2026 Westonka Football Season Preview

The Westonka High School football team will open its 2026 season with a challenging road test at Marshall on Friday, September 4, to face the Tigers, a 2025 Class 4A State Semifinalist.

The White Hawks will feature a number of new faces and roles this season, beginning with senior Blake Reinbold. A Skyway All-District Honorable Mention selection a year ago, Reinbold will make the transition from running back to quarterback and take over leadership of the Westonka offense.

The offense will also have a new voice calling plays, as Brandon Brakstad takes over as the White Hawks' offensive coordinator.

“Coach Brakstad has been a member of the Westonka Football coaching staff since 2020 and brought nearly 20 years of coordinating experience with him prior to coming to Westonka,” said Head Coach Nick David, who enters his 14th season leading the White Hawks. “We are really excited to see Coach Brakstad excel in his new role and believe his experience and knowledge of the game will be a tremendous asset to our players and program.”

Westonka returns several experienced players along the offensive line, including seniors Owen Dillon at center, Carter Holappa at tackle, and Max Olesinski at guard. Juniors Finn Minerich and Remi Nelson, along with sophomore Connor Coleman, are expected to step into larger roles up front this season.

Defensively, the White Hawks will look to replace three-year letter winners and Skyway All-District performers Brandt Tebbs at safety, Dawson Leinfelder on the defensive line, and Andrew Hoisington at linebacker. Despite those departures, Westonka returns a number of players who either started or played significant roles on last year's defense.

Leading that returning group are juniors Max French at cornerback, Dane Sewell at linebacker, and Will Pioske at safety. Seniors Carter Holappa, Owen Dillon, and Max Olesinski return along the defensive line after playing important roles last season, while safety Eric Donelan and linebacker Anders Mjelstad also bring valuable experience back to the White Hawks' defense. Newcomers expected to contribute include junior linebacker Will Mytling and seniors Evan Holt at linebacker and Maddox Hill at cornerback.

Offensively, junior running back Wyatt Stepanek is expected to take on an expanded role after rushing for 332 yards and two touchdowns last season. With Reinbold moving to quarterback after recording 331 rushing yards, 404 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns in 2025, Stepanek will have an opportunity to become a featured weapon in the Westonka backfield.

French is also expected to see an increased role offensively from his wing position, while sophomore Henry Briggs and senior Eli Klein-Wyman are expected to play significant roles for the White Hawks on that side of the ball as well.

Westonka finished the 2025 season with a 3-7 record and saw its season come to an end in the Section 6AAAA semifinals for the fifth consecutive year, falling to eventual Class 4A State Champion Orono. The Spartans have eliminated the White Hawks from the postseason in three of the last five seasons, including a memorable 22-21 heartbreaker in 2021.

The White Hawks faced one of the state's most challenging schedules a season ago, taking on two section semifinalists, a section finalist, a state semifinalist, and the eventual state champion twice.

Once again, Westonka will face an extremely demanding schedule in 2026. Following the season opener at Marshall, the White Hawks will return home to host Willmar in an early evening contest scheduled for a 5 p.m. kickoff. The Cardinals' only losses last season came against teams that advanced to section championship games.

Westonka will open Skyway Green Subdistrict play on September 18th at Providence Academy. Homecoming is scheduled for October 2nd against Big Lake, while both Big Lake and Zimmerman will make trips to Haddorff Field during the season.

The White Hawks will close the regular season with one of their toughest challenges of the year, traveling to perennial Minnesota state power Hutchinson on Wednesday, October 21st.

With experienced leadership returning on both sides of the ball, several players stepping into expanded roles, and a challenging schedule ahead, the 2026 White Hawks will once again be tested from the opening kickoff.