2023 Merrill Bluejays Football Season Preview
Coaching staff:
Jason Wadzinski – 3rd Year Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Greg Thorson Special Teams Coordinator
Alex Marx Offensive Coordinator
Isaac Buntrock JV Offensive Coordinator
Andrew Plisch Offensive Assistant
Michael Augustiniak Offensive Assistant
Troy Pieper JV Defensive Coordinator
Gavin Wroblewski JV Special Teams
Key returners:
– Brody Lange: Senior, GNC Honorable Mention 2022 & led the team in sacks at
Defensive End.
– Erik Mann:Senior, GNC Honorable Mention 2022. Leader of the defense at Middle
Linebacker.
– D’Ondre Houghton: Senior, Starting Safety. Led the team in interceptions in 2022.
– EJ Weix: Junior, Starting Safety and Receiver.
– Russell Gruetzmacher: Junior, Starting Left Tackle.
– Aiden Lonsdorf: Junior, Starting Outside Linebacker & Tight End.
Key newcomers:
– Jacob Schmeltzer: Junior, Starting Quarterback.
– Kaiden Henrich: Junior, Starting Runningback.
– Ivan Amador-Gonzalez: Junior, Starting Cornerback.
Jason Wadzinski – 3rd Year Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Greg Thorson Special Teams Coordinator
Alex Marx Offensive Coordinator
Isaac Buntrock JV Offensive Coordinator
Andrew Plisch Offensive Assistant
Michael Augustiniak Offensive Assistant
Troy Pieper JV Defensive Coordinator
Gavin Wroblewski JV Special Teams
Key returners:
– Brody Lange: Senior, GNC Honorable Mention 2022 & led the team in sacks at
Defensive End.
– Erik Mann:Senior, GNC Honorable Mention 2022. Leader of the defense at Middle
Linebacker.
– D’Ondre Houghton: Senior, Starting Safety. Led the team in interceptions in 2022.
– EJ Weix: Junior, Starting Safety and Receiver.
– Russell Gruetzmacher: Junior, Starting Left Tackle.
– Aiden Lonsdorf: Junior, Starting Outside Linebacker & Tight End.
Key newcomers:
– Jacob Schmeltzer: Junior, Starting Quarterback.
– Kaiden Henrich: Junior, Starting Runningback.
– Ivan Amador-Gonzalez: Junior, Starting Cornerback.
2023 Merrill Bluejays Football Schedule
Conference outlook:
– Mosinee & Medford are top dogs until proven otherwise. Lakeland seems to have a
nice team returning as well. The top end looks will need to be challenged this season.
Keys to your success this season:
– Building upon what we’ve put together the last two years. The offseason work has
improved and we have systems in place both offensively and defensively that have
some continuity now. We need to focus on mental mistakes and play fundamentally
sound football. Too often in high school sports the more disciplined teams find
themselves in the win column.
Conference outlook:
– Mosinee & Medford are top dogs until proven otherwise. Lakeland seems to have a
nice team returning as well. The top end looks will need to be challenged this season.
Keys to your success this season:
– Building upon what we’ve put together the last two years. The offseason work has
improved and we have systems in place both offensively and defensively that have
some continuity now. We need to focus on mental mistakes and play fundamentally
sound football. Too often in high school sports the more disciplined teams find
themselves in the win column.
Behind the scenes: Who are some of the people that help your
program succeed?
– Activities Director Chris Hahn and Assistant Bre Semling do much for our football
behind the scenes.
– Our Football Booster Club and the parents involved also have done a great job this
past offseason with fundraising.
– Our Alumni Association the “Silver M Club,” for their support as well.
Coach’s comments: anything else you’d like to share?
– The Merrill community has been incredibly supportive and I’m very excited for this
season to begin.
program succeed?
– Activities Director Chris Hahn and Assistant Bre Semling do much for our football
behind the scenes.
– Our Football Booster Club and the parents involved also have done a great job this
past offseason with fundraising.
– Our Alumni Association the “Silver M Club,” for their support as well.
Coach’s comments: anything else you’d like to share?
– The Merrill community has been incredibly supportive and I’m very excited for this
season to begin.
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Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
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Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
