Building on their newfound success

AFTER MAKING THE PLAYOFFS last year, Grafton High School’s football team won’t be playing the underdog anymore. Among the key players are (front row, from left): Kenny Likins, Andrew Clemens, Jackson O’Neal, Dominic Voiland, J.P. Benzschawel, Sam Frank, Grant Taylor, Andrew Ovespyan, Cannon Pfaff, Seth Howard, Joey Serrano, (back row) Isaiah Mielke, Dylan Robinson, Mason Hunt, Max Medvedev, Zach Weir, Joey Giorgi, Jack Harmon, Jay Garza, Caleb Buback, Joe Birch, Conner Tiegs and Owen Wizarde. Photo by Sam Arendt
Pound the rock is a common football phrase meaning to run the football, but Grafton High School coach Jim Norris is taking it literally.
Norris actually set up a big piece of granite near the field. The player that shows the most resilience each week gets to take a swing at it with a 10-pound sledgehammer.
The motto, he said, was taken from his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with the Warhawks’ coach’s blessing.
That’s not all that’s new for the football program this year. A brand new weight room was completed, meaning the team has a place to lift on campus.
Last year at this time, construction on the high school was still being completed. Players lifted weights at Form and Fitness, held team meetings at the Grafton Police Department and team meals were held in a big tent.
“Right now everything is open and full swing. We’re able to be very efficient and get a lot done,” Norris said.
The new weight room, he said, is “second to none.”
In addition, Norris hired a strength coordinator, Ryan Murphy of Form and Fitness, to provide a different voice in the weight room and still execute Norris’ plan on strength, conditioning, nutrition and rehabilitation.
“One of the big things that I changed was recovery what to eat, sleep and how to hydrate,” Norris said.
Players take ice baths after practice and use the school pool for no-impact cardiovascular work.
Another thing Norris changed was the product on the field.
The Black Hawks are coming off a historic season, making the playoffs for the first time since 1997 and winning a postseason game for the first time since 1995.
But Norris isn’t concerned with that.
“Our focus is winning today,” he said.
Grafton is already winning in participation. Boosted by 25 freshmen, the program has about 80 players, up nearly 20 from last year, and will field three teams for the first time in several seasons.
“We’re pretty fortunate. We were able to get a lot of kids out that were on the fence last year,” Norris said.
Senior Zach Weir, who split time at quarterback with Brady Ward last season, is taking over as the lone signal caller. Weir last year went 65-for-144 passing with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
“It was huge,” Norris said of his experience. “He’s a playmaker. He really showed last year he has the ability to extend the play and move outside the pocket and make plays, carries well inside the pocket and makes some big throws.”
Senior Joey Giorgi is among the team’s top running backs after rushing for 957 yards and 12 scores last year, earning North Shore Conference honrable mention recognition.
“He’s just a different athlete. He’s going to be one of the top running backs in the state,” Norris said.
Junior Canon Pfaff, with a downhill running style, is among the other standout backs.
“We have great depth at that position,” Norris said.
At wide receiver, Norris calls senior Owen Wiziarde “Mr. Consistent” who runs routes well.
The “crazy explosive” Dominic Voiland is back for his junior season, Norris said, after catching 10 balls for 183 yards and four scores.
Brock Heffner will use his 6-foot-5-inch frame to his advantage, as will 6-4 Zach Dujmic Jr.
At tight end, senior Caleb Buback is back catching 19 balls for 212 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns. He earned NSC honorable mention status and can power clean 300 pounds in the weight room, Norris said. Speedy Mason Hunt will also play a bigger role.
On the line, J.P. Benzschawel, who verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin, will lock down left tackle. He made the NSC’s second team last season.
The line lost three seniors to graduation, including Alec Davis, Tanner Garbisch and Ben Kell, with Kell earning honorable mention.
Brock Jasinski is competing at right guard, and center is between seniors Jay Garza and Jack Harmon.
Aaron Weisflog and Isaiah Mielke are in the mix for right guard.
Sophomores Nathan Skebba and Nathan Teat are competing to play right tackle.
Offensively, the Hawks were the epitome of balance last season. Running and passing totals were within 100 yards of each other, and touchdowns were one apart.
“That’s what we pride ourself in,” Norris said of his balanced attack. “And we have the athletes to make that happen.”
On defense, two of Grafton’s three linemen made the NSC second team. Senior Max Medvedev is back at tackle with his low center of gravity and Weisflog is back at defensive end.
Benzschawel will play the other defensive end.
At inside linebacker, junior Kenny Likins, who earned all-conference honorable mention recognition, returns, as does senior Jacob Garza. Andrew Weeskien Ovsepyan is also in the mix.
At outside linebacker in the Hawks’ 3-4 scheme, Hawk Heffner and Kyle Proefrock both graduated after earning NSC honorable mention status.
Buback and Mason Hunt are taking over. Pfaff and a few others are backing them up.
At corner, senior Connor Tiegs and Voiland will play. Others are competing to start.
Joe Birch is back at strong safety and senior Dylan Robinson is at free safety.
Birch is in the mix for kickers, and the punter is yet to be determined.
With the Hawks going 5-4 in the NSC and making the playoffs last year, they won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season, Norris said.
“This year, there’s no surprise who we are and what we’re about. If anything this year, we feel like the target’s on our back,” he said.
The team philosophy remains going 1-0 on every set in the weight room, every team meeting and every play, he said.
This is Grafton’s final season in the North Shore Conference as next year it moves to the Woodland East Conference.
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