Sports News
2017 HS Football Previews : WLA Vikings
The Winnebago Lutheran Vikings look to continue a good
run of success as they begin their 2017 season. The Vikings will begin the
season, however, without some key seniors who departed due to graduation and
with a new head coach on the sidelines to lead the team. Seth Jaeger takes over
for John Boggs at WLA, after serving as the head coach of the Vikings’
froshmore team. Jaeger says the transition to being the varsity head coach has
been a smooth one because of the familiarity with the players and coaching
staff.
Overall, Jaeger says there will be a few changes in the
style of play for the Vikings this year. “We had to change up our offense just
a little bit, maybe a little more run than we’re used to”, Jaeger said. “You
have to take a look at your personnel and see what your strengths are”.
Last year, the Vikings finished with a 7-2 regular
season record and advanced to level three of the WIAA playoffs in Division 5
where they fell to eventual state champion Amherst. “We were very blessed to
have the young men that we did and the seniors and the leaders that we did to
lead those guys into the playoffs” Jaeger said. He credits the hard work put in
by that group for the success they saw in 2016. Some of those key players who
left include quarterback Eric Schmitz and linebacker Tanner Haase, who both
moved on to play college football at the Division Two level.
As for the 2017 season, Jaeger believes the Flyway
Conference will be one to watch closely. “There will be some interesting games
between teams in the conference that have continued to improve”, he says. “Teams
like Laconia and Omro continue to build their programs, and, of course I
consider ourselves able to compete with any of the teams in the conference”. Jaeger
says the main key to success for the Vikings in 2017 is to stay healthy.
2017 Winnebago Lutheran Schedule:
8/18: Kettle Moraine Lutheran – 7pm
8/25: At Valders
– 7pm
9/1: Random
Lake – 7pm
9/8: At Poynette – 7pm (Game against North Fond du Lac cancelled – NFDL will not field a varsity team in 2017)
9/15: At St. Mary’s Springs – 7pm
9/22: At Laconia
– 7pm
9/30: Mayville – 1pm
10/6: At Lomira – 7pm
10/13: Omro – 7pm
Listen to the 2017 KFIZ High School Football
Preview Show, Friday August 11th at 6:00 pm on KFIZ. You can hear
the interview with WLA coach Seth Jaeger in its entirety along with other
coaches from around the area. The show is brought to you by AirTech Heating in
Fond du Lac.