Merrill Bluejays Football Season Preview
Coaching staff
Head Coach: Jason Wadzinski – 14th year of varsity coaching, 2nd year as Head Coach of the Merrill Bluejays.
Assistant Coaches: Offensive Coordinator Alex Marx, Special Teams Coordinator Greg
Thorson, Assistant Coaches Andy Plisch, Ryan Heath, Isaac Buntrock, Carey Mullenberg, Chris Hahn, Michael Augustiniak & Chris Zastrow.
Offense: key returning players
Quarterback #10 Brian Ball, Half Back #25 Nathan Brzoznowski, Offensive Lineman #63 Ryder Depies
Defense: key returning players
Defensive Lineman #63 Ryder Depies, Middle Linebacker #9 Erik Mann, Cornerback #3 Bradyn Pieper.
Conference outlook
Mosinee football is the top dog until proven otherwise. They graduated a stellar Senior
Quarterback last year but many of the other pieces are in place and the next man up looks
to be just as competent. Medford and Rhinelander continue to be solid in the Great Northern with Lakeland and Hayward taking strides last year as well. It should be a competitive and fun conference to keep an eye on this year.
Keys to your success on offense
On offense this season we predicate ourselves on running the ball and controlling the clock.
We’re excited about our depth this seasons and will lean on that depth to outlast opponents
and put points on the board.
Keys to your success on defense
The Bluejay defense this season will pride itself on the “bend but don’t break” mentality. We have a core groups of veterans returning with a nice mix of some underclassmen who have stepped up. We have room to grow, but it should be a fun development to watch.
Behind the scenes: Who are some of the people that help your program succeed?
Our Activities Director Scott Arneson has been a great person to work with and for to run a
program. The Merrill Football Booster Club let by Beth and Chad Meyer make everything so
much simpler for the coaching staff.
What is your football program all about? How do you measure success?
Our football program measures success by numbers that we have out, and if we’ve helped
them transition into quality young people. Everyone wants to win, but at the end of the day
if we have kids leaving our program who have grown into respectful members of society
that’s the ultimate win.
2022 Central Wisconsin Fall Sports Schedules: Links to School Schedule Updates
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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, adminstration, 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]
