2023 Record: 7-2 overall, 5-2 in Flyway (3rd)
Lost in Level 2 against Two Rivers (35-0)
Key Losses: RB Ben Timm (Offensive POY), OL/DT Joe Volz (2nd team), RB/CB Mason Willacker, OL Colin Crofts, ILB Jeremy Ksioszk, S Brett Theisen
Key Returners: DE Emmett Gonering (1st team), OL Amadeo Rodriguez (2nd team), ILB Blake Heltemes, RB Riley Kohlmann, WR/K Luke Pendowski (2nd team kicker)
Coach Todd Wondra is entering his eighth season back leading Campbellsport and the past few seasons, he has helped the program regain its footing as a perennial playoff qualifier and conference contender.
“We’ve been in the playoffs the past few years, that has become the expectation here,” Wondra said.
With that standard in mind, Wondra and the Cougars have big shoes to fill this fall as they look to replace Ben Timm, last year’s Flyway offensive player of the year.
Timm ran for 1,802 yards and 17 touchdowns. Campbellsport also loses 10 rushing touchdowns from graduates Evan Wilcox and Mason Willacker.
Wondra said Campbellsport will try to replace all of that production with several different backs. Senior Riley Kohlmann and junior Blake Heltemes will lead the backfield.
“Riley has played there the last two years as a backup and Blake played there a little bit last year so we’re going to split time between the two of them,” Wondra said.
Kohlmann ran for 69 yards last year; Heltemes ran for 96 and two TDs.
Heltemes, who played offense in just six games last year, said he was able to learn about the position from Timm last year.
“Ben was crazy good,” Heltemes said. “I learned a lot from him getting to talk to him, he was a great leader.”
Wondra said he is excited for the experience that his team brings back in the trenches, specifically on the offensive line, including senior Amadeo Rodriguez, who was an all-conference performer on the line last year.
Defense figures to be a calling card for Campbellsport once again this fall. The Cougars gave up just 74 points in 2023, which was second to Flyway-champion Springs.
Emmett Gonnering returns for his senior season after an all-conference season at defensive end last year. He finished with and eye-popping 16 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Both of those are tops among returning Flyway players.
“I’m looking forward to rushing right up the middle, looking for the ball carrier and hitting him as hard as I can,” Gonnering said. “Last year was a ball, but this year is more about the team. Even if the stats don’t show, as long as I’m helping the team, that’s all I care about.”
Gonnering will have Amadeo Rodriguez next to him on the defensive line once again.
With the experience that the line has, Wondra said he hopes it allows the rest of the defense to play fast and use their athleticism.
“Last year our defense was one of the best in the conference point-wise,” Wondra said. “I believe it’s going to be the same, it’s just going to be a little bit more aggressive this year.
“We have a bunch of really good athletes and that’s what we rely on. Just let them run and play fast and take away a lot of the thinking.”
Heltemes is the leading tackler among returning players in the conference with 107 last year. He also forced a fumble and recovered another. He said he loves being able to fly around the field.
“I just try to stay hyped,” Heltemes said. “You can’t play football when you’re down on yourself, you’ve got to play hard and get to the ball as fast as possible.”
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