Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Head coach: Late Butch Pedersen

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

Last season: 11-1 (Class 1A semifinals)

Returning starters: Logan Wright, Sr., DL/OL; Cale Seydel, Sr., RB/DB; Trenton Schutte, Sr., TE/LB; Max Lodge, Sr., OL/DL; Reese Trepanier, Sr., FB/LB; Quinton Rocha, Sr., OL/DL; Michael Montgomery, Soph., OL/DL

Other returning letterwinners: Shae Farmer, Sr., LB/FB; Jake Swisher, Sr., WR/K/LB; Bradyn Sexton, Sr., WR/DB; Tate Frantz, Jr., OL/DL

Newcomers to watch: Zach Capper, Sr., RB/DB; Cole Crosthwaite, Jr., OL/DL; Connor Rios, Jr., QB/DB; Ethan Miller, Jr., WR/DB; Nolan Staker, Soph., QB/DB; Cooper Gates, Soph., RB/LB; Joe Hamann, Sr., WR/DB

Playoff history: 30 appearances (1988-1996, 1998, 2000, 2002-2005, 2008-2022). West Branch won Class 1A state titles in 1989, 1991 and 1992.

District: Class 1A, District 5 (Cascade, Dyersville Beckman, Durant, Regina, Wilton)

District favorite: West Branch is coming off an impressive 11-1 season that included an unbeaten district slate and concluded with a trip to the Class 1A state semifinals. The Bears were 3-0 last season against 2023 district foes posting wins over Regina (23-0), Wilton (54-7) and Durant (49-13) and are the favorites in District 5 this fall.

Circle the date: August 25 at Williamsburg. A couple of UNI-Dome teams from 2022 meet in the 2023 opener with 1A semifinalist West Branch travelling to last year’s 2A runner-up Williamsburg. The Bears have won the previous two meetings in the series including a 39-33 win at Williamsburg in 2019.

Headliner: Senior two-way lineman Logan Wright is a returning all-stater and a major reason the strength of the Bears should be up front on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Wright is a three-year starter at offensive tackle and is coming off a breakthrough junior season in which he had a team-high 18 tackles for loss and six sacks among his 36 total tackles.

Ready for a breakthrough: Senior Cale Seydel (5-10, 165) was a key contributor on both sides of the ball last season but will be expected to take on a leadership role this season. Seydel ranked ninth on the team with 23 tackles last season and should be a leader in the secondary as well as becoming a key pass catcher for the Bears.

Unsung hero: Senior lineman Max Lodge hasn’t garnered quite the attention of his linemate Wright but has been a solid piece of a strong offensive line for the Bears the past two seasons. A three-year starter at guard, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Lodge is one of four returning linemen with starting experience on a West Branch front that should be among the best in Class 1A.

Keep an eye on: Senior linebacker Reese Trepanier (6-1, 210) has carved out a role as an emotional leader for the Bears and will take over as the leader of Bear defense after playing alongside leading tackler Andy Henson last season. Trepanier ranked third on the team with 42 tackles last season including nine for loss and two sacks and also recovered two fumbles.

Remember the name: Cooper Gates. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound sophomore will look to carry on the running back tradition at West Branch which has produced a 1,000-yard rusher in 10 of the last 12 seasons.

Biggest question: How will the first-year starting quarterback perform? West Branch had four quarterbacks competing during fall camp to replace departed senior Tye Hughes. Sophomore Nolan Staker (6-3, 190) and junior Connor Rios (5-10, 170) headlined the fall competition that also included sophomore Brennen Dale (6-0, 175) and senior Cameron Gingerich (5-11, 170).

The week one starter will have the luxury of working behind a veteran offensive line but getting consistent quarterback play will be a key if West Branch is to repeat its success of last season.

Quotable: “We have the luxury of having four quarterbacks that have competed and competed well,” West Branch offensive coordinator John Hierseman said. “They have competed so well that it’s really hard to make a decision and pull one out of that group but we kind of have this week but it could be a case where we play multiple quarterbacks in a game.”

2023 Schedule

Date/Opponent/Record in 2022

August 25: at Williamsburg (12-1)

September 1: Dike-New Hartford (7-3)

September 8: at Waterloo Columbus (6-4)

September 15: Cascade (5-4)

September 22: at Dyersville Beckman (4-4)

September 29: Regina (5-4)

October 6: at Wilton (4-4)

October 13: Durant (5-4)

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