determination and discipline as a player, he was determined to make spring and run track and he did that.”
Junior running back Dawson Lind will join Zielke in the backfield as he rushed for 449 yards and five touchdowns, earning All-Central Wisconsin-Large Honorable Mention in 2023.
Warhawks will replace 2023 First-Team all-conference wide receiver Brayden Arndt and second-team two-way standouts Vanden Hoffman and Hunter Meisenhelder.
Coach Zimmerman on players playing both sides of the ball, “That’s the beauty of living in a small town we need kids to play both ways and that’s how it is, if you can’t play on both sides you’re missing an opportunity to impact the game. “
The Warhawks will be joined in the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large this season by Amherst, Spencer/Columbus Catholic, Stratford, Wittenberg Birnamwood, and additions to the conference Colby, Loyal/Greenwood, and Marathon.
“I will go on record in saying that we have the toughest conference; there is no doubt about that,” Coach Zimmerman, on the toughness of his conference, “we have four teams across separate divisions that are ranked in the top 10 in the state that alone speaks of the rigor of our conference.”
The Warhawks face eight opponents that qualified for the WIAA playoffs a season ago, including Coach Zimmermans former high school team, Iola-Scandinavia the second week of the season.
“As just a fan of the game and someone that loves watching high school football, if I am going to watch one game that week it’s going to be that one,” Coach Zimmerman said of the matchup against Iola-Scandinavia, “Coach Erickson is a mentor to me and taught me everything I know.”
The Warhawks will face Belleville on the road on Friday, Aug. 23.
