Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West Branch

Head coach: Butch Pedersen (40^th season, 328-83)

Assistant coaches: John Hierseman, Tyler Bailey, Kevin Braddock, Jason Pedersen, Dan Zuniga, Ronnie Hughes, Chet Wisniewski

Last season: 7-3 (Class 1A second round)

Returning starters: Andy Henson, Sr., RB/LB; Aiden Dingbaum, Sr., OL/DL; Logan Wright, Jr., OL/DL; Max Lodge, Jr., OL/DL; Kinnick Boelk, Sr., WR/DB; Carver Boelk, WR/DB; Wyatt Fiderlein, Sr., RB/LB; Jackson Kaalberg, Sr., OL/DL; Cale Seydel, Jr., WR/DB; Holden Arnaman, Jr., WR/DB

Other returning letterwinners: Reese Trepanier, Jr., OL/DL; Aiden Shields, Sr., WR/DB; Evan Striegel, Sr., RB/DB; Shae Farmer, RB/LB

Newcomers to watch: Tye Huges, Sr, QB; Jack McCullough, Sr., WR/DB; Quinton Rocha, Jr., OL/DL; Jake Swisher, Jr., WR/DB; Auron Marsh, Jr., RB/DB; Trenton Schutte, Jr., WR/LB; Mike Montgomery, Fr., OL/DL; Tate Frantz, Soph., OL/DL; Cole Crosthwaite, Soph., OL/DL

Playoff history: 29 appearances (1988-1996, 1998, 2000, 2002-2005, 2008-2021). West Branch won Class 1A state titles in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

District: Class 1A, District 5

District favorite: Regina handed West Branch its only district loss last season 28-6 and it should again be the two long-time rivals battling for the top spot in 1A, District 5.

Circle the date: September 2 at Waterloo Columbus. The first major test of the season for the Bears comes on the road against a Waterloo Columbus team that went 7-3 a year ago with a 17-6 win at West Branch.

Headliner: Senior Andy Henson emerged as one of the top two-way players in Class 1A last season rushing for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns while making 42.5 tackles including 11 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Unsung hero: Senior Wyatt Fiderlein has flown a bit under the radar but is a big piece of the puzzle for the Bears on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Fiderlein had 31 tackles including five for loss last season when he also hit both of his field goal attempts and went 29-of-31 on PATs.

Keep an eye on: Senior quarterback Tye Hughes is set to take over the starting role at West Branch after throwing for more than 1,100 yards last season at Liberty High. Hughes completed 57 percent of his passes last season while throwing for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns with six interceptions.

Biggest question: How quickly can the offense come together? It’s not a matter of talent. The Bears have an experienced quarterback in Hughes, a returning 1,000-yard rusher in Henson and a bevy of capable pass catchers. The question is how quickly can the offense with a new quarterback and a couple new starters up front get up to speed against a challenging early-season schedule that includes Lisbon and Waterloo Columbus.

Quotable:“I think the attitude we have is really, really good,” West Branch coach Butch Pedersen said. “Their goals are really high and they should be. We want to win the district and we think we have an opportunity to do that but the district is very difficult and our preseason will be challenging as well but we want that challenge. We want to get better every time we step on the field.”

2022 Schedule

August 26: Lisbon

September 2: at Waterloo Columbus

September 9: Maquoketa Valley

September 16: at Louisa-Muscatine*

September 23: Mediapolis*

September 30: at Durant*

October 7: Regina*

October 14: at Wilton*

*– District Game

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