By Jeremy Mayo
River News sports editor
The last time the Medford Raiders won the Great Northern Conference title was the COVID-shortened 2020 season. While the Raiders have made the playoffs in each of the three subsequent three seasons, they have been unable to shake the title of conference bridesmaid.
That could change this year.
In a GNC that’s experienced a lot turnover and new teams, the Raiders are the constant in the eyes of the media, which picked Medford as this year’s champions in the GNC Football Media Poll — a joint effort of the Northwoods River News (Rhinelander) and The Lakeland Times (Minocqua) that canvasses those who follow the conference on a regular basis.
Three-time defending conference champion Mosinee checks in at No. 2 followed by three other returning playoff qualifiers from the GNC last year — Antigo, Lakeland and Rhinelander. Tomahawk and Wausau East, the two newcomers to the conference this season, tied for sixth in the survey with Merrill predicted to finish eighth.
This year’s panel consists of Northwoods River News sports editor Jeremy Mayo, Lakeland Times sports writer Brett LaBore, Scott Walbeck of WATK-AM and WACD-FM in Antigo, Star News (Medford) sports editor Matt Frey, Great Northern Conference statistician Gregg Scott, Steve Okonek of Sports OnFocus and Alex Koch of WJJQ AM/FM in Tomahawk.
Medford, which received five of the seven first-place votes, is poised to climb back to the top of the conference this year under the direction of Ted Wilson in his 19th season with the Raiders. Medford is led by last year’s top rusher in the league, Paxton Rothmeier, who is complimented by a pair of returning first-team all-conference players in the secondary in Evan Paul and Evan Wilkins.
However, The Raiders have some question marks with young offensive and defensive lines. Their selection at No. 1 was not unanimous. Mosinee received a pair of first-place votes. Though the Indians bid farewell to playmaker Keagen Jirschele —who was both offensive and defensive player of the year in the GNC last season — quarterback Gavin Obremski and others, there’s still plenty of talent remaining. Mosinee returns a two-way all-conference first-teamer in Jackson Lindell, along with six other all-conference recipients.
Behind the top two, the conference seems to be wide open again, like it was last year when the league had six teams make the WIAA playoffs. The Robins bring back a road-grading lineman in Gordon Lucht and may air it out more than in years past with senior quarterback Colton Thomae landing on the preseason watchlist for the Dave Kreig Award, presented to the state’s top senior signal caller. Lakeland will look to build on the momentum it started to build last season when it won its final five regular season games to make the WIAA playoffs. The T-Birds figure to lean on last year’s runner-up for the conference rushing title, Noah Bruckner. Rhinelander brings back a number of all-conference players on the defensive end of the ball as it looks for its fifth playoff trip in the last five years.
Tomahawk and Wausau East replace Ashland and Hayward in the GNC this season following the latest round of football conference realignment from the WIAA. While the Hatchets and Lumberjacks are the new kids on the block, don’t be surprised if they make some noise this year. Tomahawk qualified for the WIAA playoffs out of the Northwoods Conference last year and returns a number of skill position players. Wausau East returns three all-conference players as it comes in from the Valley Football Association.
Even though Merrill went winless in the regular season last year, the Bluejays could easily take a step forward as well with nine starters returning on offense and six on defense.
The prep football season kicks off tonight and, in the GNC, there will be several teams squaring off against old conference rivals. Rhinelander hosts Ashland and Lakeland welcomes Hayward to Minocqua to begin the year. Tomahawk will face old Northwoods conference foe Crandon and Antigo will host Northland Pines, which was briefly in the GNC for football when the conference was first created in 2008.
Medford and Mosinee will get strong road tests at Holmen and Stratford, respectively. Merrill travels to Osceola and Wausau East will host Westby.
Conference play kicks off Sept. 6 with the two conference newcomers facing each other at Thom Field in Wausau. Meanwhile, Medford will host Antigo, Merrill will host Mosinee and Lakeland will host Rhinelander to round out the first week of conference play.
If the media pundits are correct, the race for the conference title will go all the way down to the final week of the regular season as Medford travels to play Mosinee Oct. 18.
GNC Media Poll Results
| Team (1st) | Pts | 2023 Rec. | 2023 GNC Palce | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medford (5) | 54 | 8-3, 6-1 | 2nd |
| 2 | Mosinee (2) | 51 | 9-2, 7-0 | 1st |
| 3 | Antigo | 37 | 4-6, 3-4 | Tied 4th |
| 4 | Lakeland | 34 | 5-5, 5-2 | 3rd |
| 5 | Rhinelander | 28 | 5-5, 3-4 | Tied 4th |
| T6 | Tomahawk | 17 | 3-7, 3-4 | N/A (NWC) |
| T6 | Wausau East | 17 | 2-7, 1-6 | N/A (VFA) |
| 8 | Merrill | 14 | 0-9, 0-7 | 8th |
POLL RESULTS BY VOTE
| Team | Pts | 1st. | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medford | 54 | 5 | 2 | ||||||
| 2 | Mosinee | 51 | 2 | 5 | ||||||
| 3 | Antigo | 37 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 4 | Lakeland | 34 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 5 | Rhinelander | 28 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| T6 | Tomahawk | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
| T6 | Wausau East | 17 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 8 | Merrill | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
TEAM CAPSULES
1. Medford (2023: 8-3, 6-1 GNC)
The Medford Raiders expect to be contenders in the GNC title chase, but there are some questions that will need to be resolved for them to get to the top. As the 2024 season begins, areas of strength appear to be the skill positions on offense and the secondary on defense. How far Medford goes could depend on the team’s development at the line of scrimmage. Medford expects to showcase above-average speed this season. Senior Paxton Rothmeier, a unanimous All-GNC running back in 2023, tops the list of returning players after he rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. Senior Evan Wilkins should log a lot of carries after picking up nearly 500 yards and scoring nine times last year and senior Parker Lissner takes over full-time after splitting the snaps at quarterback in 2023. Seniors Evan Paul and Charlie Gierl add speed, size and athleticism in whatever positions they fill in Medford’s multiple offensive formations. Senior tight end Alex Faude brings blocking strength and caught a couple of passes last year. Seniors Erich Moretz and Tripp Reamer bring the most experience to the offensive line and senior Owen Klussendorf could be another key piece at tight end. Defensively, Paul and Wilkins return as All-GNC defensive backs while Rothmeier, senior Sam Hierlmeier and junior Evan Czarnezki add depth. The Raiders are breaking in two new starting senior linebackers in Tucyr Smola and state wrestling champion Gage Losiewicz. Up front, Gierl and Faude figure to be stout at the ends, while combinations of Moretz, Klussendorf, Reamer, juniors Blake Tischendorf and Hunter Jochimsen and sophomore Forest Hartl will learn on the job inside. The coaches have noted junior Zach Gosse has flashed early in camp on both sides of the ball and is an emerging player on the line of scrimmage.
Matt Frey, Star News
2. Mosinee (2023: 9-2, 7-0 GNC)
The three-time defending Great Northern Conference champs will look to continue the trend, but will need to do so with a number of new athletes at the skill positions. Mosinee has won a GNC-record 21 consecutive league games and advanced to Level 2 of the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. GNC offensive and defensive player of the year Keagen Jirschele has graduated. Senior Brady Lokken (271 yards receiving, 3 TD) will be the top returning receiver looking to fill that void. Junior Treve Stoffel looks to take over the quarterback spot after seeing limited action and one start last season. Offensive line returns the most experienced group, led by Jackson Lindell. Mosinee held GNC opponents to only three points last season. Senior Elliot Yirkovsky (85) and Treve Stoffel (62) were in Mosinee’s top three in tackles last season, and Lokken had a team-high three sacks. Lindell, a first-team all-GNC defensive lineman, also leads Mosinee’s returnees on defense.
Gregg Scott, GNC Statistician
3. Antigo (2023: 4-6, 3-4 GNC)
Following three rather forgettable seasons, the Antigo Red Robins returned to the playoffs in 2023. Although their postseason stay was short, the Robins are hoping to carry that momentum over to 2024 behind a solid core group of returners, including quarterback Colton Thomae, lineman Gordon Lucht and linebacker depth in All-Conference honorees Grant Praslowicz, Jason Arrowood and Ayden Kaiser. Thomae will man the team’s new Gun-T offense, but who will be featured at the remaining skill positions is being decided in camp, as Antigo will need to find suitable replacements for their top rushers and receivers. It’s a deep and experienced senior class, but overall depth is in question, meaning many of those seniors will be asked to play on both sides of the ball. If the pieces fall in place however, the team’s first winning season since 2017 could be in the cards. It won’t come easy however, as parity behind perennial top dogs Mosinee and Medford seems to be the case, which could lead to some entertaining games between the remaining six in the revamped GNC.
Scott Walbeck, WACD/WATK Antigo
4. Lakeland (2023: 5-5, 5-2 GNC)
The Lakeland Thunderbirds will be led by a new signal caller in 2024. Junior Deklan McQuade is playing quarterback this season after the graduation of all-conference quarterback Kort Meyer. The Thunderbirds will look to unanimous first team all-conference running back Noah Bruckner, a senior, to provide a boost to the offense. Senior Cole Johnson is a returning all-conference lineman. Look for Aiden Bauers to make a huge impact in his sophomore season on the line. All-conference defensive end/outside linebacker Greyson Allen and Carmelo Roche-Vetterneck combined for 21 tackles for a loss last season. The defense will have to replace the production provided by the graduated Talon Haling and Leonard Chosa. Look for Tyson Skubal and Tyrone Moore to take the next step forward this year on defense. After starting 0-4 the last two seasons, the Thunderbirds are looking to get out of the gates faster. They start the season with two old conference foes in Hayward and Ashland. Lakeland will then end the season with the two newcomers to the GNC in Wausau East and Tomahawk. Lakeland’s made the playoffs four out of the last five years but is 0-4 in those playoff games. They’re hoping that 2024 is the year to get that elusive playoff win.
Brett LaBore, The Lakeland Times
5. Rhinelander (2023: 5-5, 3-4 GNC)
After a hot start in 2023, the Hodags backed into the WIAA playoffs by winning just one of their final five games in the regular season before being ousted by eventual Level 3 participant Onalaska. The Hodags are looking to recapture the form they had when they got out to a 4-0 start last season and do return six all-GNC players. The Hodags bring back four all-conference players on the defense — junior defensive lineman Caden Sieker, senior linebacker Sam Schoppe and senior safeties Truman Lamers and Zach Germain. The Hodag offense will try to get back on track after scoring just four touchdowns over its final six games of 2023. Lamers is back at quarterback in the Pistol wing offense. The running back battle is wide open with last year’s top four rushers gone, and the Hodags’ lone returning all-conference player on that side of the ball is senior guard Dolan O’Malley. Don’t be surprised if the Hodags go to the air more often this year with the return of 6-4 senior tight end Bo Stott, along with several other tall targets at tight end and receiver. On special teams, senior Tyler Chariton returns after earning first-team honors in the GNC at punters. Depth may be a concern for the Hodags as both Chariton (ankle) and Germain (hamstring) were hobbled by injuries during preseason camp.
Jeremy Mayo, The Northwoods River News
T6. Tomahawk (2023: 3-7, 3-4 NWC)
Tomahawk is one of two newcomers to the Great Northern Conference after making the playoffs for the second time in three years last season. The Hatchets return two of their top three rushers from last season, Rex Reilly and Brayden Larson. As the Hatchets prep to compete in a difficult GNC, a fully healthy team can finish in the top half of the Conference. The offensive and defensive lines need to reload after graduating two-way starters Brett Marheine and Caleb Dickens last season. With a strong freshman class and most of Tomahawk’s skill position players returning, the Hatchets could definitely turn some heads with their play this season. Overall, expect Tomahawk to compete for another playoff spot and continued improvement under second-year head coach Dewey Reilly. They could be the biggest surprise in the conference come the end of the season.
Alex Koch, WJJQ Tomahawk
T6. Wausau East (2023: 2-7, 1-6 VFA)
The Lumberjacks are one of two new kids on the block in the GNC, joining Tomahawk in the conference this year, but Wausau East is not a stranger to a number of schools in the conference rekindling rivalries with Antigo, Merrill and Rhinelander from the old Wisconsin Valley Conference. Head coach Tyler Kramer seeks improvement in his second year at the helm, and the program’s second year back at the varsity level, after taking a hiatus in 2021 and 2022. The Lumberjacks return three players who earned all-conference honors in the Valley Football Association last year — defensive end Elmer Heard, outside linebacker Jesse Napgezek and offensive lineman Charley Cayley. Expect East to be able to get after the quarterback as Heard and fellow returning senior Colton Muncheow combined for nine sacks last season. Offensively, the Lumberjacks will be inexperienced at the skill positions, with a new quarterback and largely a new backfield. Napgezek, who caught 13 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown last year, is East’s top returning receiver. The Lumberjacks went 2-8 last year and went 1-2 against teams from the Great Northern. East opened last year with a win over eventual playoff qualifier Lakeland but then lost on the road the following week at Rhinelander. East played an extra game in Week 10 against non-qualifier Merrill, falling 28-26.
Jeremy Mayo, Northwoods River News
8. Merrill (2023: 0-9, 0-7 GNC)
Merrill is coming off a tough year that saw them go 0-9 in the regular season, but they did end the year with a win over Wausau East in a week 10 game. The positives for the Bluejays are they only graduated eight players from last year’s team. Their quarterback (Jacob Schmeltzer), both leading rushers (Kaiden Heinrich and Callum Wheeler), and leading receiver (EJ Weix) were underclassmen last season and should be back. Merrill gave many teams a scare last season, including a 12-0 loss to conference runner-up Medford, a 7-6 loss to Crandon, and a 7-0 loss to Rhinelander, who both made the playoffs. A few things fall differently last season they easily could have been in the running for a playoff spot. The Bluejays will be looking for improvement on offense, a squad that scored just 13 points in the 2023 regular season to match a defense that at times played well against some good offenses. A playoff spot should not be out of the realm of possibilities for the Bluejays, especially if we see the jump from the returning players that you would expect in the second year being a starter.
Steve Okonek, Sports OnFocus
