ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SAINTS WABAUNSEE CHARGERS

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

In the decades leading up to hiring Jess Rutledge as head coach in 2018, the Wabaunsee program faced a two-decade stretch without a winning season, including 11 seasons with one win or less. Since hiring Rutledge, the changes have been evident, with Wabaunsee putting together their first winning season since 1997, a 7-3 mark in 2021, and then finishing 9-2 in 2022 with a trip to sectionals.

The 2022 season was the program’s best overall since 1978, when they also went 9-2, and the back-to-back winning seasons were the first for the school since 1992-1993.

Rutledge and the Chargers’ success didn’t come without work. In his first two seasons the Chargers won just a game each, before going 4-6 during his third season in 2020.

“The turnaround at Wabaunsee has been tremendous, and it all comes from the boys,” Rutledge said. “They bought into the idea that we could and would win. It started in the weight room where we saw a significant increase in the number of players with 100% summer attendance, along with an increase in attendance at football-related activities in the summer. The speed, strength, and football knowledge increased their confidence, which then began translating into wins.”

With 2021 came the tipping point.

“Once we started winning more, we continued to challenge ourselves to do more and be better and we really haven’t stopped. It’s been one heck of an experience and I could not be more proud of all of the teams I’ve had the privilege to coach here.”

Back from the most successful Wabaunsee team since the 1970s is a small, but talented core, with Rutledge’s defense likely to be a particular strength, led by the senior duo of defensive back Wyatt Wurtz and linebacker Tate Deever.

Deever racked up an impressive 81 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and a sack during his junior campaign, earning All-State honors at linebacker.

“Tate Deever has been a Day-1 starter for us on defense and offense,” Rutledge said. “He was big for his age as a freshman, and even though we would’ve liked to ease someone that young into a starting role, we had to roll with it from the get-go. He never blinked and never flinched.”

According to Deever, camaraderie was key for the Chargers last fall.

“We were all like brothers. We would all drop everything to help one of our teammates. We all trusted one another and knew the guy next to us was going to do his job.”

Wurtz also earned All-State honors and served as a ballhawk in the secondary, recording five interceptions, along with 45 tackles, 4 pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries. Also back from that D that allowed 14 points or less in all but three games in 2022 are senior linebacker Zach Frank (43 tkls., 3 TFLs) and sophomore Cole Frank (42 tkls., 3.5 TFLs, FR), senior D-back Miguel Hernandez (60 tkls., 2 FFs), and junior D-linemen Jude Meseke (65 tkls., 23 TFLs, 9.5 sacks) and senior Alex Biggs (67 tkls., 9 TFLs, 2 sacks). continued on page 48

Others with noteworthy production include sophomore D-lineman Brody Droegemeier (34 tkls., 4.5 TFLs, .5 sacks) and sophomore D-back Wyatt Gehrt (3 tkls., 1 PD, 1 FR).

Offensively Deever and Wurtz will also be the team leaders, with Deever (10 pancakes) entering as his fourth year starting and the anchor of an O-line unit that returns three starters, including Meseke (11 pancakes) and Droegemeier (19 pancakes).

Senior Blake Murphy is expected to be a top compet itor for one of the two vacant line positions after being unable to play last year with a broken back, along with senior Jake Havensten, junior Parker Holthaus, and sophomore Matthew Keller.

Wurtz is coming off a season that saw him finish as a Sports in Kansas 1A Offensive Player of the Year finalist after going 108 of 184 passing for 1,458 yards and 19 TDs, along with 96 carries for 594 yards and 13 more scores.