Tigers hope to dethrone Falcons

Amherst won CWC-Large last season

By Casey Krautkramer

The Stratford varsity football squad will play its home games in Marshfield this season to give the newly-seeded grass field at Tigers Stadium enough time to grow before winter.

Regardless, the Tigers will attempt this season to avenge its Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC) Large defeats to Amherst and Wittenberg-Birnamwood last year. Stratford will especially need to dethrone defending conference champion Amherst.

Stratford finished last season third in the CWC-Large with its only conference losses at home to the Chargers and on the road to the Falcons. The Tigers concluded their season with an 8-3 overall record after losing their home Level 2 playoff game, 19-14, to the St. Croix Falls Saints.

Jason Tubbs enters his 10th season coaching in Stratford. He was the Tigers’ defensive coordinator underneath former head coach Cal Tackes, before becoming the head coach 10 years ago. He said last season is in the past and he’s looking forward to seeing what this year’s squad can accomplish.

“Our team’s strength is its very good this season and our weakness is we have a lot of new players with little varsity experience,” Tubbs said.

The following are Stratford’s top returning football players who are seniors this season: John Seitz III, linebacker and guard; Jackson Ormond, tight end and defensive end; Kash Dahl, guard and nose tackle and Braeden Schueller, quarterback and safety.

The team’s top newcomers who’ll start on the varsity squad this season are seniors Conner Weigel, running back and safety, and Ashton Wrensch, wide receiver and strong safety and juniors Koehler Kilty, running back and linebacker and Payton Glenn, wide receiver and center. Braeden Schueller is Stratford’s new starting signal caller this season. He takes over for Dillon Kirsch who graduated in spring.

“Braeden is our starting quarterback and we expect he will have a great season running and passing the ball,” Tubbs said.

His team goal remains the same each season.

“Our goal every year is to win the conference; our conference has a lot of good teams and we need to play disciplined football regardless of the opponent,” Tubbs said. He’s excited to see how his team performs in its home games this season on the artificial turf at Marshfield Senior High’s newer field, and also during its homecoming game against Weyauwega-Fremont.

“Marshfield’s school administration has been awesome with our field situation, and they have one of the best stadiums in our state,” Tubbs said.