The Berlin football team’s season came to an end on Nov. 1. Berlin played Mayville, and the score was 26-28 we lost. The playoff game was really emotional for the team and especially the seniors that are saying goodbye to their sport.
“There is nothing I would’ve done differently this season. I felt we were always prepared for our opponents and were focused and everyone had the same goals throughout the season. Sometimes the game doesn’t go our way and mistakes happen. I felt we had a good season,” quarterback Aaron Bartol said.
All of the seniors agree that they felt good about their season and would not have changed a thing. The seniors have been playing football for many years.
“I grew up watching football so I always knew I wanted to play it when I was older,” offensive tackle Zeath Hoinacki-Lowe said.
Hoinacki-Lowe said that he has a lot of passion and love for the sport, but will not be continuing it in college. All the seniors have said that they will also not be continuing playing football in college, but the team has shared many great memories in the time they played together.
“My favorite memory was beating the Wisconsin Dells,” middle linebacker Max Sonnentag said.
Running offensive linebacker Luke Budde has been playing football ever since he was old enough to join a team.
“My favorite part of football is getting to play games with the same kids I’ve grown up with as well as worked out with since eighth grade,” Budde said.
Offensive tackle Josue Rubio has been playing football for five years. He played two years in middle school.
“Football is all about teamwork. My team is like my family. I’ve grown up with these guys my whole life,” Rubio said.
Defensive back Kale Bending has also been playing football for the same amount of time as Budde and Sonnentag.
“Nothing is ever gonna be easy and you gotta fight,” Bending said.
The seniors have made it to the playoffs every single year that they have played in high school. “Some advice I’d leave to the players for next year would be to keep working. Even when you are winning football games and feel like you’re the best in your conference, there are always going to be better teams you will face, and preparation for those teams start weeks and even months before you play them,” Bartol said.
Head Coach Joe Stellmacher has been coaching BHS for 15 years and has been the head coach for 14 years.
“This group of six seniors have had a tremendous impact on Berlin Football and Berlin High School. They are an outstanding group of young men and I hope some of the lessons they learned during their course of four years in the Berlin Football Program will carry with them as they enter their adult lives,” Stellmacher said.
