ROSHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES MOVE TO 8-PLAYER FOOTBALL

ROSHOLT, WI - At the September 16th Rosholt Board of Education meeting, board members approved a football program change from 11-player to 8-player effective for the 2025 season. The vote passed unanimously 5-0 with board members Chris Lemanczyk, Karla Schools, Matt Wierzba, James Dombrowski, and Alicia Wojtalewicz all voting affirmative.

Many comments supporting the change centered around the number of student/athletes that have recently participated in the current 11-player format. During last Friday’s game, the Hornets dressed just 17 to take on 2023 division seven champion Edgar and lost the contest 59-0.

Current football head coach Mike O’Donnell said the challenge is filling up an 11-player roster. “If we were to stay 11-player, we’d have to figure out a way to inspire more kids to come out. The players are out there, there in the school, they’re walking the halls. They’re just not playing.”

District Administrator, Dennis Kaczor, talked about the potential excitement of the 8-player format. “There’s a perception that we’d be more competitive playing 8-man football.” Kaczor also looks forward to providing student\athletes with more success and hope. “To me, success looks like a smile on a kid’s face. That’s hope that we can go out and be competitive.”

The Rosholt Hornets are in the first year of a two-year commitment with the Central Wisconsin Small football conference. WIAA rules state that breaking a conference commitment comes with a one-year post season ban along with being post season ineligible for one year when changing player format. Thus, equalling a two-year post season hiatus with the first year of playoff eligibility coming in 2027. 

Rosholt last appeared in the playoffs during the 2019 season and last won a playoff game in 2014, defeating Cochrane/Fountain City 42-30. Since the 2014 playoff win, Rosholt has a combined 21-66 record.

The program plans to solicit the current Mideast conference for membership in 2025. The conference includes; Marion/Tigerton, Port Edwards, Tri-County, Almond/Bancroft, Newman Catholic, Bowler/Gresham, Menomonie Indian, and Wild Rose.