2024 RECORD BOOKS UPDATES

Sorry I’ve been tardy on posting blogs lately.  I’ve been updating the state football record books and it should come as no surprise that a number of stars from 2024 have made the lists.  There is some bad news before I get to the main part of the records

The bad news: 

Brayln Albritton of Milwaukee Academy of Science is leaving for Milton High School in Georgia.  He leaves the state as the #15 career passer.  With another year like 2024 when he passed for 2,830-yards he could have been at the top of the state’s all-time list.  Franklin’s Ben Hemple, 2001-04 holds the career record for 9,508.  Albritton leaves the state with 6,912 career yards and 70 td’s.  Robby Michael of Kohler/Sheboygan Lutheran/ Christian…2018-21 tossed for 96 career scores, so with a similar season, Brylon could have moved to the top of that list.   See the attached story from Christmas Day…2026 Wisconsin Quarterback Announces Transfer To Georgia 5A Champion Milton.

Brayln Albritton   Milwaukee Academy of Science

With Albritton passing (2,830 yards) and Josiah Johnson rushing for 2,381 yards the Milwaukee Academy of Science became the second school to have a 2,000+ rusher and passer in a single season.  There have of course, been schools with a 2,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher or vice versa.  Owen-Withee had two 2,000+ yard rushers in the same season, 2007.  The first school to have a 2,000-yard + passer and rusher was the 2015 Kimberly team which had Danny Vanden Boom tossing for 2,499 yards and Blair Mulholland rushing for 2,971 yards.  The team also had receiver Jordan Janssen haul in 1,516 yards that year, the only team ever to have a 2,000, 2,000, 1,500-yard trio.

Besides rushing for a lot of yards, Josiah Johnson scored 36 times, 35 by rushing, and trotted in for 22 2-point conversions, totaling 260 points on the year.  Normally, this scoring total might have led the state for the season but not in 2024.

The all-around play by Blake Thiry of Prairie du Chien topped the list with 284 points.  Blake really was a superstar as he rushed for an even 1,800 yards, scoring 32 times.  Thiry also caught 925 yards worth of passes and 14 more touchdowns.  He also returned an interception for a score as well as having a two-point conversion. 

2024 had, perhaps, the tightest scoring race in many a season.  Besides Thiry scoring 284 points, Green Bay Notre Dame’s Christian Collins scored 252 points, just behind Johnson.  In 2023 Collins scored 260 total points.  He led the state in rushing in 2023 and again in 2024 when he totaled 3,084 yards, helped greatly by his 408 yards in the state title game.  His 3,084 yards on the ground was only the second time a Wisconsin player has crossed the 3,000-yard seasonal rushing threshold.  Adrian Davis of Kenosha St. Josephs set the record in 2001 with 3,422 yards.

Getting back to Thiry for a moment it should be noted that his 925 receiving yards is the most that I have found for a running back in a single season.  Blake was a wide receiver as a sophomore when he hauled in 11 touchdown passes.  His versitality allowed him to gain 2,273 career receiving yards along with 2,965 yards on the ground as a junior and a senior.  He scored 87 career touchdowns and the one two-point conversion for a total of 524 points.  Blake was also an outstanding punter who averaged 47.3 yards per kick in 2024 on 16 kicks.

Collins led the state in rushing in both 2023 and 2024 and ended his career with 6,560 yards, good for #5 on the all-time list.  Only three other players have, according to my records, led the state in rushing twice in two different seasons.  Jim Baier of Elmwood in 1961 and 1962 led the state and Richie Nargers of Campbellsport led in 1982 and 1983.  Westby back Steve Hougum in 1985 and 1985 also turned the feat.

Leading the passing department was West De Pere’s Patrick Greisen who led his team to 10-2 year by passing for 3,846 yards and 49 touchdowns.  Only a junior in 2024, Patrick will be back in 2025 looking to move up the career lists in yards and touchdown passes even though he played sparingly as a freshman and a sophomore in 2022 and 2023.

Finally, in 11-player football I want to make mention of three players.  First, Milwaukee Marquette University High School’s outstanding kicker, Eric Schmidt, perhaps the nation’s best, overall player at that position.  Besides kicking a 55-yard field goal against De Pere, Alex was 9-12 on the season and 28 of 38 in his career (#4 on the all-time list) in field goal kicking.  In booting extra point’s, he was 57-57 in 2024 and 176-179 in his four seasons at Marquette (#8 all-time).  His 260 career kicking points is #1 on the list.  During the 2024 season Eric punted 22 times for a 45.5 average.

Second, I wish to mention Germantown’s Cooper Catalano who was in on a state career record 583 tackles over the 2021-24 seasons.  Cooper finished this year with 178 tackles, second to Isaiah Groom of Potosi/Cassville who had 199.  As a freshman Cooper was in on 120 tackles, 147 as a sophomore and 138 as a junior.  My third mention is for Kaden Smolinski, a junior from Lake Mills.  He only touched the ball six times on defense while making 47 tackles.  It wasn’t the tackles that got him into the record book.  It was his defensive versatility in scoring.  He recovered two fumbles and returned them of touchdowns.  Kaden intercepted four passes from his linebacker spot and returned them for scores as well.  Six touches, six touchdowns.  Quite a feat.

Now on to 8-player stats and a few people have entered the lists numerous times.  Quite numerous.

Jared Schultz of Northwood /Solon Springs has made the record book so many times it’s hard to count the number of mentions.  He’s listed in 30 offensive spots.  Yes, thirty!!!  NINE more times when you count kick returns and defensive stats.  He’s the all-time 8-player leader in total 8-player offense with 9,396 career yards and 136 total touchdowns responsible combining passing and rushing.  This is just in one category.  Jared is the 8-player all-time leading career scorer. In 2024 he ran for a record 28 two-point conversions and in his career, he ran for 42 conversions. He’s just everywhere on the record lists.

Next are the Koon twins from Madison Abundant Life/St. Ambrose.  Jonah Koon was the team’s quarterback who set a lot of records in only nine games in 2024.  Most yards passing in a season, 3,201, 45 touchdown passes (Tied with Nick Kita of Gibraltar in 2013) on the year and most consecutive 300+ yards passing in a game, to name a few.  Jonah is mentioned 15 times in the records.  His brother Jacob is mentioned 14 time, most notable for hauling in 65 passes, second in the state during the year but for a record 1,653 yards, a 25.4 per catch record and a record 183.7 yards per game. 

Another notable record was set by Lucas Glindt of Winter/Birchwood who only played in four games but set a state 8-player single game reception record for catching 20 passes for 291 yards (#8 all-time in a single game for yards) vs. Washburn.  Lucas had another great game against Mellon when he caught 15 passes for 243 yards.  All total, for his four games in 2024, Glindt caught 43 passes for 657 yards.  Just think where his totals might have been if he played a full season.

Well, that’s just a brief Holiday recap. 

Shorter than normal but changes are coming to the record books.  The 11 & 8-player record books are being revamped, and I hope when they are posted on the WFCA web site in January you will like the new look.  Some of the category listings will be trimmed.  A example is the 11-player two-point conversions list that currently has eight players listed with five and 27 listed as having scored four two-point runs.  Those 27 will probably be trimmed leaving just those eight players with five conversions.

I again ask coaches, especially those in 8-player to fill in the stats on WISSPORTS as completely as possible.  Scoring info is the main area where some of your players could get mention.  Without details on two-point conversion rushes, or by passing  or by recieving some of your players might not be getting the recognition they deserve.  I realized it may be hard to get someone to be your regular stats person but maybe a fan or a student who is good with math can help out. Hopefully a coach or two can go back and relook at film and add those missing scoring stats or email me with the totals.

Also, Kevin Askeland at MaxPreps has completed a basic national 8-player record book.  Click below or copy and paste to look at it.  A few Wisconsin players have made the lists.

MaxPreps debuts 8-man high school football national record book

Finally, while WISSPORTS is only as good as you make it there is an additional way to get your team and players recognition.  Put your stats on MAXPREPS as well for a national listing.  As an example, Christian Collins of Green Bay Notre Dame would rank #7 in the NATION!!! if his stats were added to MAXPREPS. Blake Thiry would be #15 nationally in scoring and Collins and Josiah Johnson would be in the top 25 of scoring.  But look, West De Pere uses MAXPREPS as well as WISSPORTS and Patrick Greisen is ranked #34 in the nation for passing yards.  In 8-man Johah Koon would be ranked #5 and his brother Jacob would also be #5 nationally in receiving yards.  Don’t shy away from WISSPORTS but think of MAXPREPS as an additional stats location. 

Thanks to all and I hope you Holidays are blessed and safe.

1966 LA CROSSE AQUINAS

October 7, 1966.  Halfback Steve Pelot of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption ran for 135 yards on 23 carries while scoring two rushing touchdowns and running for three extra point conversions in a 21-7 win.  Going into the game against La Crosse Aquinas, Assumption was ranked #6 in the AP press poll while Aquinas was ranked #5.  (In the UPI poll Aquinas was #6 and Assumption was #11).   While outgaining Assumption 264-235 in yardage, the Aquinas Blugolds turned the ball over four times, two that set up Royals touchdowns.  Another hero for Assumption was Dick Hyland, brother of future Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs coach, Bob Hyland.  Dick punted six times for a 48.6 average, including one of 78 yards.  A tight end, Dick also caught two passes for 42-yards including the first score of the game, a 29-yarder.  With the win Assumption moved up to the #3 position in the AP.  Aquinas dropped to the #16 spot.  The two schools would end up in the final AP statewide poll with Aquinas ranked #8 and Assumption #10 after they lost their final game.

The Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference in 1966 was a very tough league.  Early in the season Eau Claire Regis, Marshfield Columbus and Prairie du Chien Campion were all in the hunt for the conference title along with Aquinas and Assumption.  Hoping for their second unbeaten season in the school’s 15-year history, the Royals were denied that fete as they fell 14-7 in their final game against Columbus to finish 8-1-0.  The game featured a battle of minds by two HOF coaches…Walt Kroll of Columbus and Don Penza of Assumption.  Penza was successful at the Wisconsin Rapids school, then took time away to go into politics before moving to Illinois and becoming a HOF coach at Marion Central Catholic in Woodstock IL.  Kroll had a 219-99-2 career record and two WISAA titles.  Penza was 68-18-2 at Assumption and 90-18, including three Class 2A state titles at Marion. 

Why mention all this you may ask?  More on other coaches later but first, the head man at Aquinas and the rest of the season.

John Michuta was 150-86-11 in 33-years of coaching football (1940-71).  His final team was 10-1 and the WISAA state football runner-up.  In 1949 the Blugolds went 9-0-0 and tied with Racine St. Catherine’s for the state Catholic title.  John’s 1961 team was also undefeated posting a 7-0-1 record.  It was often said that Michuta’s football teams only had 10-plays and everybody knew them…players and opponents.  He would still beat an opponent because he drilled the basics into his men.  He was much like Green Bay packer coach Vince Lombardi.

As a basketball coach at Aquinas (1941-64), he was 327-200 with five state private school titles.  A rough and tumble man, Michuta was a champion boxer at Notre Dame and a starting tackle on the 1933-35 Irish football teams.   He coached football, first at West Bend in 1938-39 and then from 1940-71 at Aquinas.  John was honored as a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1980.  1966 may have been Coach John Michuta’s best team although they weren’t undefeated.  At one time or another he coached just about every sport at Aquinas.  When he stepped down as head football coach in June of 1972 he stayed on as a biology teacher and golf coach. And yes, golf was a fall sort and at one time he split duties coaching both sports during the same season.

John Michuta…WFCA profile photo

The Blugolds opened the season with a convincing 47-6 win over Chippewa Falls McDonell. Quarterback John Pincsak was the star as he went 12-7-0-197-2 passing along with two rushing touchdowns.   Next was Prairie du Chien Campion who fell 34-0 and then a 26-6 victory over Marshfield Columbus.  All three opponents were good teams and injuries would take a toll on all of them but if they could just get things going, they could be contenders for the CWCC title.  After three weeks Aquinas was 3-0-0 and the other three schools were 2-1-0.  Then their seasons fell apart as they weren’t up to vying for the conference crown.

La Crosse Tribune, November 23, 1966

Next up was city foe La Crosse Logan who held Aquinas to 140points for the first three quarters before their offense exploded for three touchdowns.  In the 35-0 victory the Blugolds outgained Logan 524-yards to 123-yards.  Workhorse fullback Mike Weber gained 148-yards on 23-carries to lead the way before a crowd of nearly 5,000 fans.  The all-time series record moved to 16-16-1 with the Aquinas win.  Coming into the game the Logan Rangers were 1-1-1 having given up only four touchdowns on the year, so far.  Having gained 533, 478 and 326-yards in their first three games the Blugolds were a juggernaut on offense to be reckoned with.  And their defense was also tough. 

But now came the showdown with Assumption and the mistakes proved costly as noted above.

With the loss the team needed to regroup.  Their next foe was La Crosse Central for the city title.  If Aquinas won, it would be their 13tn in the city-series going back to 1934.  The game also featured an unusual situation.  Senior linebacker Dan Gordon would face his brother, junior guard/defensive end Duane now playing for Central after transferring following the previous year.  Three starters on defense were either out or were doubtful as to playing much for Aquinas.  The game was played on Saturday, but the Blugolds needed a win to keep pace any chance of coming back and tying Assumption for the SWCC title.  The Royals played Thursday night and beat Stevens Point Pacelli 40-7 to stay undefeated.  Aquinas was up to the task against Central, keyed by Mike Weber’s 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the 27-0 win.  Central fell to 1-5-0.  The Gordon’s each had six tackles.  Now 5-1-0 the Blugolds still had a chance for the CWCC title.

With three games left Aquinas was on a mission.  They wanted to make a statement to the conference and the state.  Next up was Wausau Newman and the Blugolds manhandled the Fighting Cardinals to the tune of 47-13.  Despite having 125-yards in penalties, 3 turnovers and three touchdowns called back, Aquinas picked up 347-yards rushing.  John Lynch returned one of three team passes that were intercepted for a 51-yard touchdown with just 19-seconds left on the clock.  Next up was Stevens Point Pacelli, and the game was the biggest blowout of the season, a school record 70-0 win.  Mike Weber was again the top scorer in the game as he gained 81-yards with three touchdowns.  Prior to 1969 non-kicking extra points were worth one-point.  Weber scored five extra points on runs.  At this time, as far as I can determine, this is a state record for one-point non-kicking conversions in a single game.

How strong was the Blugolds ground game against Pacelli?  Besides Weber’s 81-yards of the 439 rushing yards (Plus 103 yards passing, 542 total yards) the team gained, Tom Wuensch lead the way with 104-yards, followed by Dave Hyde gaining 88-yards, Dan Rathburn picked up 66-yards and Henry Funk chipped in with 63.  Greg Hilbert touched the ball six times with three of those carries as one point conversion runs.  The defense came through in a big way allowing three first downs on 75-yards rushing and zero passing.  Mike Cahill and Dan Stanek each blocked a punt as Pacelli averaged only 14-yards on seven punts.  The game was played on a Friday night.  Saturday Marshfield Columbus upset Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 14-7 so Aquinas could clinch a tie for the SWSS title with a win the next week against Eau Claire Regis.  At this point Assumption ended the season with a 6-1-0 conference record while Aquinas had a 5-1-0 record going into the finale.

With all this offense so far could the Blugolds get better?  They could.  In the final win, a 48-0 blowout over Regis, the teams netted 609 total yards, an unhear- of total for this era.  The Ramblers could only muster 73 yards.  Mike Weber scored two touchdowns and three extra points to end the season with 121 total points scored, a new La Crosse City record.  His 86 conference points surpassed the 73 scored by Regis halfback Brad House.  Halfback Tom Wuensch scored twice, had another long run nullified by a clipping penalty and finished with 162yards on 12 carries plus scoring an extra point.  Halfback/receiver Dan Rathburn caught five passes for 112 yards and gained 77yards on the ground in 11 carries and an had a 14-yard touchdown run and an extra point.  Leading the team was quarterback John Pincsak whom was six for eight and 117 yards passing along with a TD pass.  In this game he set a school single season record, ending with 1,047 yards passing. 

As a team the Blugolds set school records with 3,017 yards on the ground, five-yards short of the school record.   They passed for a school record 1,069 yards for a total of 4.091 yards or a 454.56 average.  This was by far better than any team in the state that year.  The team was well rounded with seniors and juniors.  Senior John Pincsak only had a .376 completion percentage due to many dropped passes.  If you look at his first and final game totals the receivers held on to the ball much better.  If they had done so in the other games his and the team's offensive totals would have been even better, and they would have scored even more points.

This ends the long recap of Aquinas High School, 1966 but I promised more.

 Some of the other great coaches in the CWCC besides John Michuta, Walt Kroll and Don Penza in 1966 were:

As an assistant coach in 1966 for Stevens Point Pacilli, Bob Raczak was waiting his turn and in 1967 he moved up to the head coach position.  After a 19-game losing streak took the Cardinals to a 4-5-0 record in his first year.  He would enter the WFCA HOF with a career record of 248-128-2.  Bob’s Cardinal’s would earn 11 conference titles, two WISAA championships and be runner-up six times.

Bill Donahue at Eau Claire Regis went 5-3-1 in 1966 and 41-16-6 in 7-seasons before he left the coaching profession in 1967 to earn a master's and then a Doctorate degree at an out of state university.  If he had stayed on as the head coach of the Ramblers, he might have earned a spot on the HOF. 

At Prairie du Chien Campion, Louis G. Friedrichs was completing a 20+ distinguished coaching career.  L.G., after starting as a halfback at Oklahoma took the head coaching spot in 1941 at Milwaukee Marquette University High School and posted a 5-2-0 record.  After serving in the service during World War II he took the head coaching job in his hometown at New Orleans Holy Cross High (1945-48) going 31-4-0, then in 1949 he coached St. Louis (MO) University High accounting for a 7-2 record.  Fredrichs took the head coaching position at Omaha (NE) Creighton Prep where his team was the state champion (Press Poll) in 1953and 1954, earning a 26-8-0 record (1951-54).  He then moved to Davenport (IA) St. Ambrose College earing a 25-19-1 record.  He was at Campion 1961-67 with his record there was 40-22-1, 4-5-0 in 1966.  That’s a prep career coaching record of 109-36-1. A winner wherever he went.

It's hard to believe there was so much coaching talent in a seven-team conference in one season.

CASHTON…1978-81

Gary Hanson graduated from UW-La Crosse un 1967 and applied as a physical education teacher and football coach at Cashton High School.  With no previous coaching experience, he got the job and has never left town, even after 55-years.  Hanson had a slow start but in 29-years as the coach at Cashton he preached like Vince Lombardi and earned his player’s respect.  He posted 27 Winning seasons out of 29 with his worst losing single season being 5-4 in 1983.  In the years 1978-82 his Eagles posted a spectacular 41-2 record. 

1978

In 1978 they went 8-1 and lost in the semi-finals to Spring Valley.  With a lot of returning starters coming back the Eagles went 11-1, losing in the state finals to a great Cambridge squad.  1978 brought a strong team to the WIAA playoffs.  Only playing an eight-game regular season schedule due the season opener against Westby being cancelled.  An unfortunate accident by a Westby player, their starting center, dying in an accidental hunting accident due to gunshot wounds was the reason for the cancellation.  The Eagles polled well enough for the WIAA to award them a spot in the Division 5 playoffs.  In the semi-finals eventual champion Spring Valley defeated Cashton 26-6.  Coach Hanson thought that the stingy Spring Valley defense was the key to the game as three sure touchdown receptions were stripped away Cardinal defenders.  Another great play was a goal-line stop of Eagle star back Kevin Kirking, throwing him for a loss on the two -yard line.  Going into the semi-final Cashton had only given up 29 points and Spring Valley had allowed 53.  Kirking had 809-yards on the ground in only six games as he was injured for two.  The Cardinals held him to 51-yards.  Several stars, besides Kirking were Fred Von Ruden, Dennis Weibel, Tom Bahr, Marvin Hurtz, Jim Schaub and Mike Geier on defense.  Back Ken Schuttemeier and end Mitch Hundt on defense.  The last names of Von Ruden and Weibel will show up often throughout the years.  One other note is Westby, also with an eight-game regular season, made the playoffs and went on to win the Division 4 title.

1979

The 1979 team went undefeated and even played a 10th regular season game before they lost in the state final game to a very good Cambridge team.  After converting four Clear Lake turnovers in the semi-final 40-7 win into touchdowns the Eagles were primed for the championship showdown.  Still in those days only four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.  Playing Cambridge on neutral turf in Sun Prairie it was a cold (20-degrees) but sunny Saturday.  Plagued by poor field position for most of the game, Cashton held a slim 7-3 lead with 1-minute to go.  A 24-yard pass to the one-yard line with next to no time left on the clock set up the winning touchdown run for Cambridge and the Bluejays beat the Eagles 10-7.  Five turnovers stymied the Cashton squad.  Kevin Kirkling set a school single season rushing record with 1,565 yards and earned a spot on the Wisconsin State Journal’s All-Area team.

The All-Scenic Conference squad was headed, again, by many Cashton players. 

Above I mentioned the last names of Von Ruden and Weibel.  Those last names showed up again in 1979.

Fred (A senior) and Dan (A junior) Von Ruden were brothers.  Rick (His name is mis-spelled in the Wisconsin State Journal story on the All-Conference team) was not related to the other two Von Ruden’s.

1980

In 1980 Brookwood, the smallest team in the Scenic Bluffs Conference was moved by the WIAA to another conference and because of how well Cashton had performed in the past they couldn’t get a non-conference opponent to fill their open game so they played only eight games.  As I wrote last time in the Belleville blog…BELLEVILLE 1980…NEAR PERFECTION,  the WIAA used a formula to pick most of the playoff teams that was controversial.  The 1980 Cashton team went undefeated, untied and unscored upon going 8-0. Their opponents poor season records hurt them in the WIAA choosing them to make the playoffs.  There was a lot of criticism in the press from around the southern and western areas of the state over the fact that Cashton (As well as Belleville) were not in the expanded playoffs.

Statistically, the Eagles were supremely dominate.  Another team was Belleville, an undefeated team that allowed only three points in 1980, was also denied a chance to compete under similar circumstances.  If I produced statistical records for the other eight teams that were awarded playoff berths, none could compare with Cashton or Belleville defensively and only a few could match Cashton’s offensive prowess.

The Eagles dominated the season ending player honors as out of the 24-players named to the All-Scenic Bluffs squad, 18 of those spots had a Cashton players named.

That’s 11 seniors and a total of six players named on both sides of the ball.  Notice the last name Von Ruden.  Rick and Dan Von Ruden earned all-conference honors as juniors in 1979.  In 1980, with 10 of the 12-players named to the first team defense Dan Von Ruden could only earn honorable mention.  Steve Koenen ran for 1,325 yards, averaging 7.2 yards a carry, in only eight games.

Another note here is that besides the 2019 Stratford team the 1980 Cashton squads were the last two undefeated, untied and unscored upon teams in a regular season (Before entering the playoffs).

1981

1981 arrived and the boys were ready to play.  Having lost 11 starters from the defense (10 first team All-Scenic Bluffs mentions plus Dan Van Ruden, Coach Hanson had to reload.  Plenty of his new starters saw considerable game time in 1980 and they were up to the task.  Plus, a key transfer showed up to direct the offense.  It must have been strange for new starting quarterback Eric Schwarz to line up in the semi-finals against his former teammates from Black Hawk.  The family moved from Black Hawk to the Cashton area during the summer and Eric stepped right in earning All-Conference and All-Area honors.

Eric Schwarz ran for 644 yards, passed for 578 and intercepted 7 passes.  In the state title game, he tossed for three scores, all to end Mile Hauser.  A leader on defense at the linebacker spot as well as a highly thought of receiver, Hauser caught only 16 passes in 1981 but gained 533-yards and scored seven times.  Bruce Hemmersbach was the big man in the running game as he carried 244 times for 1,356 yards, scoring 17 touchdowns and kicking 38 extra points plus three field goals for a total of 143 points.

Check out the seasonal stats.  The team went undefeated and untied but gave up one field goal while shutting out 10 opponents.  Unable to get any offense moving, Stratford had to settle for a 35-yard field goal.

Defensive back Chris Torkelson contributed 10 interceptions on the year.  Hauser earned first team all-State as an end.  Todd Von Ruden (OG), Todd Schreiner (LB) and Hemmersbach (RB) all earned second team all-State.

1982

The season was good but not up to recent standards with the Eagles going 7-2 and finishing in second place in the Scenic Bluffs.  Undefeated (In the regular season) was DeSoto, a team that was in and out of the Scenic over the years turned out to be the conference champs. Rick Von Ruden, star of the 1982 team had three brothers, Todd and Randy (Already mentioned) and Bruce who was a senior star on the 1984 team.

Coach Hanson had several other good teams moving forward, especially the 11-1 1994 squad that fell to Hilbert 26-14 in the semi-finals.  The next week Hilbert took the title.  Hanson decided after the 1995 season to retire from coaching.  He was only 51-years old and wanted to spend more time with the family.  He was elected that year to the WFCA Hall of Fame.  I talked to Don recently and it was an enjoyable discussion.  He left a lasting legacy on the Cashton football as well as the wrestling program he started in 1970.  Don guided that sport for 13-years, posting a 133-45-5 record.

My thanks go out to Scott Wall who put me in touch with Coach Hanson.