Bortolini, Kewaunee set to face big challenge
Tanor Bortolini got to enjoy one of the best views of the Kewaunee football team growing up.
The wide-eyed kid would climb up to the press box to watch games with his grandfather, Glenn Teske, who is the team’s public-address announcer.
“When I was a little kid he would be in the press box, and I would come up and watch the game from there,” Bortolini said. “That’s when I really started to love football.”
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Bortolini will see his toughest test Friday when Kewaunee hosts Stratford in a WIAA Division 5 state quarterfinal game.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior lineman’s performance in the trenches will be key as the Storm attempts to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2013.
In its way from accomplishing that goal is a Stratford team that features Ben Barten, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior lineman, who committed to the University of Wisconsin last week.
“We have to clean up some things,” Bortolini said. “We have to make sure we get all of our blocks every play. We’ve got to have less penalties. We have to minimize turnovers. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot. That’s what we have to do to win.”
While the collective performances of the teams will ultimately determine who advances, Friday’s contest will provide a huge measuring stick for Bortolini as he matches up against Barten.
Bortolini has made visits to Iowa, South Dakota State and Western Michigan this fall.
A strong showing Friday by the MONLPC-Large offensive and defensive lineman of the year could go a long way in getting further noticed on the recruiting trail.
“I’ve always aspired to play college,” Bortolini said. “It has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I’ve got to keep working hard.”
Bortolini certainly has the bloodlines to play at the next level.
His dad, Scott, played college baseball at Lakeland College, while his mom, Teresa, played college basketball at UW-Milwaukee after setting Kewaunee’s careering scoring record, a mark that stood for 28 years.
Bortolini has flashed his potential as a four-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field.
He started on the offensive line as a freshman before becoming a two-way starter last season.
Bortolini regularly takes up residence in an opponent’s backfield, making his fair share of plays from his defensive end position.
In a 31-28 victory over Southern Door last week, Bortolini blocked a field goal in the first half that ultimately proved to be the difference in the Storm’s closest game of the season.
For as dominant as he’s been thus far, Bortolini still has plenty of work to do if he wants to take his game to the next level.
“He’s got potential,” Kewaunee coach Randy Charles said. “He’s a good, coachable kid, who works hard for us. He’s definitely got size and takes advantage of his size and his stature. It’s something that you need a guy like that to do. He’s a guy that comes and works every day at practice to try and get better and refine his skills.”
After going four years without a playoff win, the undefeated Storm (11-0) will be looking to taking another step closer to being a state participant again, something the program enjoyed five times from 2001 to 2010.
Stratford (9-2) is aiming to do the same thing as it aims to end a 10-year drought without a state appearance following the last of its six straight D6 state championships from 2003 to 2008.
“You want to go against some of the best teams in the state,” Charles said, “And Stratford is obviously there year after year. I think it’s going to be a good measuring stick to see where we’re at.”
