After a historic 2023 season that saw the Bishop Garrigan football team win their second state title in program history, and first since 1985, the 2024 season begins with renewed excitement and expectations.
After transitioning to the 8-player class in 2021 and having back to back three win seasons, the Golden Bears finished 2023 12-1, winning their final 12 games en-route to the state title.
Head Coach Marty Wadle says a scrimmage against Newell-Fonda last Friday gave Bishop Garrigan a good idea of where they stand heading into the season.
After winning the starting quarterback job, Tate Foertsch took the position and ran with it during his sophomore season in 2023, throwing for 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions, accounting for 1418 yards passing. Foertsch also ran for 571 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wadle says Foertsch is ahead of where he was last season heading into his junior year.
A trademark of the Golden Bears in 2023 was a bruising running game that wore down opponents in the second half all the way through UNI-Dome. Running back Caden Roethler used a punishing style to rush for 1340 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior season. The offensive line brings back two out of three starters, with guards Keaton Helleseth and Carter Schwab back and center Logan Nemmers graduated. Fullback Ethan Marso, another critical part of the run game last year, enters his junior campaign after providing the Golden Bears with another short yardage option and blocker for the rushing attack.
In spite of the graduation of Roethler, the Golden Bears have multiple options to turn to in the run game this season. Trayton Cink rushed for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns in last year’s season opening game against St. Edmond before succumbing to injury. Marso accounted for 285 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground last season, and the Golden Bears have plenty of depth at the position.
Wadle sees the run game having a large impact again in 2024.
Wadle has taken a look at several different options to replace Nemmers at center, with Kayden Graves likely first in line for the spot.
Bishop Garrigan did see significant graduations at the receiver position, with their three leading receivers, Justin Bauer, Drew Lappe, and Sam Plathe all graduated, as well as starting tight end Benjy Trainer. Despite the graduations, the Golden Bears still have solid depth at wide receiver and tight end, with Daniel Meis, Owen Murphy, Michael Joyce, Amaury Thomas, Nick Leerar, and Wyatt Rosenmeyer among others, ready to catch passes from Foertsch.
On defense, Bishop Garrigan brings back several defensive ends who can get after the opposing quarterbacks. Keaton Helleseth and Ethan Marso both recorded 40+ tackles, with Helleseth tallying seven sacks and Marso six. Nick Leerar also appears ready to step into a bigger role after posting four sacks in limited action in 2023.
Perhaps Bishop Garrigan’s greatest strength going into the season is their depth, with 49 players listed on the roster, and multiple players capable of playing significant varsity snaps at every position. Wadle says the Golden Bears depth allows them to be deliberate with how and when players play on both sides of the ball.
In spite of the increased attention that comes with being a defending state champion, Wadle says the Golden Bears are strictly focused on themselves.
Bishop Garrigan begins the season on August 30th by hosting St. Edmond, the only team who defeated the Golden Bears in 2023, before opening district play at home against West Bend-Mallard on September 6th.
