WADENA, Minn.– As Wadena-Deer Creek football prepares for the 2024 season, there is one word the team is rallying behind – compete.
“As cliche as it sounds, if we can get better tomorrow and just get better the next day it’s going to be good for us,” said 6-year head coach Kyle Petermeier.
The 2024 season will be a year full of competition for a couple reasons. First, competing for starting spots after WDC said goodbye to last year’s 12 seniors. Opening the door for several young players to see the field.
“We had a group of 11 or 12 seniors last year and guys started. whether on offense or defense and we don’t have a lot of starters back,” said Petermeier. “So, for me, that’s exciting because we don’t know who is going to be out there for the 11 guys on offense, the 11 guys on defense and in order to find that out, the kid’s got to compete. They got to compete with each other. They got to compete when we’re in the weight room. they got to know the playbook so it’s competing off the field as well.”
Also opening up room for competition is a new emphasis on the fundamentals. Tackling on defense and running the ball on offense.
“They’re picking up on it. It’s a lot of repetition and things like that but it’s something where I think once we get it, it’s going to be good for us,” said Petermeier. “Our big thing is we want our kids to love practice.”
It’s a small senior class for the 2024 Wolverines. But senior Mason Brauch knows it’s his responsibility to show the ropes to the underclassmen. And to enjoy every day playing football.
“But the most important part is showing them that the sport is fun. And that practices might suck but they can still be fun,” said Brauch.
Brauch is a multi-positional defender. and he’s ready for Friday night’s season opener against Kerkhoven-Murdoch-Sundberg to put the hit on an opposing team.
“I want to hit someone so bad right now,” said Brauch. “I go after a lot of guys that are a lot bigger than I am and I pay for it a lot of times but there’s not much think. It’s just natural.”
Drew Lorentz will be ready to go under center for the Wolverines. As a senior, he’s soaking in every football activity while he can.
“I love the tackling drills right now. very fun hitting,” said Lorentz. “Every single practice. Just fun to get out here. and of course, Friday night lights. nothing tops that.”
Lorentz, Brauch, and coach Petermeier are ready to compete in week 1 and all throughout the fall. They say Wolverine fans always make their home games a special place to play.
“Excitement,” said Lorentz. “There is going to be nerves. Everything I can think of.”
“I feel like our support from the community the last few years, well for a while here, has been awesome,” said Petermeier. “I feel like there is lots of people that show up to the burger bash that they do and get into the home games and supporting the kids and some of our crowds on the road have been pretty good too. And that just stems from pretty good community support.”