On the heels of a stellar 2023 campaign, the Westby football team hopes that they can adequately replace their graduated production and chart a path to yet another postseason appearance in 2024.
The Norsemen enjoyed an excellent season last fall, going 8-1 overall in the regular season with a 6-1 mark in Coulee Conference play. A 28-20 loss to the Aquinas Blugolds (the eventual Division 5 state champions) in Week 6 was the only thing that kept Westby from a perfect regular season and a conference championship.
Despite hosting a postseason game, the Norsemen dropped a tough Level 1 game against Watertown Luther Prep by a final score of 21-18, with a late fourth-quarter touchdown by the Phoenix proving to be the difference.
Five players who earned all-conference first-team honors last year for Westby graduated this past spring, though the team still brings back a handful of starters on both sides of the ball.
Senior wide receiver Anders Stakston is one of the key returnees after catching 29 passes for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns on the way to an All-Coulee first-team selection in 2023. The Norsemen also return three of their starting linemen on both sides of the ball. That includes senior Ryon Berklund, who garnered first-team honors on offense and a second-team selection on defense.
With those guys leading the way, Westby has reason to believe a 13th postseason appearance in the last 14 years could be in store this fall.
“We lost a lot of guys, probably seven, eight starters on both sides of the ball, but the good thing about this year is we have a lot of seniors stepping into those roles,” Westby head coach Andy Hulst said following the team’s scrimmage at Prairie du Chien. “The guys are excited. They’ve responded really well. They’re not hanging their heads about anything. They’ve worked very hard.”
