Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

In "Championship Catch-up" we will take a look at all eight state champions from the 2019 season, with a look back at last year and forward to next season. All eight teams will be featured over the next week.

Previous Articles
Division 1 Champion Muskego
8-Player Champion Luck

2019 Season Recap: The beat continued to roll on for Saint Mary's Springs and head coach Bob Hyland. Coming off two straight state championships, a D5 title in 2018 after a Division 6 championship in 2017, the team was pegged as a strong favorite once again, regardless of which division they'd end up in. It was a rough start, however, as the team would drop a pair of one-score games to open the year, first a 21-14 loss to eventual Division 5 champion Lake Country Lutheran followed by a 14-7 setback against perennial powerhouse Amherst. They would get back on track, and would go unchallenged the rest of the regular season. After blowout wins over Random Lake and Johnson Creek to open the playoffs, the Ledgers had a tough matchup with unbeaten and top-seeded Racine Lutheran. Holding state all-time leading rusher Tyler Tenner to just 29 yards, the team scored a 20-0 victory. Another shutout followed against Mondovi in the state semi-finals, before a hard-fought 7-0 slobberknocker victory over Regis in the championship game gave the team and head coach Bob Hyland its ninth WIAA title to go with eight championships won in the WISAA days.

Following is a Q&A session with WSN General Manager Travis Wilson and Saint Mary's Springs head coach Bob Hyland.

WSN: What were your expectations or goals heading into the 2019 season?

Hyland: I felt we had the talent to repeat as state champions, but we had graduated an All State quarterback. We needed to work through that position. We lost our first two games, made some adjustments in a few key positions and went undefeated the remainder of the season.

WSN: Was there a turning point in your season, or moment where you felt your team had a chance to be special?

Hyland: After our second game, a loss in overtime to Amherest, I knew we were getting better each week and if we continued to improve, we could make it to Madison.

WSN: What player(s) showed significant improvement over the course of the year that helped make the difference for you?

Hyland: At the Quarterback position, Braydon King; Running Backs David Mueller and Isaac Hyland; Offensive Line Billy Schrauth and Michael McGuire; On Defense Matt Meyer (ILB), Aiden Ottery (OLB), Connor McLaughlin (Pass Rush), David Mueller and Isaac Hyland (D’s).

WSN: Have your athletes been involved in off-season workouts?  If so, how has participation been so far?

Hyland: With winter sports and weights, we have almost 100% participation.

WSN: What are your plans for using your contact days in the summer?
    
Hyland: Four days over two weeks in July

WSN: How many letterwinners do you have coming back for next year?

Hyland: We have 28 returning letter-winners. Not all of them were starters. We letter everyone that made our roster for the playoffs. Billy Schrauth, David Mueller, Isaac Hyland and Aiden Ottery all on both offense and defense.    

WSN: Who do you anticipate stepping into leadership roles during the off-season and into the 2020 campaign?

Hyland: Our captains for 2020 are David Mueller (RB/DB), Braydon King (QB) and Aiden Ottery (E/OLB)

WSN: What do you foresee as being the strengths of your team next season? What would be areas of concern at this time?

Hyland: We have our offensive backfield back (QB and 2 RB’s) in addition to all our receivers and three offensive linemen. We have eight players that have started on defense returning.

Areas of concern – kicking game

WSN: Who will be some of the other top teams in your conference?

Hyland: Lomira and Laconia have very good teams returning and Omro is always strong.

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. 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 @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.