Mauston, WI
South Central Conference
2025 HS Football Previews – Nekoosa Papermakers
3 months
2025 Nekoosa Papermakers
2024 Record: 7-3 (5-2 South Central Conference)
Head Coach: Derek Baker
Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 6-3 (4-3 South Central Conference)
Players to Watch: RB/DB Finn Krcmar RB/DB Jacob Bertling RB/LB Owen Hoogesteger QB/DB Eli Anderson
Team Preview: Nekoosa had a fine season in its return to the South Central Conference finishing 7-3 overall. Nekoosa loses some big players due to gradution like QB Nash Krcmar and Logan Spice but returns some good athletes. Eli Anderson might get the first crack at quarterback. Anderson has a strong arm on the baseball diamond and is a good athlete. Finn Krcmar (95-596 5tds) was 2nd behind his brother in rushing yards last season. Jacob Bertling (51-304 5tds) and Owen Hoogesteger (43-296 3tds) add to a strong backfield for the Papermakers. The defense and offensive line could be concerns for the Papermakers. If Nekoosa can find a playmaker at quarterback sure up the defensive line and offensive line they could be headed back to the postseason.
Key to Success: Interior play. Outside of Landon WIlhorn there is not a lot of size on this Nekoosa team. They will have to play tough and bigger than their given size. Football isn’t always about size sometimes it’s more about leverage and toughness if Nekoosa can develop that they should have a chance for a solid season.
Game to watch: Week 9 Friday October 17th at Mauston
It’s the final game of the regular season and a possible playoff spot could be on the line for each of these two teams.
Nekoosa Papermaker games on WRJC Radio: Week 9 Friday October 17th at Mauston (SmashCountry92.9FM WRJC.com)
Next Preview: Mauston Golden Eagles
Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.
2025 HS Football Previews – Wautoma Hornets
3 months
2025 Wautoma Hornets
2024 Record: 2-7 (2-5 South Central Conference)
Head Coach: Andy Krueger
Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 4-5 (2-5 South Central Conference)
Players to Watch: QB/DB Peyton Pica RB/LB Skyler Royston OL/LB Jake Smiley OL/DL Alan Jimenez-Cervantes RB/DB Marshal Woyak
Team Preview: Wautoma finished just 2-7 last year but closed out their season stronger. They had a future Division 1 offensive tackle to run behind last year and that road grader is gone. Running to success last year was Skyler Royston (210-1207 12tds) is back to lead the offense. QB Peyton Pica (20-59-0-303 2tds) is also back. Jake Smiley and Alan Jimenez-Cervatnes is back on the offensive line to help path the way for Royston. Smiley and Cervantes are also two of the top returning defenders from last season. Marshal Woyak led the team with 3 interceptions last season is also back to help anchor the defense.
Key to Success: Defense! Wautoma gave up 36 or more points in 2/3 of their games last season. The defense must improve for them to be a plus .500 team this season. Woyak and Pica will have to lead the secondary while Smiley and Jimenez-Cervantes will have to take the next step up front.
Game to watch: Week 3 Friday September 5th Mauston (Home)
Wautoma has a good chance to win both their non-conference games to start the year which would make them going 2-0 into their home game vs Mauston. This game although early in the season could determine a playoff spot for both these young teams.
Wautoma Hornet games on WRJC Radio: Week 3 Friday September 5th Home vs Mauston (SmashCountry92.9FM WRJC.com)
Next Preview: Nekoosa Papermakers
Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.
2025 HS Football Previews – Waupun Warriors
3 months
2025 Waupun Warriors
2024 Record: 6-4 (4-3 South Central Conference)
Head Coach: Adrian Harmsen
Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 7-2 (6-1 South Central Conference)
Players to Watch: QB Chase Beahm WR/DB Grahm Gopalan WR/DB Logan Prall WR/DB Kaden Del Ponte WR/DB Emmitt Hull WR/LB Wesley Kunz TE/LB Owen Kloosterboer
Team Preview: Waupun enjoyed their first season in the South Central Conference on their way to a playoff berth. Waupun brings back experience and height at its wide receiver position. It should make things easier for quarterback Chase Beahm (127-217-9-1756 20tds) who had a strong season last year. 6-3 Logan Prall (35-717 9tds) and 6-4 Kaden Del Ponte (10-178 3tds) are two big pass catching targets for Beahm. Grahm Gopalan (14-210 0tds) and 6-2 Emmitt Hull (18-146 3tds) is also back creating a deep wide out stable. Both of last year’s leading rushers and a large chunck of the defenders graduated from last year for Waupun. Linebackers Wesley Kunz (41tackles 2sacks) and Owen Kloosterboer (28tackles 2sacks) will have to take on bigger roles this season defensively. The passing game should be strong enough for Waupun to have a strong South Central Conference season in an expected down year for the conference this season.
Key to Success: Balance. Waupun is expected to have a very strong passing game this season but in order to keep team’s off-balance they are going to also find a way to run the ball too. Grahm Gopalan a returning receiver is the leading returning rusher from last year with just 71yards. A ground game would also help keep opposing defenses from pinning their ears back to get to Beahm.
Game to watch: Week 9 Friday October 17th at Wisconsin Dells
I think Berlin is a shoe in to win a South Central Conference Championship. Waupun vs Wisconsin Dells could decide 2nd place. This game could close out the regular season with a bang and maybe give the winner a home playoff game.
Waupun Warrior games on WRJC Radio: Week 8 Friday October 10th at Mauston (SmashCountry92.9FM WRJC.com
Next Preview: Wautoma Hornets
2025 HS Football Previews – Ripon Tigers
3 months
Ripon Tigers
2024 Record: 1-8 (1-6 South Central Conference)
Head Coach: Andrew Salgrad (1-8 Record at Ripon)
Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 1-8 (1-6 South Central Conference)
Players to Watch: QB/LB Nathan Hanson RB/LB Eric Cumber WR/LB Dylan Martyna WR/DB Noah Michael OL/DL Jamason Briske
Team Preview: Ripon is still under rebuild mode under the direction of 2nd year head coach Andrew Selgrad. Last year Ripon won just a game against a depleted Mauston team. Ripon lost its leading rusher, receiver and tackler from last year. They do return quarterback Nathan Hanson (36-102-16-484 8tds), with a year of experience the hope is he plays better and helps lead this Ripon team. Eric Cumber (63-522 4tds) is back after leading the team in touchdowns last season. Noah Michaels is the returning leading tackler with 41tackles last year while Jamason Briske is also back after notching a pair of sacks last season. It will be an uphill climb again for Ripon but I believe coach Selgrad will have them eventually going in the right direction in Ripon.
Key to Success: Growth. Coach Selgrad has had success at other schools and is trying to rebuild this Ripon football team. If Ripon can grow on last years’ experience they should be able to build this program and have success hopefully for their sake sooner than later.
Game to watch: Week 6 Friday September 26th at Mauston
Ripon has had just one victory in the last two years and it came last season against Mauston. This will be a battle of two rebuilding teams. Mauston will look for revenge while Ripon will try to knock off Mauston for a 2nd straight season.
Ripon Tiger games on WRJC Radio: Week 6 Friday September 26th at Mauston (SmashCountry92.9FM WRJC.com
Next Preview: Waupun Warriors
2025 HS Football Team Preview: Berlin Indians
3 months
Berlin Indians
2024 Record: 9-2 (7-0 South Central Conference)
Head Coach: Joe Stellmacher
Mike’s 2025 Projected Record 9-0 (7-0 South Central Conference)
Players to Watch: RB/DE Jakob Martin RB/DB Carter Hess TE/DE Hayden Reddington TE/LB Ben Green OL/DL Trent Tetting
Team Preview: The Berlin Indians enjoyed their first year in the South Central Conference rolling to a Conference Championship in its first year. Expect much of the same this year from Berlin who brings back a backfield tandem then combined to run for over 2,000yards in Jakob Martin (147-1096 20tds) & Carter Hess (122-980 8tds). They will have to find a quarterback after the graduation of Aaron Bartol. Hess was the only other player to throw a pass last season. at 6’5 Hayden Reddington (26-478 9tds receiving) is a big pass caching and blocking tight end. Trent Tetting is back to lead the offensive line. They must replace bigtime linebacker Max Sonnentag on defense but Martin led the team in sacks with 5 last year and Hess had 5interception to lead the team last year. Ben Green is also back after notching 4sacks and 46tackles last year. Berlin should roll through the South Central again and if they can find a quarterback to manage the offense they could make a deep post season push as well.
Key to Success: Finding the next QB. Berlin returns a lot but needs to find a QB to lead the offense. Hess was 1/7 passing last year and is most likely to stay at the running back position. They will have to used their last years JV quarterback or find another player to fill that spot.
Game to watch: Week 2 Friday August 29th Kiel (Home)
It’s a non-conference game but Kiel handed Berlin their lone regular season loss a season ago. Berlin will look for redemption on its home field.
Berlin Indian games on WRJC Radio: Week 4 September 12th at Mauston (SmashCountry92.9FM WRJC.com)
Next Preview: Wonewoc-Center/Weston 8-man Football Team
Thanks to Wissports.net for statistics and player information.
Mauston Summer Baseball Opens up Woodside League with Split
4 months
The Mauston Summer baseball team split a pair of games at the Monday Woodside League. Mauston fell in the first game to DeForest 6-1. Evan Freimuth pitched 5 solid innings for Mauston in the loss. Mauston bounced back to defeat Nekoosa 5-0. Mauston got a combined shutout on the mound from Isaac Steinke and Beef Massey in the victory. Mauston will play another doubleheader at Woodside on Monday June 23rd.
SCC All-Conference Baseball Team
4 months
Nick Whalen Hired as New Mauston Varsity Football Coach
5 months
Nick Whalen Named New Head Football Coach at Mauston High School! 
Mauston High School is proud to announce the hiring of Nick Whalen as the new head coach of the Golden Eagles football program. Whalen brings with him 15 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and high school levels, offering a deep well of knowledge and leadership to the team.
His collegiate coaching experience includes time at Western Kentucky University, Carthage College, and Montana State University, among others. On the high school front, Whalen has been a key part of several successful football programs across Wisconsin, including stints at Jefferson, Marshall, Brodhead-Juda, Kewaskum, and Darlington.
Whalen’s wide-ranging background is expected to bring new energy and perspective to Mauston football. His ability to develop talent and implement effective, competitive strategies at various levels of play makes him an exciting addition to the program.
The Mauston community looks forward to a new era under Coach Whalen’s leadership as preparations begin for the upcoming season!
Bangor Holds Off Mauston with Diving Catch
5 months
The Mauston Golden Eagles baseball team came up just short in their comeback attempt vs Bangor Friday evening. Mauston trailed 3-0 early but rallied to tie the game up at 3-3 capped off by a double from Connor Newlun. Bangor would retake the lead in the top of the 7th on a bloop rbi single by Dayne Langrehr and add one more run to go up 5-3. Mauston was able to get a run back in the 7th thanks to a Bangor error and had the tying run at third when Bryce Anderson made a diving catch to rob Evan Freimuth of a game tying hit to end the game, with Bangor hanging on 5-4. Hayden Gyllin made his first ever appearance on the mound and took the loss despite pitching well he also added a double at the plate. Eli Tucker picked up the win on the mound for Bangor while Dayne Langrehr notched the save, Langrehr went 2×4 with the go ahead RBI.
Royall Picks Up 20th Baseball Win By Blanking Green Devils
5 months
The Royall Panther baseball team won their 20th game of the season Thursday evening with a 6-0 shutout victory over Adams-Friendship. Royall managed to get 6runs on just 3hits. Garrett Dragans 2run single in the 5th put the game out of reach for Adams-Friendship. Trey Wildes & Ben Crneckiy combined for a 2hit shutout for Royall. Wildes pitched the first 6innings giving up nothing on just 2hits a walk and six strikeouts. Crneckiy pitched the final inning giving up nothing while striking out a pair. Kale Gatterman gave up 4runs on just 2hits for Adams-Friendship, he walked 6 and struckout 6. Royall is now 20-5 on their season heading into the postseason.
