Season Preview: 4A-District 2 Teams, Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Class 4A District 2 featured a state-title game participant, another playoff team and a 6-3 squad that was left out of the postseason. It proved to be one of the strongest collections of programs in the state and showed it could be that again in '24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a closer look at 4A-2: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Western Dubuque</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Bobcats reached the state championship game last season, their first appearance since winning it all in '19. They ran the table in this district with their only regular-season setback coming at Cedar Rapids Xavier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Dubuque appears poised to be in the mix again this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='1277238' first='Garret' last='Kluesner'] is a returning first-team all-state member on the offensive line. He'll help protect quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1279823' first='Tanner' last='Anderson'], who tossed 21 TDs to just six interceptions in '23. [player_tooltip player_id='1282223' first='Drew' last='Burds'] contributes at running back and in the secondary. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-heidt/">[player_tooltip player_id='1240421' first='Carter' last='Heidt']</a> is among the top O-Linemen in the district. Caden Culbertson helps anchor the defense from his linebacker position. Mason Ruden shows excellent potential as a two-way lineman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1240423' first='Will' last='Sahm'], RB/LB; Tanis Willenbring, TE/LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1282201' first='John' last='Lemke'], OL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240424' first='Owen' last='Habel'], WR/DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1240427' first='Drew' last='Horsfall'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240426' first='Jared' last='Schanbeck'], OL/DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1240425' first='Caleb' last='Smith'], WR/LB; Leo Clemens,&nbsp;DB; &nbsp;Ben Wernimont, DB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Decorah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>Decorah edged Marion for a postseason berth last year despite losing the head-to-head matchup with the Wolves. The Vikings have reached the playoffs in three of the past four seasons, advancing to the quarterfinals in '21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they'll be replacing their starting quarterback and other key performers from a year ago, the Vikings return enough talent to compete in the district. Offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1279098' first='Will' last='Hahn'] is back after earning all-state recognition in '23. Starting quarterback Louis Bucksa also returns with second-leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1620112' first='Tommy' last='Sexton']. Gavin Groux shines in all three phases of the game. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1466771' first='Gatlin' last='Dahlberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1619841' first='Trevor' last='Kuennen'] stood out last fall as did Keaton Orris on the defensive line. [player_tooltip player_id='1619944' first='Noah' last='Milburn'] is a key contributor on offense and defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Jackson Pipho, WR/DB; Carter Dlhy, TE/LB; Bradan Darling,&nbsp;OL/DL; Cash Riehle, OL/DL; Caleb Krieg, WR/DB; Brayden Wemark, K/DB/WR. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>The Wolves will be motivated after coming up short of the playoffs despite defeating Decorah. An experienced roster could very well lead them to their third postseason appearance since '13. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All-state linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1278910' first='Logan' last='Tilkes'] headlines the group, while receiving plenty of help from Ethan Halm on the Marion defense. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1307582' first='Kaleb' last='Diers'], a UNI TE commitment, stresses defenses with his arm and legs. Daegon Michaels is a productive two-way performer, and [player_tooltip player_id='1286619' first='Grayson' last='Kirsch'] is a weapon at place-kicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Cael Schultz, RB/LB; Noah Case, OL/DL; Landon Dirks, OL/DL; Austin Castillo, OL/DL; Brady Walsh, OL/DL; Creighton Wheeler, RB/DB; Lucas Stearns, ATH; Ethan Wright, OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waverly-Shell Rock</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>After winning a combined 20 games during the previous two seasons, the Go-Hawks stumbled to a 3-6 mark in '23. They advanced to the UNI-Dome for the state semifinals in '21. Waverly-Shell Rock closed out last fall on a three-game winning streak, including a victory against Marion, to build momentum heading into a new year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wesley Hubbard is back as a dual-threat quarterback. He'll have 1,000-yard rusher Ethan Bibler with him in the backfield. [player_tooltip player_id='1418068' first='Gavin' last='Stockdale'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1240475' first='Ian' last='Sedgwick'] anchor what should be a sturdy O-Line. [player_tooltip player_id='1418065' first='Charlie' last='Kramer'] and Camden Kramer are active linebackers, and Sam Wilson delivers in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Kael Dewey, RB/DB; Mekyver Hagarty, RB/DB; Caleb Schipper,&nbsp;ATH; [player_tooltip player_id='1418068' first='Gavin' last='Stockdale'], DB; Gehrig Tibbitts,&nbsp;DB; [player_tooltip player_id='847937' first='Thomas' last='Meyer']-Lillbridge, DB; Nathan Miller, WR-DB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>After a pair of four-win campaigns, the Riverhawks took a step back with only two victories in '23. While it would be nice to get back to the postseason for the first time since '20, they first need to compete better with teams ahead of them in the standings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason City will build around a strong receiving group led by wideout [player_tooltip player_id='1241527' first='Drew' last='Hobart'] and tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1241533' first='Ty' last='Sanchez-Evans']. [player_tooltip player_id='1241530' first='Drayden' last='Witt'] returns after production on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. Carter Klemesrud and Lincoln Berding are do-it-all defensive backs, and linebackers Andrew Novak and Thomas Medlin wreck plans of the other offenses as does [player_tooltip player_id='1241532' first='Gabe' last='Ries'] on the D-Line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> Javel Lee,&nbsp;ATH; Bennett Miller, ATH; Kasin Byre,&nbsp;LB; [player_tooltip player_id='1620078' first='Jayden' last='Williams'], DL; [player_tooltip player_id='1241531' first='Dane' last='Hanson'],&nbsp;QB; [player_tooltip player_id='1280010' first='Sam' last='Overbeck'], OL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:&nbsp;</strong>East won two of its first three ballgames before dropping its final six. The Trojans have lost 25 of their last 30 matchups, but enter a new season with hopes for improvement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's leading rusher, [player_tooltip player_id='1280019' first='Davarrion' last='Clark'], will be at Cedar Falls this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1406416' first='Isaac' last='Lomas'], Jeremiah Clark and Ke'Andre Owens form a potent trio of wideouts. Jah'Khi Parker and Gianni Speller are disruptive defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1619838' first='Chris' last='Pierce'],&nbsp;QB; Josiahs Spates,&nbsp;RB/LB; Jailen Coleman,&nbsp;DB; [player_tooltip player_id='1619345' first='Quayshon' last='Harrington-Johnson'], DL/OL; Adrian Alejo-Rubio, OL/DL; Chance Scoggin, OL/DL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->