IOLA, WI – A new chapter begins this fall for the Iola-Scandinavia football program as the Thunderbirds make the transition from 11-player football to Wisconsin’s 8-player ranks.
The move comes after years of declining enrollment at Iola-Scandinavia High School, which now has approximately 170 students.
Former head coach Scott Erickson, who led the Thunderbirds for 33 seasons before moving onto college coaching following the 2025 campaign, said the decision was driven by necessity.
“There wasn’t much choice about changing with the shrinking enrollment to around 170 high school students,” Erickson said.
Erickson, one of the longest-tenured coaches in the area, has retired from coaching high school football and will begin coaching at the collegiate level this fall.
The Thunderbirds enter 8-player football after a challenging final season in Division 7. Iola-Scandinavia finished the 2025 season with a 2-7 overall record, earning victories over Shiocton (28-8) in the season opener and a 1-0 forfeit win over Rosholt.
The team battled several playoff-caliber opponents throughout the season, including conference powers Abbotsford, Assumption, Pacelli, Edgar, Pittsville, and Auburndale.
Despite the record, the program remained competitive in several contests. The Thunderbirds dropped a six-point game to Assumption, 32-26, and fell 27-20 to Pacelli midway through the season.
Iola-Scandinavia joins a growing number of Wisconsin schools making the transition as rural districts continue to face enrollment challenges. Eight-player football has expanded rapidly across the state in recent years, providing schools with lower participation numbers an opportunity to sustain their football programs while maintaining student-athlete safety and competitiveness.
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