Bobcats playing college football!

With nine former Bobcat players playing college football this season, it is tough to keep track of where each player is at these days.  I think it is important for me to give you an update on them, so we can track their collegiate careers as they work towards their higher education.  The high school football experience that these gentlemen had was so positive that they chose to pursue the game for another four years.  This is no easy task, as I am sure they will tell you.  The game that I love so much has helped shape these fine men into the great student athletes that they are today.  With the work ethic that it takes to compete at the collegiate level, I am sure that they all will find success in their future endeavors. 

Let's start locally.  Loras College being so close to home puts our students in close proximity to a great education.  The draw of the Rock Bowl and the Duhawk tradition provides the students with a great place to play four more seasons.  Their current roster has six Bobcats on board.  Sam Ross, Alex Lehman, and Mike Wuertzer (2009 graduates) closed out their senior seasons after four years of hard work.  Sam finished an incredible four year stint as the starting center (All-conference the last two seasons), Alex as a three year starter at offensive tackle, and Mike drawing starts this year as a defensive lineman.  I never had the pleasure of coaching these guys, as they graduated prior to my arrival at Western Dubuque, but I have had the pleasure of meeting them in the weight room over the summer.  Their work ethic is typical WD, lifting and running all off-season to improve.  The example that they have set for the athletes behind them has been tremendous.  Hats off to these three gentlemen for gutting out four years of college football.  The lessons they have learned and the discipline they have earned in the process has helped make them real winners in life.  They have made the Bobcat Nation very proud!

Three new Duhawks are working their way into the line-up as we speak.  Sam Burds, Matt Kass, and Ryan Rolfes all joined the team this season.  Matt (2011 graduate) transferred in after the call of football lured him to Loras to go back to playing the game that he loved.  As a JV quarterback this season, Matt fought to earn playing time with the varsity.  In the JV game I saw him play in, he launched a TD the second I walked in the stadium...typical Matt.  He is fighting for the starting job next season.  As he learns the college system and gets a chance to showcase his gun slinging abilities, Matt looks to have some more fun calling plays again.  Sam and Ryan (2012 graduates) both had their eye on the defensive side of the ball.  Sam started all ten games as a true freshman at safety for Loras this season.  Sam tallied up 38 tackles, 28 of them solos.  This was a fantastic start to a stellar four year career.  Sam will put up some great numbers over the next three seasons.  Ryan earned JV minutes as a defensive tackle this season.  As he continues to grow, the Duhawks might consider moving him over to the offensive side of the ball.  He is a physical specimen at 6'7, 290 lbs, and he is getting better every day.  The Duhawks have three great young players in these WD alums.

Keeping it in the conference, we move to Cedar Rapids where Coe College boasts of a great season, a great program, and a great young receiver in Nick Lenstra.  Nick finished his second season as a Kohawk.  The team finished with a conference championship and ranked as the 10th best team in the nation.  Nick was definitely a contributing factor.  As a rotator at the receiver position, Nick is looking to break the starting line-up next year.  His abilities as a returner got him some extra time on the field.  With a 13.3 yard punt return average and a 21.2 yard kick-off return average, Nick has proven his worth as a play maker for the Kohawks.  Nick's next two seasons are looking to be very exciting.

Nick's conference competition is against some former teammates now playing for the Wartburg Knights: Logan Pitz and Hunter Westhoff.  The Knights finished tied for second in the Iowa Conference with a 4-3 conference record.  As a top tier program, Wartburg will be ready to compete for the championship next year, as Logan and Hunter fight to get into the mix.  Logan rotated at corner back and is looking to take one of the starting positions next year.  Hunter played quality JV minutes as a tight end and long-snapper and will be competing for a chance at those positions as well. 

As I tell my players every year, college football is not like you think it is.  The intensity level, the speed of the game, and the commitment needed to be great are incredibly demanding.  I am very proud of all of the WD alumnus that have committed to being part of something bigger than themselves for the next four years.  They are truly gifted athletes, but more importantly, they are great team players.  Great teammates are always successful people in life.  Learning to make the individual sacrifices necessary for the greater good of the team is one of the most important lessons in life.  These gentlemen are ahead of the game and on the road to big things. 

Dylan James Selected to All-State Team

After a record setting season, Dylan James was honored with his selection to the Iowa Newspaper Association's (INA) All-State Team.  Dylan was named third team wide receiver after finishing 4th in the state in number of receptions.  His 51 catch season put him 8 catches behind the 3A state leader from the runner-up Bischop-Heelan team.  Dylan played in four less games.  His numbers broke the old school record of 44 catches held by Matt Burds in 2001, the Bobcat's state championship season.  Dylan is the second Western Dubuque Bobcat in the last two football seasons to be selected to the all-state team.  Last year, Logan Pitz was awarded INA All-State honors as a cornerback.  Logan is currently playing football at Wartburg College.  Congratulations to Dylan and the rest of his team for this honor.  It takes a whole team for one player to break a record.  Great job guys!