Sinz awarded coach of the year

Two Wildcats receive all-state honors this year

Jerry Sinz coached Edgar’s varsity football team to a 9-0 record this season, despite the Wildcats often not knowing who their opponents would be until shortly before their games.

Sinz has seen a lot in his 46 years as Edgar’s varsity head football coach, but nothing like what he witnessed in the wacky 2020 season because of the coronavirus. Edgar picked up football games against larger schools’ Onalaska, Portage and Shawano just so it could keep playing each week, after its scheduled opponents canceled because they either had players who tested positive for COVID- 19 or too many players quarantined because they were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID- 19.

Edgar’s football team simply kept easily beating whoever their new opponent was on the schedule. Edgar also dominated previously unbeaten Iola-Scandinavia in the WIAA Division 6 regional championship Sinz was thus received Associated Press (AP) Coach of the Year Award in a vote by statewide media.

“Winning the AP Coach of the Year Award was much more about our coaching staff, players and their parents than it was about me,” Sinz said. “I just happen to have the title of head coach and therefore when your assistant coaches, players and their parents all do a great job, you sometimes receive a prestigious award for it.”

Edgar senior Austin Dahlke was awarded to the AP all-state first team at linebacker, while Wildcats senior Kyle Brewster made the AP all-state second team at running back.

Dahlke was one of eight finalists for the John Anderson Award, which is given annually to the state’s top senior linebacker. Sinz described the football skills Dahlke possesses that makes him such a good player on the field.

“Austin Dahlke is a very talented football player,” Sinz said. “He has instincts on defense that you can’t teach. We were blessed to have him on our team. He led the state in both sacks and tackles for loss. He remained very coachable and humble the entire season.”

Dahlke has garnered plenty of attention from college football programs. College football scouting website Prep Redzone states Dahlke has received Preferred Walk Ons (PWOs) from the following Division 1 college football programs: Nebraska, Colorado, Colorado State, San Diego State and Western Kentucky.

Prep Redzone also states Dahlke has been given a scholarship to play college football for the following schools: Northern Illinois, Illinois State, Bucknell, St. Thomas, Augustana, Valparaiso, Northern Michigan, University of Mary and Bemidji State.

The early signing day in December for high school football players to sign scholarships with colleges has already passed, but the traditional college football signing day is on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021.

Brewster was one of six finalists for the Elroy “Cazylegs” Hirsch Award, which is given annually to the state’s top senior running back.

“Kyle Brewster is another unusual talent,” Sinz said. “High school athletes do not run the 40-yard dash in 4.37 or 4.38 seconds, but Kyle did. Thus, he could score at any time, from any place on the field, and it was a beautiful thing to witness as a coach and a teammate. He led the state in touchdowns with 29.”