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: Flambeau was the champion of the Northwoods East-8 in dominating fashion, going unbeaten during the regular season. The Falcons advanced to the sectional finals. Phillips was second though ineligible for the playoffs, while Athens and Hurley each made the postseason and won a playoff game.
Note: Flambeau moves from the Northwoods East to the Northwoods West. Athens moves from the Northwoods East to the North Central-East. Wabeno/Laona, Elcho/White Lake, and Three Lakes/Phelps move from the Northeast-8 to the Northwoods East-8.
2025 Northwoods East-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Northeast-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Wabeno/Laona
2) Phillips
3) Hurley
4) Three Lakes/Phelps
5) Chequamegon
6) Rib Lake
7) Prentice
8) Elcho/White Lake
Players to Watch:
Cooper Albrecht, QB/LB, Wabeno/Laona: Albrecht was the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast-8 last year and a WFCA All-State choice after accumulating more than 2400 yards of offense and 45 touchdowns. He also led the team with 116 tackles.
Ryder Cronauer, OL/LB, Wabeno/Laona: Cronauer earned First Team All-Conference on offense and Second Team laurels on defense last season.
Charlie Haanen, RB/DB, Hurley: Haanen rushed for 938 yards and 13 touchdowns as a Second Team All-Conference pick, adding First Team laurels on defense.
Sam Koshuta, QB, Three Lakes/Phelps: As a sophomore starting quarterback last season, Koshuta threw for 1,032 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bluejays.
Reegan Roy, RB/DB, Wabeno/Laona: Roy had eight interceptions as a First Team All-Conference pick on defense and also earned Second Team recognition as a hybrid player on offense.
Wade Vetter, RB, Phillips: Vetter was second on the Loggers with 640 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 11.2 yards per carry.
2026 Team Previews
1) Wabeno/Laona went undefeated up until the sectional finals, where they’d drop a 38-14 decision to Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas. It was an outstanding year for the co-op program, who have high hopes once again, especially with the return of All-State quarterback Cooper Albrecht. Last year he threw for 1,859 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 601 yards and 19 scores. The top three receivers from last season do need to be replaced, however. Head coach Dan Moravec brings back six starters on both sides of the ball.
2) Phillips went 5-2 on the field last year, though the school’s three-year enrollment average continues to be just above the 200 threshold (201 for this season), making them ineligible for the playoffs. The team always relies heavily on the running game, and just one of the top four rushers is back this season, second-leading rusher Wade Vetter.
3) Hurley has made a successful transition to 8-player football, making the postseason in its first two seasons in the reduced player option. Last year, they won a playoff game at Tri-County before going out against North Crawford. The key parts of last year’s backfield are returning, including leading rusher Charlie Haanen as well as versatile dual-threat quarterback Jack Rowe.
4) Three Lakes/Phelps went 4-4 on the field during the regular season, and it was enough for the Bluejays to get into the WIAA 8-player playoffs. However, after falling to Wabeno/Laona 52-6 earlier in the year, they’d go out 42-0 to the Rebels in Level 1. Patrick George replaces Justin Szews as the head coach, taking over a program with some solid pieces coming back. That includes quarterback Sam Koshuta, who threw for more than 1000 yards, as well as second-leading rusher Jack Westfall along with top receiver Owen Liebscher.
5) Chequamegon resumes as a standalone program this year after Butternut and Mercer were previously part of a co-op with the Screaming Eagles. “Things are going to look very different this upcoming season,” said head coach Michael Semon. “We graduated 10 seniors who took up a majority of our playing time in all three phases. Even with graduating so many, we are on track to grow with our overall numbers. There will be a lot of open spots and a lot of competition to fill those roles.” The team went 3-5 last year, though one of the victories came via forfeit.
6) Rib Lake won games 44-6 and 80-14 last year, but also forfeited three games, including the final two of the season. Unfortunately they did not enter stats last year or provide a preseason survey.
7) Prentice did manage to win a pair of games last year, a non-conference game against South Shore and a Northwoods East-8 contest against Rib Lake. Unfortunately they did not enter stats last year or provide a preseason survey.
8) Elcho/White Lake did not win a game on the field last year, as the only victories credited to their record were forfeits over Pembine/Goodman and Faith Christian. Mike Albin takes over as the head coach from Frank Bernhagen.
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].
