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Top returning tacklers for 2024 football season

08/13/2024, 8:30am CDT
By Travis Wilson

Potosi/Cassville's Isaiah Groom (#67)

Practices are underway and the first games of the 2024 season are just a week away. We recently completed our Class of 2025 Football Player Rankings, featuring a top 15 at each position, others to watch, and a top 50 overall. We're also working on Conference Previews, which will be wrapped up soon.

Now, it is time to look at some of the top returning statistical leaders from the 2023 season. We'll continue our review with the top tacklers coming back this year.

Previous Articles:
Top Returning Passers
Top Returning Rushers
Top Returning Receivers

1. Isaiah Groom, Potosi/Cassville

Groom is the top returning tackler in the state this year with 173 stops as a junior. He was the Defensive Player of the Year and the Offensive Lineman of the Year in the Six Rivers last season.

2. Max Matthias, Two Rivers

Matthias was an All-State defensive lineman with 150 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and five sacks as a sophomore. 78 of his tackles were of the solo variety.

3 (tie). Drew Holzhueter, Cambridge

Holzhueter was an all-league selection after recording 144 tackles last season for the Blue Jays. He also caught 31 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns as a First Team All-Conference flex player. 

3 (tie). Griffin Marko, Saint Croix Falls

Marko is an excellent wrestler and uses that knowledge of leverage and power to rack up the tackles on the football field. He had 144 tackles last year as the Saints advanced to the state semi-finals.

3 (tie). Boone Schaier, Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Schaier was a First Team All-Conference selection when he led the Chargers with 144 tackles last year. He had 84 solo tackles in there.

TOP RETURNING Tacklers FOR 2024 SEASON

Sorted by total tackles

Rank Name Team Class G TTck Solo Assist TFL Sck Int
1 Isaiah Groom Potosi/Cassville 2025 12 173 45 128 7 2 0
2 Max Matthias Two Rivers 2026 12 150 78 72 36 5 0
3(tie) Drew Holzhueter Cambridge 2025 10 144 63 81 11 1 0
3(tie) Griffin Marko Saint Croix Falls 2025 13 144 50 94 7 0 0
3(tie) Boone Schaier Wittenberg-Birnamwood 2025 12 144 84 60 25 8 0
6 Cooper Catalano Germantown 2025 10 138 55 83 18 3.5 2
7 Camden McTaggart Sparta 2026 11 135 60 75 14 0 1
8 Ethan Richardson Marshfield 2025 10 124 60 64 2 1 0
9 Cooper Cornish McFarland 2025 10 122 41 81 8 2 0
10 Jackson Servais Pewaukee 2025 10 121 80 41 20 1 2
11 Rhett Hlavacka Fond du Lac 2025 12 120 80 40 11 3 0
12 Kayden Kennel Hayward 2026 10 118 80 38 3 0 1
13 Braeden Veldboom Oostburg 2025 9 113 57 56 6 0 0
14 Ian Burkman Grantsburg 2025 13 110 45 65 8 0 1
15(tie) Owen Leask Ashland 2025 9 109 49 60 10 0 0
15(tie) Landon Taylor Westosha Central 2025 11 109 59 50 16 5.5 0
17 Adam Zylka Kettle Moraine Lutheran 2025 10 108 60 48 1 0 1
18(tie) Mi'Sha Grayson Racine Case 2025 11 107 44 63 6 0 0
18(tie) Carter Drews Cambria-Friesland 2025 11 107 49 58 6 2 1
18(tie) Lucas Peters Rice Lake 2025 14 107 33 74 6 3 1
18(tie) Blake Heltemes Campbellsport 2026 11 107 62 45 3 2 0

About the Author

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.

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