Bay Port’s Brock Gauthier is among the top returning tacklers in the state after helping the Pirates to a Division 1 state title last year
The first games of the 2025 high school football season are just days away, and we’re excited to get another year off and running. First, it’s time to take a look back at some of the top returning statistical leaders from the 2024 season.
Up next are the defenders, sorted by total tackles.
Previous articles:
Top Returning Passers
Top Returning Rushers
Top Returning Receivers
Top Returning Tacklers for 2025 Season
Rank | Name | Team | Class | G | Total Tackles | Solo | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Noah Dodds | Mukwonago | 2026 | 13 | 144 | 72 | 72 |
2 | Cayden Cavanaugh | De Pere | 2027 | 11 | 139 | 44 | 95 |
3(tie) | Brock Gauthier | Bay Port | 2026 | 14 | 131 | 73 | 58 |
3(tie) | Brendan Foley | Arrowhead | 2026 | 12 | 131 | 75 | 56 |
5 | Will Frieden | Poynette | 2026 | 10 | 128 | 38 | 90 |
6 | Kaydon Kennel | Hayward | 2026 | 9 | 122 | 80 | 42 |
7(tie) | Landon Vandertie | Southern Door | 2026 | 11 | 120 | 87 | 33 |
7(tie) | Max Matthias | Two Rivers | 2026 | 9 | 120 | 61 | 59 |
9 | Cohen Kraus | Racine Lutheran | 2027 | 10 | 117 | 75 | 42 |
10 | Ryder Vergauwen | Waupaca | 2026 | 10 | 116 | 73 | 43 |
11 | Ricky Ericksen | Northwestern | 2026 | 13 | 115 | 67 | 48 |
12 | Gabe Heiges | Fox Valley Lutheran | 2026 | 11 | 114 | 77 | 37 |
13 | Deangelo Clay | Monona Grove | 2027 | 11 | 111 | 67 | 44 |
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].