Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader file photo Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Jack Stewart runs with the football against Bonduel in early October. Stewart was the lone Charger to make an all-conference team.
Despite entering the season with questions on both sides of the ball and then dealing with a flurry of injuries early on, the Bonduel football team still turned in a successful season that ended with a playoff berth.
The Bears opened the year with a win before dropping a nonconference clash. From week three until the postseason, Bonduel played against Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division foes.
Bonduel used a two-game winning streak to open conference play and a three-game winning streak to end the regular season to overcome back-to-back losses to eventual conference champion Iola-Scandinavia and second-place finisher Amherst.
The Bears had several players play significant roles during the year and many of them were recognized for their efforts by being selected to an all-conference team. Bonduel had nine players scattered amongst the teams, with seniors Parker Bohm, Isaac Garside and Jacob Giese receiving recognition on both sides of the ball.
After breaking the school’s all-time mark for passing yards and leading the CWC-Large in several passing statistics, Parker Bohm was named to the all-conference first team as a quarterback. On the year, he threw for 1,507 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Garside was often on the receiving end of the passes, totaling 45 receptions for 779 yards and seven touchdowns. He broke the Bonduel record for receptions and receiving yards in his career.
The duo also played big roles on defense. Parker Bohm was placed on the first team as a defensive back while Garside was named to the second team as a linebacker.
“It feels absolutely amazing because you know all your hard work paid off,” Parker Bohm said. “We spend a lot of time together in the offseason perfecting our game — in the weight room, on the field, at camps. It just feels amazing to accomplish this.”
“I came into this season intending to get first team on both sides (of the ball) and I was a little disappointed with myself with the second team,” Garside said. “But I felt good with how I played this year and helped my team win games.”
Giese helped solidify the Bears’ inexperienced offensive line and was a tackling machine from his linebacker position. He was named to the first team on both sides of the ball.
Junior Tristan Tomashek had a strong season on the Bears’ defensive line to earn himself a spot on the first team. Senior tight end Colin Hanus also was selected to the first team after amassing 23 receptions for 444 yards and six touchdowns, including a game-winning score against Manawa to open conference play.
Senior offensive lineman Brooks Dehn and junior running back Isaac Boldt each joined Garside as Bears named to the second team. Boldt led the team with 622 rushing yards while scoring six touchdowns on the season.
Sophomore Isaac Banker was named to the honorable mention team for his play at the linebacker position. Despite missing a handful of conference games due to injury, senior running Riddik Bohm was an honorable mention selection. He contributed 578 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground in just six games.
After losing several seniors to graduation, the Wittenberg-Birnamwood team was never able to find its footing during the season. The Chargers opened the year with back-to-back nonconference wins but then dropped its first four conference clashes.
Witt-Birn finished the season with a 3-6 record overall and a 1-6 mark in conference after edging Weyauwega-Fremont.
Senior fullback Jack Stewart was the lone Charger to be named to an all-conference team, getting an honorable mention.
“It’s nice to know the other coaches in the conference recognize you for what you were able to do even though we didn’t do well in conference play this year,” Stewart said.