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: Shell Lake ran away with the Northwoods West-8 conference title last year, going unbeaten. However, they were ineligible for the playoffs. Northwoods/Solon Springs was second, while Bruce made the playoffs as well.
Note: Flambeau moves from the Northwoods East-8 to the Northwoods West-8 this year. Mellen moves into a co-op with Butternut and Mercer. South Shore has canceled its varsity schedule.
2025 Northwoods West-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2025 Northwoods East-8 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference
2026 PREVIEW:
Predicted Order of Finish:
1) Shell Lake
2) Flambeau
3) Northwood/Solon Springs
4) Bruce
5) Washburn
6) Winter/Birchwood
7) Mellen/Butternut/Mercer
8) South Shore (canceling season)
Players to Watch:
Gunnar Golembiewski, TE/LB, Northwood/Solon Springs: Golembiewski was a First Team All-Conference pick in the Northwoods West-8 last season.
Alex Marcoux, WR, Shell Lake: Marcoux was the top receiver for the Lakers last season, scoring six touchdowns as a Second Team All-Conference performer.
Brooks Mesko, QB, Mellen/Butternut/Mercer: While Mesko did not play last year as the Mellen squad canceled it season, but he was a Second Team All-Conference pick as a sophomore in 2024.
Blake Nyhagen, RB, Bruce: Nyhagen ran for 681 yards and eight touchdowns last year, averaging 10.5 yards per rush attempt. He was a First Team All-Conference choice in the Northwoods West-8.
Brennan Shafer, WR, Shell Lake: Shafer was Honorable Mention All-Conference last year, finishing third on the team in rushing and receiving last year.
2026 Team Previews
1) Shell Lake was one of the most dominating teams in 8-player football last year, going undefeated during the regular season. The only competitive game was a 26-6 win over Northwood/Solon Springs to close out the year. The Lakers were not eligible for the 8-player playoffs due to the enrollment cap, and are slightly above the cap again this year. Alex Marcoux and Brennan Shafer are back as talented and experienced skill players.
2) Flambeau was perfect in the regular season, and qualified for the 8-player postseason for the first time. The Falcons were a top seed, winning the first two games over Bruce and Frederic before going out to McDonell Central in a sectional final. It was a senior-dominated crew in 2025, with most of the starters and key players graduating. That includes Cole Schley and Chanse Ludescher, who accounted for more than 3900 yards of offense, as well as all six First Team All-Conference spots. Second Team defenders Carter Carillion and Sully Reich do return for Flambeau.
3) Northwood/Solon Springs dropped the opening two games of the 2025 season but rebounded to win the next five contests, which qualified them for the playoffs. It was their seventh postseason appearance, which ties for the most in 8-player football.
4) Bruce won just two games on the field last year, but a pair of forfeit victories helped them qualify for the playoffs, where they’d get shutout by Flambeau in the first game. “We have a very young team, and low enrollment in football,” said head coach Adam Malinowski. “Our major strength will by our skilled positions on both offense and defense with some younger players who stepped up last season.” The Red Raiders bring back three starters on offense and defense, including second-leading rusher Blake Nyhagen.
5) Washburn opened the year with a 44-8 victory over Winter/Birchwood and closed it with a 54-6 win over Prentice, but did not win a game on the field otherwise. The Castle Guards feature one of the best nicknames in the state, but that won’t help them replace 1000-yard passer Max Phillips, leading rusher Anthony Chatterton, or top receivers Brodi Anderson and Charley Lussenhop.
6) Winter/Birchwood did not win a game on the field last year, as the only victory on the ledger came via forfeit. Unfortunately they did not enter stats last year or provide a preseason survey.
7) Mellen/Butternut/Mercer is a new co-op this year, after Mellen canceled all of its games last year while Butternut and Mercer were formerly in a co-op with Chequamegon. “2026 will be a total unknown,” said head coach Russ Odovero. “We took some small steps as a program in 2024 but then lost an entire year of development in 2025, so as of right now, I can not say what are strengths will be. Right now the best I can say is that we have potential.” Lack of numbers and lack of size are concerns, as is often the case with small school programs. Brooks Mesko was a Second Team All-Conference quarterback as a sophomore in 2024 and is ready to be a leader as a senior.
8) South Shore has canceled its varsity season and will play a JV-only schedule.
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].
