Witt-Birn coach sees players progressing

WITTENBERG – As the Wittenberg-Birnamwood football team left the field after a recent practice, two Chargers stayed behind. New head coach Bernard Holsey remained, giving each player one-on-one instruction, before eventually being the last person to leave.

For Holsey, an eight-year veteran of the NFL, taking some extra time to share his knowledge is one of the perks of his new gig.

"I want to give that knowledge back to anybody who is willing to learn. That's what it's really all about," said Holsey, who played defensive line for the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Washington. "Playing football was great, but coaching football is even better. I like to see kids do well."

Holsey, who joined the W-B staff as defensive coordinator last season, takes the reins of a team coming off a 1-8 season.

Holsey said that wins and losses won't be the primarily measuring stick as he works on Wittenberg-Birnamwood's mental approach to help turn things around.

"How many times have you been in a football game and you look at the guy in front of you, and you already know he's weaker than you, but for some reason he beats you every play?" Holsey said. "That's called mental toughness. He enforced his will upon you."

The Chargers have a half dozen starters returning on either side of the ball, led by junior August Peplinski. The senior linebacker is a cornerstone of the W-B defense and also will be a part of the team's running back by committee approach on offense.

Joining Peplinski in the backfield will be his younger brother Alex, a sophomore, junior Keegan Miller and senior Brian Szutkowski.

The Chargers will be primarily a running team, and they are hoping senior Will Switalla, who takes over at quarterback, will give them the ability to throw the ball, too.

One mainstay of the lines will be David Archer, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior.

"David is a good captain, a good solid guy," Holsey said. "Day in and day out, he's the last one on the field."

Another will be Dylan Wieland, a 5-8, 180-pound senior who will play defensive tackle and center.

"Dylan is an unsung hero," Holsey said. "He didn't get much playing time last year, he didn't initially play much. But we had some injuries, and he played well. I think he is going to be a big contributor to our defense as well as our offense."

Holsey said he sees the Chargers making progress, and that's what he finds most rewarding about coaching.

"To me, it's the little successes that become the big successes," Holsey said. "You take a freshman who maybe isn't that talented that works his tail off until the end, and by the time he's a senior, he's starting or playing quite a bit. You see him mature and grow. You see that same senior go back and help a freshman and show that leadership — that's what success is all about."

Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Coach: Bernard Holsey, first year

2013 record: 1-8 overall, 0-7 Central Wisconsin-8

How far they got: Did not make playoffs

Key returnees: August Peplinski, jr., FB-LB; Alex Peplinski, so., RB-LB; Keegan Miller, jr., RB-DB; Brian Szutkowski, sr., RB-DB; Will Switalla, sr. QB-LB; David Archer, sr., OL-DL; Dylan Wieland.

2014 schedule

Aug. 22: at Northland Pines

Aug. 29: vs. Rhinelander

Sept. 4: at Pacelli

Sept. 12: at Bonduel

Sept. 19: vs. Weyauwega-Fremont

Sept. 26: at Iola-Scandinavia

Oct. 3: vs. Manawa

Oct. 10: at Amherst

Oct. 17: vs. Shiocton

2013 results

Northland Pines 50, W-B 22

W-B 15, Rhinelander 13

Pacelli 21, W-B 0

Bonduel 47, W-B 14

Weyauwega-Fremont 26, W-B 0

Iola-Scandinavia 54, W-B 12

Manawa 33, W-B 12

Amherst 47, W-B 6

Shiocton 46, W-B 0