NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – Freedom enters the 2026 football season with championship aspirations after earning the No. 5 spot in Bound Wisconsin’s Division 4 preseason rankings.
The Irish went 10-1 during the regular season last year and advanced to the sectional finals before falling to eventual state finalist Winneconne.
Freedom returns one of the state’s most promising young offensive cores, led by junior quarterback Owen Henkel, who threw for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore, and standout running back Axzil Eggert, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2025.
The Irish also bring back four starting offensive linemen, giving the offense plenty of experience up front. While Freedom must replace several key contributors on defense, the return of standout defensive lineman Mason Van Groll and a talented junior class has the program positioned for another deep playoff run.
TOP 15
- Little Chute
- Lake Mills
- Edgewood
- Aquinas
- Freedom
- West Salem
- Lodi
- Racine St. Catherine’s
- Northwestern
- Osceola
- Delavan-Darien
- Stratford
- Mosinee
- Wrightstown
- Evansville
OTHERS TO WATCH
- Altoona
- Ashland
- Berlin
- Campbellsport
- Edgerton
- Ellsworth
- Jefferson
- Marinette
- Oconto Falls
- Platteville
- Ripon
- Saint Croix Central
- Saint Francis
- Seymour
- Shoreland Lutheran
- Turner
- Waupun
- Wisconsin Dells
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