Photo courtesy Nate Beier, GX3Media
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: Gilman won the North Central East-8 title last year with McDonell Central finishing second. After Gilman won the regular season meeting, those two met again for the 8-player title, with McDonell Central getting revenge in a 22-0 win. Owen-Withee was third, with Alma Center Lincoln also qualifying for the playoffs.
Note: McDonell Central moves from 8-player to 11-player this year. Lake Holcombe moves from the North Central East-8 to the North Central West-8. Assumption makes the move from 11-player to 8-player this season after competing in the Marawood. Athens joins the North Central East-8 from the Northwoods-East 8. Newman Catholic moves in from the CWC-8.
2025 North Central East-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Northwoods East-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 CWC-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Marawood Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Gilman
2) Owen-Withee
3) Assumption
4) Athens
5) Alma Center Lincoln
6) Newman Catholic
7) Thorp
8) Cornell
Players to Watch:
Wylie Cornwell, RB/LB, Assumption: Cornwell was the team’s leading rusher last season and also a First Team All-Conference linebacker.
Logan Halida, QB/DB, Gilman: Halida threw for 742 yards and nine touchdowns and added 623 yards and 17 scores on the ground. He was First Team All-Conference on both sides of the ball.
Kolby Keepers, RB/DL, Gilman: Keepers was First Team All-Conference as a defensive lineman and also accounted for 655 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Adam Massman, QB, Alma Center Lincoln: Massman was an Honorable Mention All-Conference choice last year after leading the team in passing and rushing.
Clay Mueller, RB/DB, Owen-Withee: Mueller led the Blackhawks in rushing last season with 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns as just a freshman, and was a First Team All-Conference defensive back.
Talon Mueller, RB/LB, Owen-Withee: Mueller earned Second Team All-Conference recognition as the workhorse back, going for 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was also the team’s leading tackler on defense.
2026 Team Previews
1) Gilman went through the 2025 regular season undefeated as one of the most dominant 8-player teams we’ve seen. They continued that into the postseason, advancing to the state championship game while allowing just four points per game up to that point. After downing McDonell Central 38-12 during the regular season, the Pirates couldn’t get things going in the right direction and it snowballed to a 22-0 defeat, settling for a runner-up trophy. There are a number of talented players returning, as the Pirates enter the year as one of the favorites in 8-player. Quarterback Logan Halida is back after racking up more than 1300 yards of offense and 26 touchdowns, while Kolby Keepers and Lucas Halida each ran for at least 500 yards with at least ten touchdowns. Keepers teams with Henry Syryczuk as the top two tacklers a year ago.
2) Owen-Withee looked very good against most of the teams on its schedule a year ago, but the Blackhawks couldn’t figure out McDonell Central or Giliman, who the team lost to to open the season and close the playoffs in Level 2. Longtime coach Terry Laube is back with a 228-144 career record and a veteran group ready to challenge Gilman in the North Central-East 8 and the state rankings. The team has seven starters returning on both sides of the ball, including 1000-yard rushers Clay Mueller and Talon Mueller. “We need to take a big step in our ability to play physical football,” said Laube. “Our underclassmen need to continue to develop their skill sets and play with another level of confidence in themselves.”
3) Assumption makes the move from 11-player to 8-player this year, and it comes at an opportune time, as longtime head coach Jeff Sullivan has a very experienced group returning. That includes 15 letterwinners, as the team is looking to translate the experience of playing the Marawood Conference to the new game. “I am excited to have eight seniors on our team this fall, which should be our strength,” said Sullivan. “Our biggest weakness will be adjusting to the 8-player game.” Wylie Cornwell, Camden Martin, and Braxten Steinert are experienced skill guys coming back in the backfield.
4) Athens qualified for the 8-player playoffs and advanced to Level 2 last season, going 6-3 overall on the field. “We have a nice group of returning players with a lot of game experience,” said veteran head coach Todd Diethelm, who returns nine total starters, five on offense and four on defense. “Our skill and offensive line positions will be solid but we need to get stronger in the weight room to compete with the top 8-player schools in the state.” Senior Dax Diethelm is the top returning rusher for the Bluejays, who do need to replace 1100-yard rusher Evin Passehl.
5) Alma Center Lincoln the first two games of the year, but rebounded to finish 4-4 during the regular season to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019. They’d drop a close one to Marion/Tigerton in Level 1 by a 20-16 score. Many of the league coaches have identified the Hornets as a team to potentially take a step forward this fall. They return Adam Massman at quarterback after he got the bulk of the snaps last year and led the team in rushing.
6) Newman Catholic continued its run as one of best and most consistent 8-player programs in the state, qualifying for the playoffs for a seventh time. Longtime head coach Paul Michlig and the Cardinals move from the CWC-8 to the North Central East-8 this season, looking to keep the run going. Michael Fox split time at quarterback a year ago and returns, along with running back Eli Feit, who led the team in rushing as a freshman.
7) Thorp was the state runner-up in 2023, but the Cardinals haven’t been able to get back to the playoffs since then, missing out last year with a 3-5 record. “We have a young team that is growing in confidence and ability,” said head coach Keldric Stokes. “This group is challenged in getting our program back to attacking in all three groups on the field. This group has played a lot of ball together and we need that to show right away this year.” The Cardinals are bringing back five starters on offense and five on defense,
8) Cornell struggled last season, going 0-8 on the season with no real competitive games. The Chiefs did not enter any stats on Bound last year or provide a preseason survey.
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].
