The Roncalli football program heads into 2026 with new leadership but with the same passion and desire to continue its recent string of success in the last few years.
Aaron Zepnick takes over for Paul Kinsella, who decided to step down after six seasons and spent 13 years with the program.
Zepnick brings more than 25 years of coaching experience at various levels of sports to the table alongside 16 years of being a licensed WIAA official.
He tells SeehaferNews.com they had a very productive training camp heading into the season.
“We have a lot of stuff installed with limitless contact now allowed during the summer,” he explained. “We’ve also done our homework preparing for The Lancers along with installing our systems on both sides of the ball and we’re ready to get this season underway.”
That scrimmage was August 13th at Titan Stadium in Oshkosh.
The Jets lost a lot of experienced and talented seniors, including leading rusher and tackler Sawyer Van Driesse, quarterback Dominic Thiele, wide receivers Donovan Cowley, tight end and defensive lineman Kannon Kinsella, along with linemen Hayden Dewane, Cody Staudinger, and Carter Braun, who played plenty of snaps on both sides of the ball.
Senior lineman Donovan Laviolette returns having plenty of experience himself in the trenches.
He says, with all due respect, it’s time to turn the page.
“This for sure is now our team,” he stated. “Those were all great players who accomplished great things, but now it’s our turn to shine and show everyone what we can do.”
Others Roncalli will rely on include senior lineman Lucas Naidl, senior Jake Hillmer who’ll play tight end and linebacker, Logan Kinzel who returns to play running back and linebacker, and senior running back/linebacker Ethan Reimer who returns after missing his sophomore and junior seasons with knee injuries.
Naidl says he expects big things from the man wearing number 21 in Columbia blue and white.
“I think he’s been doubted a lot due to missing the last two seasons due to injury,” he said. “I feel he’s going to be a great player for us and be a force on both sides of the ball.”
Kinzel agrees with his teammate that this senior class has some big shoes to fill but adds they’re more than capable of doing so.
“I feel we have a strong chance to repeat as conference champions and make a deep playoff run,” he predicted. “We just need to develop consistent work habits, and the rest will take care of itself.”
The prognosticators don’t think too highly of the Jets, with some picking them to finish as low as seventh in the competitive 8-team EWC.
Coach Zepnick admits that fuels both him and the kids to prove them all wrong, but that it’s important for his players to keep the bigger picture in mind.
“We have a good way of doing things here, and we’re doing it the right way,” he explained. “If you are true to who you are and stay the course, they’ll not only become great players but most importantly become great human beings. That to me is success.”
Roncalli opens the season tonight hosting crosstown rival Manitowoc Lutheran in the battle for The Holy War Trophy.
Coverage on 98.9 FM “WOMT 100” and at WOMTRadio.com begins at 6:45 p.m.
