KIMBERLY, Wis. — Day one of 11-man high school football practice started early Tuesday morning across the Badger State. Players were excited to put their helmets back on.
Kimberly High School football players hit the field and were working on individual, team and specialty drills Tuesday. Kimberly is a top five, Division I team.
Braedon Ellefson is a senior linebacker and quarterback. Ellefson said he is looking forward to his final year on the team.
“That's exciting,” Ellefson said. “There's that sad aspect to it. It's the last time you're doing it for the first time, but you've got to push it aside and just be excited that you get one last time and do this with your boys and even the younger guys that are stepping up and you're building relationships with.”
Sawyer Hanlon is a senior who plays defensive line for the Papermakers.
Hanlon said he spent his summer working on his strength and explosiveness.
“Just asked me to be back out here. It's been a long eight months, so it's great to be back with the team. Got to keep building relationships and just getting after it,” Hanlon said.
Kimberly head football coach, Chad Michalkiewicz, is excited another season is getting started. Michalkiewicz said he saw lots of positive energy on the field.
“This is the most calm I've felt entering a season,” Michalkiewicz said. “I'm still as excited as I've ever been, but I think year three of Kimberly and continuing to build relationships with our coaching staff here, many of whom have been here for a long time. You know, I think that's a testament to the comfort and the growth that we're experiencing.”
Football players around the state my just be getting their seasons started, but winning conference and state titles are already on players' minds.
Ellefson said there is a long season ahead and he plans to enjoy every day of it.
“It's one day at a time,” said Ellefson. “We're all going to grow together. And if we keep growing one day at a time, getting that 1% better, that's the outcomes that we'll get.”