WITTENBERG, WI- The Wittenberg-Birnamwood Chargers are looking to return to the State Championship for the first time since 1997, when they came away as State Champions in their first and only trip to State. Since then, they have reached Level 4 one other time.
Bernard Holsey may have been packing their lucky rabbit foot in their bags this post season as they have come away with some pretty memorable victories. The Chargers topped Brillion 27-18, scoring on a fourth quarter drive that sealed the victory and gutsy two point conversion call that made the difference in a 29-28 win over Amherst.
“You just have to find anyway to win at this point in the season,” Coach Holsey said. “I count my blessings every time I come on to the field for practice or to play.”
Next up for Wittenberg-Birnamwood is unbeaten Aquinas. The Bluegolds have won every game this season by multiple scores with their closest game being 32-15 at Prescott. Aquinas is balanced with 33 passing touchdowns and 32 rushing touchdowns this season.
“They are a well-oiled machine and it will come down to big plays. They make a lot of fantastic long plays and that is what we are going to have to watch,” said Holsey. “We just got to play with maximum effort and see what happens.”
The Chargers have also had their big plays, led by Senior Quarterback Ben Wesolowski. The senior himself has 27 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns this season.
“Coaches put in a great game plan every day and put us in the best position to score,” Wesolowski said.
“He is a great kid and he took this offense on his shoulders and has done a great job,” Holsey said. “The offense is doing great and they kept us in a lot of ball games and won games for us too.”
“I did not know if he was going to give me free reigns like he has, but he trusts me and I trust him,” the Chargers quarterback added.
The Chargers were predicted to finish 7th in the CWC at the start of the season, and they have turned almost every head that has doubted them, with one more big hurdle to cross on Friday.
“We knew that was not where we were going to end up and so we went out and proved everyone wrong and that is what we are going to keep doing.”
At the final practice, the coaching staff pointed to the wall in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School gym. Hanging is a banner of the 1997 State Championship Team. The message, go get one of those. Wesolowski says the team has never been more ready.
“This has been our goal all season and we are just going to trust our coaching. We have been talking about it all year and now it is right in front of us and we have to go get it.”
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood Charger game will be on Frog Country 92.3 FM at 7:00 PM Friday.
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