_edited.jpg)
Cohesiveness -- A Big Piece for Menomonie Football in 2025
- Chad Zutter
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 2
By Chad Zutter
Menomonie has nearly 60 upperclassmen in the football program, some of the largest numbers fifth-year head coach Mike Sinz has seen in his time at Menomonie. A great culture within Menomonie football has helped participation grow.
“Our juniors and seniors get along extremely well, and that's an important piece of the puzzle when competing for a Big Rivers title," commented coach Sinz. "When you like each other, it's a lot easier to battle for your brother.”
That cohesiveness within the Mustangs squad is led by senior captains Wren Swaenepoel, Bailey Casey, Luke Pember, and Bryce Shepard -- his second season holding a captain role.
Shepard and senior Max Erickson, both varsity players since their freshman campaign, will lead up front for Menomonie. Erickson, who played defensive line his freshman and sophomore years, switched to offensive line last season. Both Shephard and Erikson will still see time on the other side of the ball.
“Our up front defensive and offensive lines are some of our deepest positions," commented Sinz about his front lines.
The top returner in the backfield is junior DJ Butler, who carried 97 times for 585 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore campaign. The other backfield returner, senior Renner Stoll, saw the end zone once last season. Some new names that will occupy the backfield for the Mustangs this season are Luke Pember and Oliver Lugo.
The Mustangs will have to replace two Division 1 receivers in Brody Thorton, North Dakota, and Issac Ellison, North Dakota State, along with the loss of two-year starting quarterback Brady Johnson, who is attending North Central College to continue his football career.
Senior tight end Luke Bystol and senior receiver Charlie Mikesell will snatch some of those passes this season, along with junior Liam Asher, who caught four passes for 68 yards a year ago.
The quarterback position battle is between senior Taylor Mars and junior Aaron Howard. "Both players have a mutual respect for each other in this competition," Sinz said about his quarterbacks. Another piece to the cohesiveness of this football team.
A year ago, the Mustangs started the season hot, winning five of their first six games and stood atop the Big Rivers at 5-1 (3-1 BRC). The end of the season brought struggles for Menomonie as they lost their final three regular-season games and the opening round of the playoffs at Monona Grove, despite a late rally.
The Mustangs finished 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the BRC in 2024.
Menomonie currently has the longest active WIAA playoff streak, qualifying for 35 consecutive years. The last time Menomonie missed the playoffs, Ronald Reagan was the President, and there was no such thing as the internet.
The Mustangs open their season with two non-conference opponents on Thursday night from the Wisconsin Valley Conference, first at home against the Eau Claire North Huskies on August 21st and on the road versus the Marshfield Tigers on August 28th.
Back to Friday nights, with the Big Rivers Conference season opener at home on September 5th versus the Hudson Raiders. A team that has won two of the last three BRC conference titles.
