Winhawk Football Runway
(KWMN)-The Winhawk football team traveled to Kasson, Minn. to face Kasson-Mantorville in the section semi-finals where the Winhawks fell short, again, to Kasson, losing 29-5 and ending their season.
The Winhawks close the season having two of their three losses come at the hands of the Komets from Kasson.
The Winhawks fought hard all game long but for whatever reason, couldn’t find a way to break through the Kasson defense. It was a back forth opening quarter, with the Komets and Winhawks each scoring on their first possessions to make the scoreline 7-3 in favor of the Komets. The Winhawks looked like a well-oiled machine on offense during their opening drive, but never really found that same success after.
The real change, or most depleting change that the Winhawks went through in the game was near the end of the first half. The lead for the Komets grew to 15-3 after the Komets scored another touchdown and then forced a safety on the Winhawks. But, with under five minutes to go in the first half, the Winhawks found themselves in a position to get the unique 2-for-1 score. Scoring just before the half and then receiving the second half kick and scoring again.
Instead of a 2-for-1 score, it was disaster for the Winhawks. They were forced to go for it on 4th-down deep into Kasson territory as the clock was winding under the two-minute mark. They were unsuccessful in the attempt, and on the ensuing Komet possession, they needed just one play to go 70+ yards and score just before the half. Making the Komet lead 22-3 as the teams went their separate ways into the locker room.
Thereafter, the Winhawks opened the second half with a punt, and really lacked much energy throughout the second half. Head coach for the Winhawks, John Cassellius said of the halftime momentum shift,
“I think that was a pretty big shift [in favor of Kasson] and I think that probably sealed the game.”
Cassellius continued with his thoughts of the game as a whole,
“They played hard from start to finish, proud of that, proud of them battling…Just too many missed opportunities.”
It wasn’t the outcome the Winhawks were looking for, and one can imagine losing to the same team twice is equally as frustrating as the loss in general. But the Winhawks shouldn’t hang their heads for too long. A season that begun with one of their best players injured in Dominic Davis, and a sophomore taking the reins at quarterback could’ve gone much, much worse. Plenty of teams in the state would love to be 7-3, the record that the Winhawks finished. Of course, for the Winhawk players, they’ll say they fell short of expectations. Regardless, this team showed their fight all season long, and improved week in and week out, something Cassellius says he is quite proud of.
The Winhawks will say goodbye to a stacked senior class. Aiden Kronebusch, Dominic Davis, Mason Langowski, Asher Wardwell, Jayveon Blackmond, Bryan Cassellius, Peyton Hoff, Xavier Mercer, Mason Krage, Ayden Krage, Wesley Wollan, Ashten Vaughn, Dylan Jacobson, Connor Muras, Taurins Pope, Carter Kouba and Michael Smith are all set to graduate. The Winhawk football team will be losing a whopping 18 seniors, most of who played a very important role on the team. Cassellius says of his seniors,
“Our seniors did a great job of showing leadership…Knowing those guys for a long, long time…Great to see those kids [succeed], obviously the relationship with those kids is unique. Just proud of them for sticking with it through tough times
One in particular senior that will be harder to part ways with others for Cassellius, will be his kid, Bryan Cassellius. Cassellius (John) doesn’t often like to single out Bryan because it is his own kid. He makes a point not to show any different coaching, or discipline towards him. In this case, naturally, it will be a different feeling watching Byran graduate than other seniors. Bryan first hopped on the team as a ball boy around the 3rd grade Cassellius told the Winona Sports Network. That’s 10 years of Coach and son riding the bus together, team meals together, film together and so on, coming to an end,
“It feels weird. I don’t think its sunk in yet…It’s hard to believe that journey is over. I’m excited for him to see where he ends up going and where he decides to play. But that first time gong to practice without him in pads in six years (Started playing in middle school as backup kicker). It’s going to be weird,” Cassellius said, when asked about the departure of his son.
As well as Bryan, John Cassellius confirmed that Mason Langowski, Wesley Wollan and Aiden Kronebusch will also be looking to play at the next level, wherever that may be.
The Winhawks now turn their focus to the offseason and the task of replacing 18 seniors on the roster. For Cassellius, he typically spends the first months of the offseason either refereeing basketball games, or watching his kids play basketball, Bryan included. For the returning players, it’s a quick rest, and right onto the next season,
“I guess that’s the thing that never really ends with football. Guys will take a couple days off to rest the body, stuff like that but then you got to start looking forward to the next season (basketball, wrestling, hockey etc.) but then also focusing in and thinking about, while doing another sport, how can i prepare myself for football…That’ll be the message to the guys returning, don’t wait too long,” Cassellius said.
With the year long pause on Winhawk football, it will give Cassellius and the rest of the coaches plenty of time to craft a plan that will bring success. Heading into next season, all eyes will be on the progression of Deion Prolo. The sophomore quarterback showed flashes of how good he can be throughout this season, and now, for Prolo, it’s about taking the next step. Playmakers like Aiden Nation, Ronnie Lemon and more will be returning as well to help bolster the offense. The Offseason is a time to get better, stronger, faster, bigger, and it won’t be seen until August 2023 whether that work paid off.
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