(KWMN)- The season came to an end in the opening games in their respective section tournaments for both Winona Senior High School and Rushford-Peterson High School.
For Winona, they fell short against 2-seeded Byron, 21-17. For Rushford-Peterson, it was a loss to 3-seeded Kenyon-Wanamingo, 6-0. Both of these teams had similar seasons, with similar rosters, and although both would’ve liked to see their season continue on into November, the hope for 2024 is there in bunches.
Rushford-Peterson
In yet another rain drenched night, the Trojans fought hard all game long against the Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights, but a last-minute drive from KW yielded the only points of the contest, and they fell 6-0.
The rain played a factor maybe, but Head Coach Davin Thompson will tell you the same thing he always does, that both teams dealt with the same conditions. The Trojans played a heck of a football game defensively, and it was one slip of a tackle at the end that made the difference. Regardless, the improvement from getting ran off the field in game one vs. Blooming Prairie, to taking KW to the final minute in week nine can be clearly seen.
That’s what the season was about. Improving. Growing. Learning. The Trojans did just that and were able to reap the benefits in the latter half of the season, closing out their final four games of the regular season with four wins. That’s something that can motivate the returning players and show them that this team can be better for next year.
The Trojans will miss some key players next season, losing the likes of Evan Kammerer, Bowen Woodard, and Camdyn Anderson-Ingram on the offensive and defensive line. As well skill position players in Sampson Wilkemeyer, Titan Tekautz, and Dawson Bunke. They’ll also lose role players in Stanley Johnson and Lowen Semling. Those losses will be seen early in training camp, but just like every high school football season, it’s next man up.
The positive is that the Trojans will return a litany of playmakers. Jonah Bunke returns for his senior season, stronger, faster, and better. While Jaxson Meldahl will be an upper classman for this first time in his career. Medlahl exploded in the final few games of the year, proving he’s a force to be reckon with in the rushing, and air attack. Rushford will also return budding playmakers in Domanick Corcoran, and Isaac Oian. Both of which raised eyebrows offensively and defensively throughout the year. Caden Johnson will also return. After losing the starting QB job to Wilkemeyer, Johnson will be able to use this season as a learning experience, and motivation to earn the job in camp when the time comes. There’s also plenty of offensive linemen that return, some of which saw a lot of the field this season, but others that have a lot of potential, and just haven’t got the opportunities.
One name to watch is Cayden Lea. The freshman QB for junior varsity made an impact as an 8th grader for the Rushford basketball team last winter. Even at a young age, he showcased his athleticism, and poise at the Varsity level. Now, he didn’t see the field on Varsity for football this season, a lot of that has to do with the fact that he’s got some growing to do. With that said, he’ll enter next season as a sophomore, ideally more confident, more polished, and hopefully ready to make an impact. Not to say he’s going to be the starting QB one year from now, but he’s a player that could turn some heads when he is inevitably ready.
The Trojans will look ahead to 2024 and hopefully, pick up right where they left off.
Head Coach Davin Thompson joined the WSN to discuss the season, what’s ahead in the offseason and more.
Winona Senior High WinhawksÂ
In a snowy day and night across most of Minnesota last Saturday, the Winhawks traveled to Byron to face the 2-seeded Bears in the section semifinals. In what proved to be maybe the best game the Winhawks played all season, they came up seconds short, and lost 21-17.
The Winhawks were able to force multiple turnovers and kept the high-flying Byron offense in check for three of the four quarters. Leading 17-6 with 9:30 to play in fourth. It was then that Byron made their charge. A dominant, but more importantly effective two-minute drive from Byron made it a 17-14 game with around seven minutes to play. The Winhawks, with hopes of icing the game, took possession. It felt like the perfect storm near the end of the game. With snow beginning to blanket the sky, the Winhawks were unable to garner a first down after Deion Prolo was injured, and Aiden Falls had to step in. They were forced to punt the ball back to Byron with four minutes left. Byron chugged down the field, wasting clock, with chunk play after chunk play until they scored the winning touchdown with a mere 30 seconds left in the game. The Winhawks had to go the full length of the field to win it, and they ran out of time on the final play when Aiden Falls scrambled for yards but couldn’t get out of bounds to stop the clock in time. In turn, the Winhawks came 30 seconds short of the win.
It’s a heartbreaking way to end the season, but the growth, the improvement of this team was encapsulated with this game alone. A month and a half prior, on Sept. 15, the Winhawks came to Byron to play the bears in week 3. They were stomped, 36-0. That wasn’t the case in the section matchup. The Winhawks went toe-to-toe with the 9th ranked team in 4A. They looked completely different than they did the first time against Byron, and that’s a testament to how much growth the Winhawks went through during the regular season.
After an 0-5 start, the Winhawks were 30 seconds away from the section final.
With the improvement already present, the offseason will be crucial to continue the growth, and build off of what’s already been accomplished. The Winhawks were shown what it takes to be great throughout this season. Playing the familiar foes in their section in Byron and Kasson, they understand what level it takes to be a favorite in the section. But they were also shown what it takes to be great past the section tournament. Playing the likes of Simley High, and Mound Westonka, both of which of been in the state tournament as early as last year and both were ranked in the top ten in 4A this season. They know where they want to go, they know how to get there, they just have to do the work to get it done.
The Winhawks will lose some big pieces on both sides of the ball due to graduation. Ike Erdmancyk, Sam Diggins, Spencer Schossow and George Steffes were key pieces on the offensive and defensive lines this season. They’ll also lose their top three linebackers in Kort Bellman, Ronnie Lemon and Owen Graner. As well as offensive and defensive playmaker Aiden Falls. Those losses certainly won’t be easy to replace, but there’s a roster of hungry under classmen ready to take their chance.
Though losing key seniors, the Winhawks will welcome back two of their most prolific players in Deion Prolo and Jaden Blanck. Prolo will enter his third season as QB1 and having already shown improvements on a year-to-year basis, his senior year should be his best one yet. For Blanck, it’s sky’s the limit, as he burst onto the scene late this season and proved to be not only the best running back for the Winhawks, but showed he has the potential to be the best back in section come next season. The team will also return the likes of Patrick Curtin, Krayton Bergstrom, Brady Wardwell and more players that got key playing time throughout the season.
There’s work to be done this offseason, but the potential is there for a big year for the Winhawks in 2024.
Head Coach John Cassellius joined the WSN to discuss the season, the offseason, and more.
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