Wrightstown turning to depth to contend in NEC

The Wrightstown football team was treated to a steak dinner following Tuesday’s practice.

The Tigers are hungry for more, though.

Wrightstown enters the season with a rather experienced squad in addition to the Green Bay area’s longest WIAA playoff streak.

Despite having to adjust to being one of the smaller schools in the North Eastern Conference, the Tigers have extended their streak to 22 straight trips to the postseason.

However, Wrightstown will be looking to spread things out a little more to try to contend for the title in the third-year conference.

The Tigers will still be a meat-and-potatoes team, which prides itself on pounding the rock. They’re just hoping to become more of a platoon team as well.

“We’re trying to get a little more two-platooning rather than guys playing both ways,” Wrightstown coach Steve Klister said. “The last couple of years, we wore down a little bit in the fourth quarter. Against the really good teams, they have a lot of guys that play one way where we struggled a little bit the last couple of years.”

The Tigers had their season end the past two years with close WIAA Division 4 playoff losses to NEC foes. They lost 7-6 to Freedom in 2015 and 34-31 against Little Chute last season.

“Five years ago, we probably had six, seven or eight guys playing both ways,” Klister said. “Now, we’re hoping it’s only like two or three. … I think getting guys more reps and more guys experience is going to help us.”

No player did more for Wrightstown in recent years than Bryce Herlache, who will have to be replaced after rushing for 1,871 yards and 29 touchdowns while being named NEC defensive player of the year.

Klister will be turning to a stable of players to replace Herlache’s production on offense, including Preston Kussow, Jacob Klister, Andrew Pelishek, Braydon Smith and Will Braeger. Meanwhile, senior James Hansen returns at quarterback.

Luke Haese, Sam Stenzel and Danny Burns will be asked to be the few players that see extended time on both sides of the ball since the Tigers depth on the line isn’t as abundant as other spots on the field.

Wrightstown has over 20 seniors on this year’s team. The athletic group looks more than capable of leading the squad to its familiar playoff spot.

“We’re really fortunate at Wrightstown,” Klister said. “We have really good kids as far as being dedicated to the program and working hard and just a great community that is always backing us.”