Winner High School football team is working hard in practice getting ready for the opening game of the season.
The Warriors will open the season on Aug. 17 when they play at Sioux Falls Christian. The Warriors will play at the University of Sioux Falls stadium.
Sioux Falls Christian is the defending Class 11B champs and defeated Winner last year in the opening game of the season.
“They jumped on us early,” said Winner coach Dan Aaker who is starting his 17th year at the helm of the WHS football team.
“There is no better way to find out who we are than playing the defending state champs,” said the coach.
There are 45 athletes on the Winner team. This includes 10 seniors, 11 juniors, 10 sophomores and 14 freshmen.
The Warriors lost 10 seniors from last year’s team.
Winner ended the regular with a 6-2 record and overall the Warriors were 7-3.
The returning lettermen are: Elijah Blare, Adam Bohnet, Zach Bohnet, Joren Bruun, Jacob Clay, Joey Cole, Shea Connot, Owen Duffy, Evan Farner, Brady Fritz, Aaron Gilchrist, Jackson Hanson, Phillip Jorgensen, Sam Kruger, Jerry Long Crow, Zane Mandl, Kameron Meiners, Loren Moeller, Bosten Morehart, Ryder Mortenson, Preston Norrid, Trevor Peters, Oscar Pravecek, Nolan Sachtjen, Colton Schroeder, Casey Stickland, Landon Thieman, Logan Tunnissen, Ethan Vesely, Brandon Volmer, Trey Welch and Tyson
Westendorf.
The Warriors have three returning starters returning on offense and defense. Among those starters are Shea Connot, Phillip Jorgensen, Brandon Volmer and Elijah Blare.
Even though there were only three starters a lot of the other athletes got to play a lot on both sides of the ball.
Battling for the quarterback spot are Brady Fritz and Volmer. “It is nice to have two guys who know their position and can do some things,” said Aaker.
Jorgensen played a lot in the backfield last year. Trey Welch played a lot the first two games and then suffered a knee injury. Aaker says Trey is back and at full speed.
The coach added sophomore Preston Norris has looked good not only as a fullback but as a line backer.
Nolan Sachtjen was hurt last year but is back and will get a lot of carries.
The sixth running back will be sophomore Sam Kruger.
Aaker says Bruun can play some running back but will be more of a wild receiver.
Over the years the Warriors have been at a double tight end set but this year will run more receivers. “This is just because we do not have the beef at tight end,” said the coach.
The tight ends who will receive the most snaps will be Casey Stickland and Tyson Westendorf. Aaker added Ethan Vesely has looked good at this position.
Up front the team will rely on guys like Blare, Connot, Oscar Pravecek and Colton Schroeder. Logan Tunnissen and Bosten Morehart are battling for the center position.
One of the areas of concern is the offensive line. The Warriors are solid with who they put on the line however there is not a lot of depth. “We have to allow time to get those big guys off the field for some rest,” said Aaker.
On the defensive side, there will be about six defensive backs in the mix. Volmer is a returning starter.
Sachtjen, Bruun, Fritz and Sam Kruger have looked good along with Trevor Peters at strong safety.
Connot returns as a linebaker and will be running the defense.
Jorgenen played a lot at linebacker last year. Working into this mix will be Norrid, Thieman and Welch.
At defensive end is another place Winner needs to get more depth.
In the middle will be Colton Schroeder, Pravecek, Morehart and Achilles Willuweit.
Volmer and Welch have been doing the kicking.
There will be some younger players who will have to play right away
“We are athletic but we need to get physical. With just a few days of practice the team had not done a lot of hitting.
Winner football has always been known as a physical team. One of the things Aaker will be looking at in practice will be how physical the team can be.
The Warriors had a team camp for five days before the official start of practice. “We put a lot more into the camp knowing we only had 11 days to get ready for the first game,” said Aaker.
Winner will play a tough schedule this year. They are in the SESD Conference which was won by Wessington Springs/Woonsocket last year.
Stanley County, Chamberlain, Wagner, Woonsocket and Winner make up the SESD.
Some of the non-conference games include West Central at home and Mt Vernon/Plankinton for homecoming on Sept. 21.
One of the goals of the team is to win the SESD Conference and want to be a high seed to host the playoffs.
“We have to come together as a team and we have to have leadership,” said the coach.
Aaker noted this Warrior team has big upside. “If we do the little things well and treat each day as a way to get better we can make some big steps.”
Assistant coaches are Trent Olson, Kevin Keiser, Sam Olson, Glenn Carlson and Austin Calhoon. Calhoon is a new addition to the coaching staff.
The 2018 WHS football schedule includes:
Aug. 17—at Sioux Falls Christian
Aug. 24—Stanley County, home
Aug. 31—West Central, home
Sept. 14—at Valentine, Neb.
Sep. 21—Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, home (homecoming)
Sept. 28—at Chamberlain
Oct. 5—at Wagner
Oct. 12—Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Sanborn Central, home
Oct. 18—First round of playoffs
Oct. 25—Second round of playoffs
Nov. 2—Semifinals
Nov. 9—Championship in the Dome in Vermillion
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