2025 Westonka Football Season Preview

The 2025 version of Westonka football kicks off on Thursday, August 28, with a home game against Marshall, and a brand-new set of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Senior quarterback Cade Newell takes the reins from All-District performer Cole Drill, who is off to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to play football. Newell has played sparingly over the last two seasons at Quarterback, but possesses a strong arm and can run when needed. Newell did start on defense in 2024 as a defensive back. “Cade brings leadership and physicality at Quarterback due to his experience on defense last season. Cade has been waiting in the wings for this opportunity, and I have no doubt in my mind that he is going to rise to the occasion,” notes Head Coach Nick David. “Returning five other starters on offense, four of which play OL, are going to help out a lot, especially early on,” continues David, who enters his 13th season at the helm of the White Hawks. The offensive line returns seniors Phil Pisarchuk at tackle and Dawson Leinfelder at guard as well as junior Owen Dillon at center. A tight end last season, senior Andrew Hoisington, moves to the other tackle position with fellow senior Emmitt Johnson getting an opportunity at the other guard spot.

Junior Blake Reinbold returns at running back after finishing with a team-high 10 touchdowns last season. He also finished with 584 rushing yards while starting six games. Senior Brandt Tebbs will finally get a chance at receiver after playing behind All-District receivers Max Kraay and J.T. Kimbrough, who are off to college as well pursuing basketball and football, respectively. Tebbs plans to be a big part of the offense and special teams as he and Reinbold will both return punts and kickoffs. “Like most 4A schools, we are relying on our athletes to be multifunctional. We need them to create on offense and on special teams,” states offensive coordinator Mike Wallace.

The White Hawks (6-4 last season) are coming off a 2024 campaign in which they reached the 6AAAA semifinals for the third consecutive season, falling at Orono 40-19. Orono went on to make the Class AAAA State semifinals at US Bank Stadium.

Looking to be patient hunters, the defense returns All-District selections in Tebbs (team-high 92 tackles last season including six TFL’s) at one safety position, Leinfelder at defensive tackle (24 tackles, five tackle-for-loss) and Hoisington (54 tackles, six TFL’s, two sacks, two fumble recoveries) playing outside linebacker. Defensive coordinator, Kyle Ague (6th season as DC), feels like the returning nucleus will enable Westonka to play a little differently this year, but will also miss the All-District Linebacker of the Year and South Team All-Star Carter Kleinsasser, who’s taken his talents to the University of North Dakota. “I’m really excited about the group we have coming back — the experience and leadership they bring will set the tone for our defense. At the same time, I can’t wait to see some of the younger guys and new faces step up and show what they can do. The combination of proven veterans and hungry newcomers makes this an exciting year for our defense,” said Coach Ague.

Pisarchuk will also see time on the defensive front along with Leinfelder, Dillon, senior Glenn Givens and juniors Carter Holappa and Max Olesinski.

The kicking duties will fall to senior newcomer Leif Haugen, who has been a standout player on the soccer team at Westonka since he was in 8th grade.

Westonka Homecoming is slated for Friday, October 3rd versus Delano and Senior Night is Wednesday, October 15th against perennial powerhouse Hutchinson. The White Hawks will travel to Willmar in Week 2 before returning to Haddorff Field to face Providence Academy in a 4A Skyway Green Subdistrict game the following Friday night. The War on the Shore: Battle for the Anchor will be hosted by archrival Orono on Friday, September 19th.

The White Hawks sit perched to soar into the elusive 6AAAA championship game and a place in the Class AAAA State Tournament, something that has never been done in program history.