LAKE MILLS -- For the third time in four seasons, Lake Mills' football team has a scholarship senior on it.
Max Ruedebusch, who plays defensive end and wide receiver, committed to Yale University this summer to play DE and headlines an eight-player senior class that will be the driving forces as the L-Cats embark on their 2024 campaign.
"We have lots of leadership on this team," fifth-year Lake Mills coach Tyler Huber said. "We have guys doing it the right way, not looking for shortcuts and are very driven. We were young last year, but we are still young. It's been a fun-filled first week of practice with lots of energy and guys flying around the field."
Lake Mills, which went 6-5 and lost to Catholic Memorial in Level 2 of the playoffs in 2023, returns its starting quarterback from last year in sophomore Tyler Wollin, who passed for 1,406 yards and was an honorable mention all-conference pick.
"Tyler's already taken a big step from year one to year two," Huber said. "We're looking for him to advance what he's able to do and cement himself as more of a leader. Tyler will have more weight on his shoulders to make plays in the pass and run game along with playing defense at the varsity level for the first time."
Tailback Cooper Murphy, a first team all-league running back who tallied 1,321 yards last season, graduated, leaving a void in the backfield that four guys are fighting to fill.
"Senior Mason Fuglestad got a little playing time last year and is a little faster than Cooper was, more of a scatback," Huber said. "Mason has breakout speed. Sophomore Kamden Habich got hurt early in his freshman season but is back now. Junior Kaden Smolinski is our biggest running back. He could be the thunder to those other guys' lightning, so to say, and take carries in short-yardage situations.
"Senior Caden Bliefernicht, who was originally ruled out for the season after labrum surgery, did a great job at physical therapy and has been cleared to play."
Ruedebusch, a first team all-conference wideout in 2023 when he caught 15 passes for 338 yards, slides into the top pass-catcher role with Matthew Stenbroten having graduated and now playing at North Dakota State, joining older brother Michael, a redshirt sophomore at Division 2 Sioux Falls, in the college ranks.
"Max is a big kid at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds," Huber said. "He's done a tremendous job in the weight room and we're looking for that work ethic to pay off.
"We'll put him in as the in-line tight end and split him out. We'll move Max around to take advantage of his height mismatches with corners. With Max's speed, he can create mismatches with linebackers too."
Senior Alex Breaker, sophomores Dylan Brinkmann and Collin Christian and juniors Gibson Quandt and Ethan Gliniecki are also poised to make plays in the perimeter pass game.
"Alex is a big kid at 6-4 and 185," Huber said. "Dylan is an explosive track and field athlete in the long and triple jumps who runs good routes and has good hands. Colin has good ball skills and runs good routes. Gibson is another track guy and Ethan has starting experience from last season."
Senior Thomas Cassady, a second team all-league pick last year, returns to play left tackle with junior Levi Stark again getting the nod at left guard and junior Marshall Spaeth back in the fold at center.
"Thomas is another kid who's done a terrific job in the weight room," Huber said. "He's quiet and leads by example but is very explosive and very fast twitched for his size. He'll help anchor our offensive and defensive lines.
"Levi is one of our more physical players and Marshall got quite a bit of time at center in 2023. We're undecided right now at right guard and right tackle."
Cassady and Ruedebusch are the headliners up front in the team's 3-4 defense.
"Max is a guy we'll move around a lot," Huber said. "Senior Griffin Dolwick and and potentially sophomore Aiden Garman are other guys we'll look to for production."
Senior Nathan Hahn returns at inside linebacker with Habish in the mix for the other starting spot at that position. At outside linebacker, Smolinski, Fuglestad and Brinkmann are in line for heavy snaps.
The L-Cats bring back an experienced secondary led by Breaker, an honorable mention all-league pick last season.
"Alex has done a tremendous job in the weight room," Huber said. "Wollin and Gliniecki will be our two free safeties with three guys -- junior Mason Flood, Quandt and sophomore Jackson Roberts -- vying for the other corner spot."
The Capitol Conference, which has produced the last two Division 4 state champions in Lodi last season and Columbus in 2022, will have a different look and feel to it in 2024. The Cardinals have a new coach in Andy Ryan, but are the favorites on paper. Lodi returns zero starters and welcomes in Kyle Mack as head coach. Clinton and Horicon/Hustisford, a Level 4 team in Division 5 last season, join the seven-team league while Turner and Big Foot remain in the fold.
"I certainly don't think the cupboards are bare in Lodi," Huber said. "Columbus returns a lot of kids and has a loaded junior class. Until someone shows them differently, they are the favorite."
Since the conference is one team short of the eight-team standard, every school receives a default victory toward the four league wins needed for automatic playoff eligibility.
Lake Mills will still face Crosstown Rival Lakeside Lutheran, which is in the Badger Small Conference this season, on the road in week 1.
"The big message for this season is to be where our feet are and not be looking too far ahead," Huber said. "We want to look straight ahead and give it everything we’ve got. When they put the ball down, we’ll play and see where it takes us.
"We want to win the day and get one percent better each day. If we can stack wins of this nature, we'll be able to march up the mountain, so to say, and be in a good spot."
The L-Cats are riding an eight-year streak of reaching the playoffs, earning 10 of the school's 13 postseason victories in that span.
2024 L-Cats Schedule
Aug. 23 at Lakeside Lutheran
Aug. 29 Marshall
Sept. 6 at Horicon/Hustisford
Sept. 13 Belleville
Sept. 20 Turner
Sept. 27 Lodi
Oct. 4 at Columbus
Oct. 11 Big Foot
Oct. 18 at Clinton
**All games start at 7 p.m.
L-Cats Roster
Name Positions Height Weight Grade
Max Ruedebusch DL/WR 6'5 235 12
Mason Fuglestad RB/LB 5'10 166 12
Thommy Cassady OL/DL 6'2 222 12
Nathan Hahn OL/LB 5'11 208 12
Alex Breaker WR/DB 6'4 175 12
Griffin Dolwick OL/DL 6'0 277 12
Sam Mcintyre 12
Levi Stark OL/DL 6'1 226 11
Gibson Quandt WR/DB 6'1 172 11
Kaden Smolinski WR/LB 6'0 182 11
Brock Levake OL/LB 50 11
Josh Battist OL/DL 6'5 235 11
Mason Flood WR/DB 5'10 171 11
Marshall Spaeth OL/DL 6'4 269 11
Colton Spiegehoff LB/RB 5'10 170 11
Will Kirchberg WR/DB 5'9 140 11
Ethan Gliniecki WR/DB 6'4 176 11
Andrew Schave WR/DB 6'1 160 11
Reid Belling LB/WR 5'10 167 10
Blake Bohlman DB/WR 5'9 160 10
Dylan Brinkmann WR/DB 5'11 163 10
Joseph Brzowski WR/DL 5'10 186 10
Collin Christian WR/DB 6'2 172 10
Aiden Garman OL/DL 6'2 237 10
Ricardo Martinez OL/DL 6'1 180 10
Jackson Roberts WR/DB 5'10 160 10
Hunter Sellnow OL/DL 6'1 169 10
Kamden Tande Habich RB/LB 5'8 166 10
Tyler Wollin QB/DB 6'3 191 10
Mason Wyman WR/DB 6'0 153 10
Kayson Kirchpatrick RB/LB 5'9 162 10
Gavin Schiewe Redman WR/DB 5'7 139 10
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