The Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 8-man football team is looking to repeat as champions of the Southeast 8 Conference with some new faces and new schemes.
The Resorters dominated their way through conference play, finishing the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record but lost eight seniors and their head coach.
The team’s offseason has been anything but easy after their head coaching search put a halt to any team workouts until the appointment of new coach Andy Voruz.
Despite the challenges, returning players and the new coaching staff are ready to take the season head-on.
One of those returning players is sophomore starting quarterback Cole Wagner, who spoke about the changes that have been made to the system.
“Yeah, it’s different, but you get used to it,” he said. “You have to adapt. The changes, there are some big ones, but nothing really hard. Just study your playbook, and everyone can get it by the first game.”
One of those changes being implemented by Voruz will be a strong focus on the run game, a drastic difference from the team last year.
This change comes from the philosophy of the new coach, but also an adaptation after losing star wide receiver Brody Feldmann, who accounted for more than 30 of the team’s 45 touchdowns last year.
Regardless of the changes, fellow sophomore Brennan Goble, who plays on both sides of the ball, thinks he and his teammates are rolling with the punches.
“I think we actually adjusted pretty quick. I mean, the start was pretty rough, but we’re getting better and we’re getting there. We’re right there,” he said with a hopeful look.
Meanwhile, senior defensive back and wide receiver Trayden Rebedew is looking forward to the fight his team will put up in the new system.
“I think it will give us a new look. We’re just going to be more physical this year, so I think a lot of teams have to be ready for that,” he explained firmly. “Obviously, they know we passed a lot last year but the same schedule we have this year, we went 9-0. They know us, but we’re just more physical this year,” he said with confidence.
As for an outlook on the upcoming Resorters campaign, senior offensive and defensive lineman Zander Lulloff understands the challenges ahead that come with any high school football season.
In his last year getting to play under the lights for the Resorters, win or lose, he knows the lasting impact this season will hold for him and his teammates.
“I’m looking for the fun times and all the memories we make,” he said. “Of the seniors last year, I have so many good memories with them. That’s all I really want to do for the youngins, too.”
Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah kicks off on their mission to make it back-to-back conference championships on Thursday when they travel to Oakfield to battle with last year’s Southeast 8 runners-up, the Mighty Oaks with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
