Team: Wisner-Pilger
Mascot: Gators
Colors: Green and White
Class: D-1
Head Coach: A.J. Burki (2nd season)
2017 record: 1-8
Returning Starters: 12 on offense 13 on defense
Overview:
The Wisner-Pilger Gators are in unchartered territory as they have dropped to 8-man from 11-man due to enrollment figures.
Wisner-Pilger returns a plethora of players returning with starting experience, including seniors Jayden Raabe (6'4, 220 FB/DL), Dylan Uhing (5'10, 215 OL/DL), and Jacob Borgelt (6'2, 195 OL/DL).
2nd year Head Coach A.J. Burki says the Gators are counting on these guys this season. "All three of those guys, not a lot of seniors, but have played quite a bit since they've been freshmen. Bitten by the injury bug a little bit here and there. And so our big thing is just to kind of make sure we get them going, get them through a whole season, and keep them on the field as long and as much as possible."
Burki adds the trio has done some great work in the offseason, this summer, in the weightroom, and shown a great deal of leadership characteristics thus far.
Other returning starters include juniors Justin Pieper (5'11, 155 RB/LB), Zolio Flores (5'9, 200 OL/DL), Dylan Kneifl (6'2, 155 E/LB), Colby Heller (6'3, 180 E/DE), Trevor Styskal (6'0, 155 QB/CB), Landon Beaver (5'11, 255 OL/DL), Mason Dimon (6'0, 210 OL/LB), and Gavin Lampman (5'10, 140 RB/CB). Sophomore Marqus Eddy (5'10, 210 FB/LB) returns for the Gators as well.
Burki says the team had good participation numbers in summer camps. "We went up to Wayne State and got in our first 8-man camp up there, and then we kind of had our own team camp that we held here in Wisner, and honestly they went really well. A majority of the boys that are going to go out for football this season were able to attend both of those."
There's certainly a lot of experience returning for Wisner-Pilger, and I think that will help the Gators be a much improved team this season.
Wisner-Pilger will to make up for the loss of a couple of good skill guys though in Keegan Ruskamp and Hunter Waterman.
Burki says it's been a challenge adapting to 8-man. "I think more than anything it's just playing time in that realm of football. Actually getting to get the reps in an 8-man game like scenario has been probably the biggest challenge. We tried to do stuff throughout this summer with camps and different things like that that gave us the ability to give them a little bit of a taste of it. But honestly as far as challenges are concerned...it's really no other major challenges that you wouldn't be faced with on a year-to-year basis no matter what level. A, B, C-1, C-2, 8-man."
Burki says those challenges include replacing experience, getting guys reps, and making sure players are doing what they need to do in the weightroom.
He adds his team is focused on Cross County right now, and is going to take things week-by-week, worrying about one game at a time.
I think playing down to 8-man as opposed to playing up from 8-man to 11-man is going to make the Gators a much more solid team.
Burki has this preseason assessment of his team. "As you can see, due to our youth from last year and coming down from 11 to 8 man, we return a number of starters on both sides of the ball. This will be great, to build our overall experience and depth, while also creating some legitimate competition at practice and for starting positions on both sides of the ball. Our big question, however, is can we transfer this returning experience to success on the field? I think we can, but it is going to take a great deal of work and sacrifice from the boys. We as a team and coaching staff are extremely excited for this upcoming season, to show what we can do and that we have greatly improved from last season."
I'm not saying Wisner-Pilger is going to go out there and win state, but I think the Gators can contend in their district and make some noise in Class D-1.
I would say there is reason for optimism at Wisner-Pilger this season.
Season Outlook:
The Wisner-Pilger Gators are looking to be much improved this year from last year.
Wisner-Pilger starts off the season on Friday, August 24th at Cross County, who is also dropping to 8-man from the 11-man ranks.
The Gators have other tough games against defending state champion East Butler, GACC, and Wakefield.
Wisner-Pilger is in District D1-4 with GACC, Wakefield, Winnebago, Homer, and Omaha Nation.
I think the Gators have a real chance to be a contender and be a darkhorse in the district so to speak.
GACC and Wakefield are probably the two favorites in the District right now, but don't be surprised if Wisner-Pilger wins it, or at the very least, contends and makes things difficult on everyone.
I think the Gators go at least 4-4 and make the playoffs, if not better.
I think 5-3 is also very possible depending on how they start off at Cross County.
It should be a very interesting and intriguing year for Wisner-Pilger to say the least.
I think it's safe to say the competition won't be nearly as tough in D-1 as it is in C-2 so I think that gives the Gators a better chance for success this season.
Wisner-Pilger will still have to work hard and play their tails off each and every week, but if the Gators maximize their potential and stay injury free, I don't think there's any doubt they can be good and solid.
Burki says his team has set the bar high this season. "I think we have high expectations. High expectations for our team and for the boys. And we've told them that since the start of fall camp that the learning curve has dramatically changed from last year to this year because we return so many guys. And we can't wait around for things to happen, we need to make those things happen."
Making things happen starts with next Friday at Cross County.
Burki says his squad is looking to start the season off on the right foot. "I guess I want to start the season off, and I think we as a team want to start the season off, better than we finished last year. I think kind of a goal when you have guys that are returning you want to start your season where you finished it the year before. We don't want to skip a beat. And we only want to go up or get better from there."
I think there might be an adjustment period to 8-man, and the first part of the schedule is sort of challenging for the Gators, but I look for Wisner-Pilger to get better as the season progresses, and finish strong, perhaps picking things up about mid-season.
2018 Wisner-Pilger Gators Football Schedule:
08/24/18 @ Cross County
08/31/18 East Butler
09/14/18 Madison
09/21/18 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic
09/28/18 Winnebago
10/05/18 @ Homer
10/12/18 Omaha Nation
10/19/18 @ Wakefield
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