Over the next several weeks, we’ll be previewing every conference in the state as part of our preseason preparations.
Check out all of our Football Conference Previews for every league in the state, here.
2025 Recap: Marion/Tigerton claimed the CWC-8 title a year ago, going a perfect 7-0 in league play. The co-op program would go out to Sevastopol in Level 2 of the playoffs. Tri-County was second, followed by Almond-Bancroft and Newman Catholic, who all made the postseason but went out in the first game.
Note: Newman Catholic moves from the CWC-8 to the North Central-East 8 this year. Rosholt joins the CWC-8 this season officially after forfeiting its 11-player schedule last year and playing many of the CWC-8 teams in non-conference contests.
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Marion/Tigerton
2) Rosholt
3) Tri-County
4) Wild Rose
5) Almond-Bancroft
6) Port Edwards
7) Menominee Nation
8) Bowler/Gresham
Players to Watch:
Landon Anderson, WR, Wild Rose: Anderson hauled in 38 passes for 534 yards and seven touchdowns last season to earn First Team All-Conference recognition.
Gage Beggs, RB/DB, Tri-County: Beggs was Second Team All-Conference on both offense and defense last season and is the top returning rusher for the Penguins, averaging 11 yards per carry a year ago.
Dylan DeLaet, QB, Rosholt: DeLaet had a highly productive junior season, throwing for 1,515 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding more than 200 yards on the ground.
Braxton Landwehr, QB, Wild Rose: Landwehr threw for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago as an Honorable Mention All-Conference choice.
Braylon Mielke, RB/LB, Marion/Tigerton: Mielke is the top player in 8-player football heading into the season, coming off a dominating junior campaign that saw him rush for 2,068 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Tucker Stiles, OL/DL, Almond-Bancroft: Stiles was a First Team All-Conference selection on offense last year and a Second Team choice on defense.
2026 Team Previews
1) Marion/Tigerton lost its first game of the year against Rosholt, but rebounded to win seven straight, including a Level 1 playoff game against Alma Center Lincoln, before going out against Sevastopol. Marion/Tigerton returns Braylon Mielke, who led all of 8-player in rushing last year with 2,068 yards to go with 26 touchdowns as a WFCA All-State pick. He figures to be one of the best players in the division once again. The three-year enrollment average for the program has crept over 200, meaning they will not be eligible for the 8-player playoffs this year.
2) Rosholt was slated to play 11-player football last year, but canceled that schedule and instead played an independent 8-player schedule. The Hornets faced several of the teams they’ll now play in the CWC-8, beating Marion/Tigerton, Tri-County, and Wild Rose. They’d finish 5-2 overall. 1100-yard rusher Caleb Zik and top receiver Alex Wierzba graduate, though quarterback Dylan DeLaet is returning after a strong junior campaign.
3) Tri-County started the season with five straight wins, but the Penguins dropped three of the final four, including a 22-0 defeat against Hurley in a Level 1 home playoff game. The team graduates a pair of 1000-yard rushers in Jake Makaryk and Aidan Brewer, though Gage Beggs returns in the powerful rushing attack after going for more than 600 yards and nine scores on the ground last season.
4) Wild Rose scored just one on-field victory last year, a 42-20 decision over Port Edwards, to go with a couple forfeit wins. In the six losses for the Wildcats, they allowed at least 44 points. It remains to be seen just how much improvement there will be on defense to make them more competitive, but the offense does return quarterback Braxton Landwehr as well as standout receiver Landon Anderson.
5) Almond-Bancroft finished third in the CWC-8 last season and qualified for a third consecutive playoff appearance in 8-player. Head coach Andy Louis has concerns about low numbers after the loss of a strong senior class, especially having to replace quarterback Emmitt Stiles, who was also the CWC-8 Defensive Player of the Year as a defensive lineman. Speaking of linemen names Stiles, Tucker Stiles does return this year after a First Team all-league junior season. He’s one of three starters back on offense and four on defense.
6) Port Edwards did not win a game on the field last year, as the two victories credited to their record came via forfeit. It was a very young team that returns quarterback Kelson Casey, who led the Blackhawks in passing and rushing last season as a sophomore, as well as top receivers Bentley Teske and Colin O’Connor.
7) Menominee Nation forfeited the final five games of the 2025 season after dropping games to Wabeno/Laona and Tri-County in lop-sided fashion. It remains to be seen if they will complete a schedule in 2026.
8) Bowler/Gresham forfeited all games last season and it does not appear that they will field a varsity team this fall either.
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].
