Sinz begins 48th year in charge

Streit is ‘Cats new signal caller in ‘22

By Casey Krautkramer

Jerry Sinz returns as Edgar’s varsity football coach for his 48th year as head coach and 51st year overall as a Wildcats football coach.

Former Edgar football players he coached are his offensive and defensive coordinators; Chris Trawicki is the squad’s offensive coordinator and Greg Streit is its defensive coordinator this season. Other Wildcats assistant football coaches are Edgar football alumni Andrew Lukasko, Zach Paul and Troy Andreshak. Adam Decker, John Peterlik and Nathan Dahl are also Edgar assistant football coaches this season.

Edgar has 41 players on its varsity football team this season, which is a good amount for a small school.

The following are Edgar’s top returning varsity football players this season: senior offensive guard and defensive tackle Brady Stencil, 6-0 and 225 pounds; senior offensive guard and defensive end Carver Higgins, 5-10 and 210 pounds; senior slot end and defensive back Keghan Hartway, 6-1 and 165 pounds; senior wide receiver and defensive back Avery Normington, 5-10 and 160 pounds; senior slot end and linebacker Justin Davis, 5-10 and 160 pounds; junior running back and linebacker Karter Butt, 5-10 and 210 pounds; junior tight end and defensive end Brett Baumgartner, 6-3 and 185 pounds; junior quarterback and defensive back Teegan Streit, 5-10 and 155 pounds; junior running back and linebacker Kohlbe Weisenberger, 6-0 and 170 pounds and sophomore running back and linebacker Jase Apfelbeck, 5-10 and 180 pounds.

Coach Sinz is pleased with the amount of experienced football players the team has returning this season.

“We have three solid running backs returning as well as several offensive and defensive lineman; we also have three returning linebackers,” he said. “Our offensive and defensive lines are more experienced this season than in 2021, as several of them have put on some solid weight and strength. We hope to be improved on both lines this season.”

The following are Edgar’s top newcomers to the varsity squad who are expected to contribute to the team’s success this season: junior offensive and defensive tackle Harrison Graveen, 6-1 and 230 pounds; junior offensive tackle and defensive end Marcus Huehrnerfuss, 6-1 and 185 pounds; senior offensive and defensive tackle Dillan Yonker, 5-10 and 200 pounds; sophomore center and defensive tackle Fletcher Weiland, 6-1 and 220 pounds; sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Leyton Schuett, 6-3 and 160 pounds; junior offensive tackle and linebacker Preston Dahlke, 6-2 and 180 pounds; junior Corey Schilling, offensive guard and defensive end, 5-9 and 155 pounds; junior offensive guard and defensive end Sawyer Reif, 5-11 and 160 pounds; junior offensive guard and defensive tackle Mason Thornton, 5-10 and 210 pounds; junior offensive and defensive tackle Austin Jacobs, 6-3 and 242 pounds and junior guard and linebacker Carver Higgins, 5-10 and 160 pounds.

Coach Sinz said the Wildcats need to improve in the following positions on the football field: “We need to develop our wide receivers and defensive backs as well as our punting game.”

Teagan Streit takes over as Edgar’s starting quarterback this season, in place of Mattison Butt who graduated in spring. Leyton Schuett is the team’s backup quarterback in 2022.

“Teegan is a good leader who has improved his arm strength from last season,” Sinz said. “Leyton may play some wide receiver as he has excellent hands and speed.”

Coach Sinz is aware it’ll be tough to unseat 2021 Marawood Conference champion Colby, which also won the WIAA Division 6 state championship last season. He also expects an experienced Auburndale squad to be a tough conference opponent this year.

Coach Sinz isn’t sure what division the Wildcats will be in this season, but he hopes the team can return to playing in a state championship no matter what division they end up in the playoffs.

“We may be in Division 6 this year as our school enrollment has increased a few students and more schools continue to switch to playing eight-man football,” he said. “We hope to make a deep run this year.”

Edgar football alumni night is scheduled during the team’s home game on Friday, Sept. 30, against Pittsville which is back in the Marawood Conference this season. Coach Sinz always looks forward to this special night each year.

“I greatly enjoy seeing former players come back,” he said. “Many of them are former state champions and state runners-up who are now highly successful in their careers.”

Wildcats destory T-Birds

Edgar’s varsity football team throttled Lakeland Union, 35-7, in Friday night’s non-conference home season opener.

The Wildcats led, 35-0, in the fourth quarter before the Thunderbirds scored a late touchdown and extra point against Edgar’s substitute players. Edgar also blasted Lakeland Union, 35-0, last season’s opener in Minocqua by nearly the same score as the game between the two teams on Friday in Edgar.

Junior Teegan Streit, Edgar’s new starting quarterback this season, had a solid first game by completing five of nine passes for 17 yards and one touchdown. Junior returning starting running back Karter Butt, who happens to be Streit’s cousin, galloped for 84 yards on 13 carries; he scored three rushing touchdowns in the victory against Lakeland Union.

Wildcats junior Kohlbe Weisenberger contributed seven rushes for 74 yards, sophomore Jase Apfelbeck had four rushes for 36 yards and Streit had four rushes for 28 yards against the Thunderbirds. Weisenberger hauled in a touchdown catch and junior Brett Baumgartner had one catch for 20 yards.

Edgar scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters on Friday night against Lakeland Union. Butt scored the team’s first touchdown this season on a one-yard plunge and he caught the two-point conversion pass from Streit to give the Wildcats an early 8-0 lead against the Thunderbirds. Junior Kohlbe Weisenberger caught a fiveyard touchdown from Streit in the first quarter but the team’s two-point conversion run failed.

In the second quarter, Butt got loose for a 17-yard touchdown run and he also ran in the two-point conversion. Senior defensive tackle Brady Stencil scooped up a Lakeland Union fumble and rumbled down the field for a 52-yard touchdown to give Edgar a commanding 28-0 halftime advantage.

Edgar scored its last touchdown of the night in the third quarter before allowing its substitute players to gain experience in game situations. Butt rushed for a nine-yard touchdown and junior Harrison Graveen tacked on the extra point kick to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 35-0.

Butt also led Edgar’s defense with 10 tackles and two forced fumbles. Jase Apfelbeck tallied seven tackles and Streit intercepted a Lakeland Union pass. Avery Normington, Austin Schreiber, Baumgartner, Weisenberger and Leyton Schuett had four tackles each against the Thunderbirds.

Edgar returns to action at home again this Friday, Aug. 26, to face archrival Stratford who tied Mosinee, 20-20, in its season opener last Friday.

RECEIVING WEAPON- Edgar senior slot end Avery Normington hauls in a touchdown catch during the team’s scrimmage on Aug. 12 against Medford in Eau Claire.SN PHOTO/MATT FREY