Wausau West senior hopes bigger leads to better this football season
WAUSAU - Mitch Michalske came into the start of Wausau West’s football practice last week as a slightly bigger-bodied running back than he was when he finished last fall.
The hope is it will lead to an even bigger performance than his breakout junior season.
Michalske added about 10 pounds to his 190-pound frame in the offseason to better prepare him for the physical challenges of being the Warriors’ workhorse back. He also focused his training on becoming quicker and more agile.
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“I just feel that I had some big runs (last year) that I just didn’t finish,” Michalske said during a recent West practice.
He did enough to be among the top backs in the Valley Football Association. He rushed for 1,134 yards and six touchdowns in nine games and earned second team all-conference honors in the VFA-North Division. He earned honorable mention all-conference honors in his sophomore season, his first year on the Warriors varsity roster.
Wausau West coach Jason Foster said one knock against Michalske early in his West career was that he could be fumble-prone. He worked on ball control after his sophomore season but fumbled against Stevens Point Area Senior High in a season-opening loss last year.
He fumbled just twice over the final eight games he played.
“You could tell he was a little concerned after (the fumble) in the SPASH game, but he never had an issue with it the rest of the season,” Foster said. “He had a tremendous junior season, and while we had a great turnout in (this summer’s weight lifting program), the one guy who took it to another level would be Mitch. He added some extra weight, but (in camp) he looks even faster than he was last year.”
West, which is coming off a 5-5 season, hosts Appleton East in the season opener Aug. 18 at Thom Field.
Michalske averaged 4.9 yards per rush on 231 attempts for West last fall and should be a main cog of the Warriors offense again this season. He averaged 25.6 carries per game last season and totaled 66 carries for 461 yards over the final two contests.
He said he wants the workload.
“I feel I get stronger (as the game goes on),” Michalske said. “It takes about 15 carries before you really get into a groove.”
Having Michalske in the backfield should be a source of comfort for an overall rebuilt West offense. Tight end Grant Hill,a three-year starter, is the most experienced returning player back on the Warriors offensive line, and quarterback Chandler Fochs returns after suffering a regular-season-ending leg injury in the opener against SPASH last year.
Fullback Sam Sippel and running Matt Wittenberg will be two weapons out of West’s backfield, and senior wideout David Bagby could be one of the top targets in the Warriors passing game.
The Warriors defense has even less returning varsity experience. Senior defensive end Jacob Pupp is the lone returning starter from last year. Two sophomores —linebacker Marc Sippel and cornerback Brennan Goralski — should be key newcomers to the defense this fall.
“We graduated players like (defensive backs) Sully Phillips and Payton Nelson. Both were three-year starters and now are college athletes, and those are tough pieces to replace,” Foster said. “But we actually feel we have more speed (on defense) this year.”
Pupp said while the defense might experience some up-and-down moments early in the season, he likes the overall makeup of the team.
“There’s going to be little growing pains, but I feel our defense works hard so we will fight through it,” Pupp said.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.coml; on Twitter @timmyjo11