Big numbers for the Bulldogs on the grid iron

By Kelsie Hoitomt

BOYCEVILLE — After ending their year in the third round of the playoffs, the Boyceville football team looks to push further into the 2013 season through numbers with 51 students strapping on a Bulldog helmet this fall.

 The Bulldogs return 12 letters winners to the team including seniors AJ Volk, Nick Wathke, Isaac Wold and Wyatt Hansen.

Also returning with letters are Tyler Draeger, Mitch Leach, Logan McAbee-Thomas, Brett Boda, Jake McIntyre, Brady Schutts, Justin Schultz and Jake Lake.

The team is working hard to fill the shoes of those gone to graduation including Matt Leach, who was the starting quarterback, Will Kraft, a 1st team All-State Defensive End, Zach Klassen, a 2nd team All-Northwest recipient, Dominic Olson, Josh Cormican, Matt Wathke, Jared Smith and Ryan Williams.

As a younger team, their goals this season are to continually improve with each game, play as a team and work hard to return to the playoffs.

“We have a lot of new people that will play significant roles on our team. We also have a lot of sophomores and juniors getting repetitions at various positions,” said head coach Brian Roemhild.

Roemhild returns for his fifth year with the Boyceville football team after coaching the Bulldogs to a 7-4 season in 2012 and a 22-18 overall record in four years.

He shared that a big asset with large numbers is the depth at multiple positions, which looks to be one of the Bulldogs’ greatest strengths.

The team welcomes nearly 20 new freshman this year, which creates a lack of varsity experience, but greater diversity.

The Bulldogs play their first game of the season in Flambeau against the Falcons this Thursday, August 22 with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

They will play their first game at home under the lights on Friday, August 30.

Bulldogs’ Roster

Seniors: Bryor Hellmann, AJ Volk, Travis Schmidt, Isaac Wold, Clayton Windsor, Nick Wathke, Wyatt Hansen, Jonathon Harnisch

Juniors: Mitch Leach, Justin Schultz, Brett Boda, Logan McAbee-Thomas, Tyler Stroo, Brady Schutts, Lance Kendall, Jacob Erickson, Chanler Engebretson, Tyler Draeger, Dylan Lamm, Jake McIntyre, Alex Lovett, Devonta Anderson, Caleb Arndt

Sophomores: Jake Lake, Hunter Anderson, Jason Retzloff, Sam Hellmann, Buddy Hanestad, Jordan Morse, Noah Wyss, Brandon Windsor, Jarred Marzofka, Nolan Windsor

Freshman: Nikolus Bekkum, Trey Brinker, Jeremy Deiman, Christopher Flettre, Tyler Krueger, Brad Mounce-Clough, Gavin Olson, Brandon Hakanson, Hunter Lipke, Brandon Malean, Dante Marlett, Izaac Peterson, Dakota Scott, Dejon Hart, James Palmer, Levi Williams, Addison Mertz