By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
There’s always something unexpected on the first day of WIAA football practice.
For Burlington High School, it was arriving Tuesday morning and discovering no one could park behind the high school in the normal lot.
The district had crews out repaving the lot.
“It’s a hurdle, but it’s certainly not anything we can’t handle,” said BHS coach Hans Block. “It was a little additional work involved.
“We made it fine.”
BHS, Catholic Central High School and Union Grove Union High School all kicked off their 2013 season with morning practices, while Waterford started at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Like many of the schools, Block saw a decrease in numbers, down to about 60 or so players.
“We wish we had more players,” Block said. “But the quality of the kids that we have is very good.
“We’re excited.”
Block added that he’s hoping to have a few more players still come out for the team. Some are dealing with work schedules and others with paperwork.
“In a perfect world, they’re all here, all the time, but we don’t live in a perfect world,” Block said.
BHS opens the season Friday, Aug. 23 at Racine Case at 7 p.m.
There were no surprises for long-time CCHS coach Tom Aldrich Tuesday, with 44 kids out for the program.
“That’s been about average,” Aldrich said. “I’d like to be in the upper 40s, but 44 is good.”
While Aldrich loses a number of strong players from last year’s team, he’s excited about this group’s potential.
“You’re always hurting from graduation every year, but I’m excited about this group of kids coming in,” he explained. “They have a lot of potential.
CCHS will open Aug. 23 home against Kewaunee at 7 p.m. The Hilltoppers are hoping their major renovation will be
“We should be at least functional,” Aldrich said.
Waterford entered its third season under Adam Bakken Tuesday afternoon. The Wolverines are down to somewhere around 50 players, a trend Bakken said seemed to be an issue throughout the area.
“Junior class, we’re a little light on numbers,” Bakken said. “It’s not terrible. I think it’s pretty common for a lot of different schools.
“I think we’re seeing an overall decline.”
But Bakken said the players had a good off-season, and it was good to be back on the field.
“The kids are excited,” Bakken said.
The Wolverines will have another strong core to take the field, though, on Aug. 23, when they travel to Pewaukee for a 7 p.m. game.
Meantime, Jordan Hein stepped up to the plate to take over the Union Grove Broncos this season. After being an assistant coach for the last three years, Hein replaces Justin Davis.
The Broncos are coming off an 0-9 season, and Hein said the team has goals.
“The biggest thing is encouraging them to take ownership in this season,” Hein said. “This is their team.
“We have a strong group of seniors who have a lot of playing experience,” Hein added.
Forty-six players – all sophomores, juniors and seniors – showed up for Tuesday morning’s practice for the Broncos.
“As I look at our team, a lot of our kids had a really strong summer in the weight room, in training and at camps,” Hein said. “We’ve got some young kids who are very athletic, and some juniors and seniors who are starting to fill out.”
The Broncos open at Evansville Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
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