WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — East Athletic Director Kurt Vanden Heuvel says Monday’s call to cancel the varsity football season was made with input from everyone, including the players.
The first-year AD said as soon as they were aware of the low numbers they began talking about how to best approach the 2021 season. That included discussions with the players themselves. “We want to create environments where there is voice and choice and opportunites to be successful so they can carry that into the workforce,” said Vanden Heuvel.
He says with complications from the COVID-19 pandemic and many years of underclassmen being thrust into varsity roles early things just weren’t lining up for that success to happen. “JV is where a lot of the schemes, communication, cues, and verbiage are all instilled. It’s a fundamental level. When you go to the varsity level it’s about wins and execution. When kids are being put into that situation without that foundation, it’s not an enlightening expierence.”
In addition to playing what eight-man games they can, Wausau East will also attempt to schedule “Varsity Reserve” games, which are essentially JV games with the understanding that there may be upperclassmen on the field during any given play. Vanden Heuvel says that allows the Seniors who have stuck out four years in the program to be rewarded with one last season.
He also says that many of the players found the prospect of playing eight-man football, which is played by around 50 schools statewide, exciting.
Vanden Heuvel adds that there are no plans for the move to a non-varsity scheduled to last into 2022. Coaches and staff will use the next year to find creative ways to drum up interest from prospective players while getting current players to buy into off-season training programs. “When you see teams excel it’s because they had large groups and classes that grew up together and bond throughout. So what do we have to do to put them in situations to be successful and to learn and grow? Create that environment where they have a purpose and they keep coming back to it and keep growing through it.
“We need to make sure we keep kids out and keep building the excitement so kids want to be a part of the program,” he added.
Wausau East football played just two games in the pandemic-shortened and delayed 2020 season before canceling all remaining games due to COVID-19 and low numbers. Vanden Heuvel says he and the coaching staff have already lined up one eight-man scrimmage against Newman Catholic in August. They are also finalizing at least three eight-man games and will add varsity reserve contests as they can.
As for the “Log”- the traveling trophy between Wausau East and West, plans call for that to stay with the Warriors this year in hopes that there will be a game in 2022.
Monday’s release also noted that coaches will not lose their positions or compensation despite the move to a varsity reserve and eight-man schedule.
